The Perth Bears sign laulilii brothers in a move that does more than fill a roster spot: it signals how the expansion club is building identity from the ground up. Kit Laulilii’s reported two-year deal to join his brother Luke gives Perth its first brother pairing, and it arrives at a time when the new franchise still has a long way to go before completing its inaugural squad. The signing is historic, but it is also practical, showing how the Bears are balancing family ties, development upside and the demands of a remote home base.
Historic family signing gives Perth a new recruiting marker
The Perth Bears sign laulilii brothers at a point when the club has reached 17 players on its books for the inaugural season and needs 13 more to reach the top 30 target. That alone makes the move significant. It is the first time the expansion side has secured two brothers, with Luke already tied to the project and Kit now joining him from 2026.
On paper, the pair bring different stages of development. Kit is 21, has played three NRL games for the Tigers since debuting in 2023, and has 42 NSW Cup appearances behind him. Luke is 19 and has scored six tries in 13 NRL games since debuting in 2024, including two tries in four matches this season. For a new club still shaping its identity, the family link is only part of the story; the other part is timing. Perth is assembling a roster while also trying to establish standards that will hold once the competition begins.
Why this signing matters in the broader roster build
This deal matters because it shows the Bears are not chasing names for the sake of it. Mal Meninga has already described the challenge of convincing 30 NRL players to relocate to Perth and leave behind families and support networks. That reality makes the Laulilii brothers especially relevant: the club is finding players who can move together, settle together and enter a new environment with a built-in connection.
The Bears sign laulilii brothers story also fits the wider shape of the recruitment drive. Perth is said to have already secured several players, including Tyran Wishart, Scott Sorensen, Nick Meaney and Siosifa Talakai, while Meninga has stressed that the club will not take a scattergun approach or throw money around without a clear plan. His message has been consistent: the Bears want players who match the club’s DNA, not simply the most available names.
That approach helps explain why the Laulilii move has resonance beyond the family angle. Kit’s profile suggests depth and development potential, while Luke has already shown enough at top level to be viewed as part of the club’s long-term structure. In an expansion setup, those are not minor details; they are the foundation of list management.
Meninga’s method: standards before speed
Meninga’s comments underline the philosophy behind the rebuild. He has said the distance to Perth is not the issue, but building the foundation is. He has also pointed to the traditions of the North Sydney Bears and Western Reds as part of the club’s base, while making clear that the franchise will not simply chase anyone who is willing to move.
That restraint is important because expansion clubs can be tempted to fill gaps quickly. Perth, by contrast, appears to be prioritising alignment, fit and cultural cohesion. The Laulilii brothers fit that model neatly. A sibling pairing can reduce the adjustment burden, and in a new market that matters. It is not just a feel-good storyline; it is a recruitment tool with practical value. The Perth Bears sign laulilii brothers at a moment when every signing carries double weight: immediate list building and future identity.
Knights cap pressure adds another layer to the market
There is also movement elsewhere that may influence how clubs think about the market. Newcastle is in danger of losing enforcer Jermaine McEwen because of a salary cap squeeze after several big-name arrivals at the club. McEwen, who turns 21 today, has been in excellent form for the Knights, who sit third on the ladder with one loss from five games. He has scored three tries in 21 games since debuting in 2025.
That situation matters because it highlights the pressure points shaping recruitment across the league. While Perth is methodically adding to its list, other clubs may be forced into difficult decisions. In that environment, the Bears’ patient approach may prove valuable. They do not need to win every headline; they need to build a squad that can survive the jump into a new competition.
What the wider picture suggests for Perth’s first season
The arrival of the Laulilii brothers adds a human thread to a roster that is still being stitched together. It also sends a signal to other targets that Perth is building a clear framework rather than improvising. With the Bears set to begin their campaign preparations in November this year, the challenge now is turning early momentum into depth, balance and durability.
For now, the Perth Bears sign laulilii brothers as both a milestone and a message: the franchise is recruiting for more than numbers, and its first family link may be one of the clearest signs of how it intends to grow. If the club can keep matching purpose with patience, how much further can this model carry it before the first ball is even kicked?
