James Graham names Wigan Warriors trio Perth Bears should sign with Super League set to be ‘exploited’

Rugby League legend James Graham has named three Wigan Warriors players that Perth Bears could target as he argued that ‘no player in Super League is off limits’.

Perth will enter the NRL in 2027 meaning they have around 18 months to build a squad and inevitably Super League players will be on their radar.

We’ve already seen a steady rate of Englishmen head Down Under in recent years but the addition of the Bears and then a PNG-based team in 2028 means that the English player pool will be targeted more.

Perth is also one of the cities in Australia with the largest percentage of English expats and journalist Michael Chammas argued that the Bears should try and become “England’s club”, something they could do by signing Herbie Farnworth on big money.

Appearing as a guest on Graham’s The Bye Round Podcast, Chammas argued: “I think we need to be England’s club. We need to sell the 16 hour direct flight to London and we need to pick the best players out of Super League.

“We know there’s a shortage of players with the expansion and more teams coming in so (they should) have one eye on becoming England’s club.”

Wigan Warriors stars to be targeted by Perth Bears, claims Graham

Graham agreed, stating: “You exploit the current situation of the Super League and in terms of the dollar that we can offer and the situation that Super League finds itself in, I think no player would be off limits there.

“Even with players under contract, I think that money would talk and every player would be available for a transfer fee which the NRL would be willing to front up and pay.”

He went on to name two Wigan Warriors forwards as possible candidates, arguing: “I’m looking at players like Luke Thompson who came over here and played with the Dogs then went back to England. That Wigan team that is so successful now, Junior Nsemba who has got a ridiculously long-term deal is somebody that I think we could attract.”

The podcast saw Graham, Chammas and his co-host Charlie White build Perth’s top 17 based on off-contract NRL players with Herbie Farnworth and Joey Manu among the big earners.

Whilst they didn’t select any Super League players, Graham circled back to them and claimed that Perth would be looking at the competition for players.

“We’ve not really spoke about any Super League players but there are a couple of players I think that they would look to go after and provide them an opportunity to play in the NRL.

“Players like Nsemba and maybe Harry Smith,” Graham said before being interrupted at the suggestion of their Wigan Warriors’ teammate Bevan French.

To that, Graham responded: “I don’t know if we could afford him. I don’t think we’d get the Aussies that have gone and done well but I think you could get the English players.

“You’d probably have to pay them decent money but I think there are some top targets there. You look at a Kai Pearce-Paul who has come over.”