The Perth Bears are delighted to announce Toby Sexton and Harry Newman have agreed to join the club.
Sexton, 24 and Newman, 25, have signed two-year contracts that will make them a part of the Perth Bears squad for their inaugural season in 2027.
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Toby and Harry to the Perth Bears in what is a truly historic day for our club,” Perth Bears head coach Mal Meninga said.
“Both players have all the attributes and qualities I’m looking for when building out our roster.
“Toby is proven leader that works hard to make his teammates better.
“He is a quality person who I know will make the most of the opportunity to be a trailblazer for the Perth Bears.
“Harry is a Test player who has been a part of the successful Leeds Rhinos system for several years.
“He has the skillset and experience to make an immediate impact in the NRL and I’m really excited to see what he can do when gets here in 2027.”
Since making his NRL debut in 2021, Sexton has played 65 games for the Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury Bulldogs.
Sexton will play for Catalans Dragons in the Super League competition in 2026 before linking up with the Perth Bears ahead of their debut season in 2027.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the inaugural Perth Bears roster,” Sexton said.
“To be one of the Bears first signings is something I’m grateful for. I’m excited for the opportunity and honoured to represent the people of Western Australia”.
Since making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2017, Harry Newman has played 135 Super League games for Leeds Rhinos and Featherstone Rovers.
Newman was awarded the Super League Young Player of the Year award in 2020 and was a member of the Rhinos squad that won the Challenge Cup Final in the same year.
The centre has played seven Tests for England including the third game of the 2025 Ashes series against the Kangaroos.
“It’s always been my ambition to test myself in the NRL and I’m delighted to have the chance to do it with the Perth Bears,” Newman said.
“It’s a huge honour to be one of the Bears first signings and help create a legacy for Rugby League in Western Australia”.
Perth Bears General Manager of Football David Sharpe said the club was in the process of “building a roster that will be able to compete from Round 1 in 2027.”
“There is a lot of great talent on the market and I’m confident our strategy and recruitment pitch will appeal to players looking at the opportunities Perth and Western Australia can provide,” he said.
Fresh from inking a lucrative apparel deal with New Balance, Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie reiterated his desire to make the club a powerhouse both on and off the field.
“From a commercial perspective, we have already broken sponsorship records and continue to get interest from domestic and international brands looking to partner and collaborate with the Perth Bears,” he said.
“We are hoping to make some further announcements over the coming weeks that will reaffirm my belief that the Perth Bears are the most exciting story in Australian sport.”
