The Perth Bears are delighted to announce Tyran Wishart and Nick Meaney have agreed to join the club on long-term deals to start in 2027.
Wishart has signed a five-year deal while Meaney has committed to the Bears for three years.
Since making his debut in 2022, Tyran Wishart has played 84 First Grade games for the Melbourne Storm and represented the Australia Prime Minister’s XIII in 2024 and 2025.
The 26-year-old was awarded the Storm’s Rookie of the Year in 2022 and has scored 21 tries across his career.
Tyran Wishart Try
“I’m really excited about the challenge of being a part of a new team and creating a legacy for the Perth Bears, as well as representing the past players and fans of the Bears and Reds franchises,” Wishart said.
I see this is an opportunity to continue to evolve my game and be a part of something special for the NRL and sport in our country.
“There is already so much buzz about the Perth Bears and I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a part of it.”
Joining Wishart in Perth will be his Melbourne Storm teammate Nick Meaney.
Since debuting for the Newcastle Knights in 2018, Meaney has scored 62 tries and kicked 351 goals in 159 First Grade games.
The 28-year-old Lismore product provides the Bears with versatility in the backline having covered multiple positions across his seven-year NRL career.
Meaney said the opportunity to move his young family to Perth coupled with a desire to be a part of the Bears inaugural roster was too hard to ignore.
Nick Meaney's 2025 try-scoring season
“The Perth Bears provide a unique chance for my family and I to move to Western Australia and be a part of a new club that is essentially starting from scratch,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to help build the Bears but also set up my young family.
“My focus is going one better with the Storm this year; but in 2027 I’ll be ready to go for the Bears."
Perth Bears Head Coach Mal Meninga said he was delighted to have secured the signature of two of the NRL’s most prized 2027 free agents.
“Tyran and Nick are exceptional players that will bring a wealth of experience and leadership to our club,” he said.
"I am absolutely thrilled to welcome them to the Perth Bears.
“Tyran’s energy and effort across all levels of his game make him a player that others want to play with.
Tyran Wishart Try
“He is highly skilled, tough as nails and will set the standards for us both on and off the field.
“Nick provides us with creativity and spark in attack and is also an excellent defender.
“He can play multiple positions in the backline, is an exceptional goalkicker and like Tyran will be a leader at our club.
“Above all, Tyran and Nick are exceptional people who will help us set the standards for Perth Bears for 2027 and beyond.”
Meninga noted Wishart and Meaney will join Josh Curran, Liam Henry, Toby Sexton, Sean Russell, Harry Newman, Isaza Fa’asuamaleaui, Luke Smith and Emarly Bitugane in the Perth Bears’ inaugural 2027 squad; an emerging leadership group tasked with establishing the standards, values and foundations upon which the club’s NRL franchise will be built.
Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie said he was exceptionally proud of the roster the Football Department was putting together.
“The philosophy from the outside has been to recruit the right people for the right reasons,” he said.
“The Perth Bears want to be a family-orientated club that the State of Western Australia and North Sydney can be proud of.
“That is exactly the roster our Football Department under Head Coach Mal Meninga and General Manager David Sharpe is putting together."
