Big Bears Podcast

Gareth Holmes: North Sydney Heritage and Elite Pathways

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week on Big Bears Podcast, we sit down with North Sydney Bears CEO Gareth Holmes to discuss the heritage ties between the North Sydney and Perth Bears.

Gareth speaks about the official announcement of the Perth Bears one year ago and why North Sydney Oval will become a vital "home away from home" for the Perth Bears in 2027. We dive deep into the strategic partnership between our two clubs, explaining how we’ve officially removed the "dead ends" in the junior system to create a truly elite pathway from Coast-to-Coast.

Have a question you want the club to answer? Drop it in the comments!

Big Bears Podcast is brought to you by Cash Converters and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

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Ben Gardiner: Penrith Panthers Premierships, Toa Samoa & The Bears’ DNA

Wed, 06 May 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week, we sat down with Perth Bears Assistant Coach and Toa Samoa Head Coach, Ben Gardiner. Fresh off back-to-back 23’ and 24’ Premierships at Penrith, Ben breaks down the "contemporary coaching" philosophy he is bringing to Western Australia.

He dives into recruitment, his career and coaching the Toa Samoa team - this is a masterclass in what it takes to be a trailblazer in the NRL.

Have a question you want the club to answer? Drop it in the comments!

Big Bears Podcast is brought to you by Cash Converters and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Q&A special: Bite-back with the CEO

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

We have Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie back in the studio for the first Bite-Back special episode. From memberships, to jerseys, to why our Mascot is named Kodi - Anthony answers some of your burning questions.

Have one of your own? Drop it in the comments!

Big Bears Podcast is brought to you by Cash Converters and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dane Campbell: Building the NRL roster and players for the future

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Big Bears Podcast, we are joined by the man tasked with one of the biggest jobs in Australian sport: Player Recruitment Manager Dane Campbell.

Dane talks about his playing career, his time working for the Storm and Cowboys, to building a long-term recruitment strategy for the Bears. He also answers some of your questions in our ‘Bite Back’ segment.

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Blake Solly, Rabbitohs CEO: NRL expansion, the Bennett effect and 2027 rivalries

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

We caught up with Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly ahead of their Perth home game at the Double Header last weekend.

For the last 20 years, the Rabbitohs have long been supporters of bringing NRL to WA. Now, as we prepare to enter the arena in 2027, Blake opens up about the shared history, the effect of NRL expansion, and why the game isn't truly national without a team in Perth.

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Mal Meninga: Why Mal’s recruiting international big bears and what makes a marquee?

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Representing your country is the highest honour in the game. Find out why Mal Meninga has so far recruited three England internationals all from Leeds. The coach explains the strategy behind formulating our inaugural trailblazing squad and addresses what attributes he looks for in a marquee footballer. Mal also answers a series of questions from you in bite back!

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Greg Florimo: North Sydney history, running over Mal Meninga and a new book!

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Rugby League is built on legends, and they don't come much bigger than Greg Florimo. On today's Big Bears Podcast, Flo takes us back to the golden era at North Sydney Oval, including the day he invited the entire crowd onto the field after beating Manly and on-field hits with Mal Meninga. But it’s not all nostalgia. Greg gives us an exclusive look at his upcoming book and why the "Perth Bears" will be a "powerhouse" from day one.

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Mark Arena: Wildcats, NBL and sport in WA

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:47 GMT

This week, we chat to Mark Arena, the tech entrepreneur turned owner of the Perth Wildcats, to discuss what it takes to build a sporting powerhouse in Western Australia.

As the Perth Bears prepare for their 2027 NRL debut, Mark shares the "community-first" philosophy that turned the Wildcats into the hottest ticket in town. From the importance of school visits to the power of a unified identity, this is a masterclass in building a sports legacy that lasts generations.

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Peter Cumins: A lifetime of League

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Meet the man leading the charge for the NRL in WA: Peter Cumins joins the podcast this week!

Perth Bears Board Member, Executive Deputy Chairman of Cash Converters and a long-time champion of rugby league, Peter has been the backbone of the game’s growth in WA for years.

In this episode, we dive into his childhood and what led him to become such a die-hard supporter of the game. Peter opens up candidly on the long, determined journey toward finally securing an NRL team in Western Australia, sharing the grit and persistence required behind the scenes.

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Billy Moore: The Bears, State of Origin, and 2026 NRL predictions

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Billy Moore - the Bear, the Queenslander and now restaurateur joins us on the pod this week!

We dive into his storied career in Rugby League, the "Queenslander" spirit, and what you should order at his prize-winning restaurant. Plus, Billy gives us his bold prediction for the 2026 season winner.

Want to ask a question on Big Bears Podcast? Drop it in the comments below!

Big Bears Podcast is brought to you by Cash Converters and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christina Matthews: Making an NRL dynasty in WA

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week, we sit down with Hall of Fame cricketer, former CEO of WA Cricket, and Perth Bears Board Member, Christina Matthews to discuss her career in sport (on and off the field!), the mindset for creating winners and her role in bringing players over!

Want to ask a question on Big Bears Podcast? Drop it in the comments below!

Big Bears Podcast is brought to you by Cash Converters and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Sharpe: Inside the Perth Bears Recruitment Strategy

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

David Sharpe, GM of Football, joins the pod to pull back the curtain on the Perth Bears' recruitment strategy. Plus, we answer some of your questions on our ‘Bite Back’ Q&A segment!

Want to ask a question on Big Bears Podcast? Drop it in the comments below!

Big Bears Podcast is brought to you by Cash Converters and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Fuller: Western Reds, advice for our players and WA talent pathways

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Most memorable try? Running out at the iconic WACA ground?

Matt ‘Sheep’ Fuller opens up about his playing career for the Western Reds and offers advice for players moving to WA for our 2027 season.

Want to ask a question on Big Bears Podcast? Drop it in the comments below!

Big Bears Podcast is brought to you by Cash Converters and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Millward: Building our Elite Pathways

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Rugby League legend and Perth Bears Elite Pathways Manager Ian Millward joins us on Big Bears Podcast, brought to you by Cash Converters.

From scouting talent and building elite pathways for junior players, it is all covered in this week’s episode.

Want to ask us a question? Drop it in the comments below!

Big Bears Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony De Ceglie, CEO: “Perth deserves an NRL team”

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week on Big Bears Podcast, brought to you by Cash Converters, we hear from Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie on why he took the job and what fans can expect from the club in the coming months.

Want to ask us a question? Drop it in the comments below!

Big Bears Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Carnovale: “Could I do something that looked like the Bears never left?”

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:18:23 GMT

Big Bears Podcast brought to you by Cash Converters, is back for another episode.

Joined by the man who gave us our logo, Dave Carnovale talks all things logos and the journey which led to our iconic Perth Bear.

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Mal Meninga: "We are putting together a winning team for WA”

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:22:51 GMT

The Perth Bears official podcast, brought to you by Cash Converters, kicks off with an exclusive interview with Head Coach and NRL Immortal Mal Meninga.

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