The Perth Bears have made a key recruitment move ahead of November 1.
According to reports from Channel Nine reporter Danny Weidler, Broncos Recruitment Manager Dane Campbell will join the Bears as the club’s new Head of Recruitment.
The appointment follows the Bears’ ill-fated pursuit of former Titans recruitment manager Ezra Howe.
With less than eight weeks until the NRL’s 18th franchise officially hits the player market, Campbell will work alongside head coach Mal Meninga, assistant Ben Gardiner and GM of football David Sharpe to assemble the Bear’s inaugural playing roster.
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A former Queensland junior representative, Campbell featured for the Redcliffe Dolphins and Brisbane Easts during his playing days, while also featuring in six NRL games for the Newcastle Knights.
Since retiring, Campbell has served in recruitment and pathway roles at both the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys where he was Recruitment Manager for almost five years.
News of his move to the Bears comes as something of a surprise given the 42-year-old only joined the Broncos from the Cowboys in June to work alongside the club’s long-serving academy chief Simon Scanlan.
Of course, with the player recruitment clock ticking things continue to happen fast in the west, with Campbell’s new football department boss David Sharpe only touching down in Perth himself last week.
On his arrival, Sharpe explained there was much to be done as the NRL’s newest club hustles to build its roster.
“I think we’re going to be linked with every player in the game until 2027,” Sharpe told local radio.
“It’s great to be linked with the big names—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.”