Inaugural GM of Football at the Perth Bears, David Sharpe, has officially arrived on the west coast as he prepares to link with Mal Meninga and Ben Gardiner to build the club’s maiden NRL playing roster for 2027.
Speaking on Sports Breakfast, the former Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner and CEO of Sport Integrity Australia explained he arrived in Perth on Tuesday ‘with three suitcases’ and will be based permanently in the WA capital.
“It doesn’t get any better than the opportunity to come and build an inaugural team,” Sharpe enthused of the journey ahead.
“I come out of a country town in NSW (Wagga) where rugby league gave me and the community everything, what really excites me is having the one team here and also the power of sport right across Perth and WA—it’s unique and such a great opportunity.”
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While under no illusions about the size of the task that awaits in a city well-known for its love of AFL, Sharpe was buoyed by the strength of the Perth sporting community, regardless of the code.
“Perth is such a big sports market, I think success is about listening to the community and learning the lessons from the past (such as the short-lived Western Reds) and I absolutely think it can work,” he said.
Sharpe then used the experience of the Sydney Swans in the AFL who relocated from South Melbourne back in 1982.
“If you look at the Sydney Swans, they’re a really good example of a Melbourne-based team that went into enemy territory, but you look at their success now and the way the community has embraced them—it’s all about sport and the community rather than just the brand or the code.”
Sharpe was also understandably bullish about working alongside Mal Meninga, saying the rugby league Immortal’s appointment as inaugural head coach will play a major part in achieving long-term success.
“Mal’s commitment to the Bears is huge for the game, he’s someone who’s very big on community and family, his brand alone will set us on the right track early on.”
As for any updates on the Bears’ all-important NRL playing roster?
“I think we’re going to be linked with every player in the game until 2027,” Sharpe laughed, as rumours continue to swirl around some of the biggest stars in the NRL.
“It’s great to be linked with the big names, and they’re all on the books, we just have to work out what fits Perth and we’ll certainly recruit around what the values of Perth and the Bears are going to be.
“But it’s also the levels of development over the next two years that we really want to focus on, bringing great young players through, ready to go in 2027 as well.
“Obviously we’re starting to think about what the roster might look like and where we might want to make approaches—then on 1st November we start going to market.”
With less than two months to go there’s still much to be done, but you get distinct feeling Sharpe is going to enjoy every moment of it.