The Perth Bears have reportedly lined up their first two targets of an inaugural signing window which began on November 1.
The Daily Telegraph have reported that off-contract first graders Marly Bitungane and Luke Smith have entered the frame as potential signings for 2027.
It's understood that both men will spend a season for the burgeoning London Broncos franchise in 2026, before making the move to Western Australia.
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Bitungane, 23, played two games for the Cowboys in 2025, but wasn't retained by Todd Payten's staff at the end of the season.
The Tanzanian-born prop moved to Australia in 2007 where he joined the rich talent pool of players who have emerged from the Logan Brothers club in Central Queensland.
As for Smith, he did his rugby league apprenticeship in Sydney through the Bulldogs development pathways.
He captained the blue and white in Jersey Flegg before moving into the first grade setup under Cameron Ciraldo.
The 22-year-old has also earned two first grade starts, but most of his work in 2025 was done in the New South Wales Cup where he played in the second-row.
If these two recruitment targets are anything to go by, it appears that the Bears are looking to build strong depth in the forwards by betting on players with extremely high ceilings.
Despite the window already being open for six days, the Bears are yet to officially make their first move on the open market.
General manager of football David Sharpe and head coach Mal Meninga have roughly 12 months to assemble their team before preseason training for their first season in the NRL begins.