Perth Bears’ Elite Pathways Manager, Ian Millward, has explained the key reasons that led the newly-formed NRL club to sign four key men from Super League.

The Western Australian outfit will arrive in the elite southern hemisphere competition ahead of their inaugural season in 2027, and they have signed three men from Leeds Rhinos and one from Wakefield Trinity to bolster their initial top 30 roster.

James McDonnell, Harry Newman and Mikolaj Oledzki will all depart Headingley, whilst Tyson Smoothy cut short a three-year contract with Trinity to join the Bears. A fee was paid for his services due to him being bought out of his Wakefield contract.

Perth have also secured the services of England international Morgan Smithies, who was selected for this year’s World Cup squad before succumbing to injury, forcing his withdrawal.

Millward, who has plenty of experience in Super League having coached Leigh, St Helens, Wigan and Castleford, is part of the recruitment staff at the Bears, and has provided some insight into why those five players will be a good fit for Perth’s squad.

A guest on the NRL Insight UK podcast, the 66-year-old revealed that one key attribute that factored into the signing of both McDonnell and Smithies was the fact they both emerged from the Wigan Warriors academy.

The Warriors have produced the most players that are currently playing in Super League, with their esteemed youth set-up now achieving global recognition.

Millward said: “[It’s a] really good pathway system, experience in winning trophies, and they’ve been well coached there. So that’s a big tick.”

Of Smithies, the ex-Saints boss added: ” [He’s a] very good character. Much liked by his teammates, trains hard. We talk about skill sets… one of the biggest things a coach looks for now is – can a player move, and does he have great mobility?

“With the speed of the game now, Morgan ticks that box. He’s very mobile. He moves really well. He’s proven in the comp.”

Millward also explained how a catch-up with Wigan star Jai Field cemented his knowledge that Smithies was a good buy, with Field telling him that he is a ‘great guy’ and a ‘great trainer.’

More Super League players headed to Perth Bears as ex-Wigan boss explains signings

Of the Leeds Rhinos trio, Millward continued: ” [James] McDonnell is an interesting one because he came out of the Wigan pathways. He was a bit surplus because they had a lot of players there.

“His work ethic and the way he moves – movement is really important in the NRL, and the ability to constantly move, and he has that.

“The front rower [Oledzki], he’s strong, and Harry Newman has played at international level.”

Another factor is that all three have been coached by Brad Arthur, an esteemed ex-NRL boss, so Perth know that those guys will have had some degree of both NRL coaching and training standards.

As for Smoothy, who is part of an exclusive club after winning back-to-back NRL and Super League Grand Finals, Millward can’t wait to see him return to Australia.

Perth are also certain that more Super League players will be headed their way.

“Will we sign other players in coming seasons? Yes we will. That’s just a fact,” Millward insisted. “Because of the proximity, a player could sign for us, and he comes with his wife, and they still know that if they had a week’s break, they can get on a flight, 17 hours, and be back in the UK

“That’ll happen because of the player pools, with us coming in then Papua New Guinea [Chiefs].”

You can listen to the full NRL Insight Podcast by clicking here.

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