The Perth Bears have unveiled their club logo, which captures a modern look while honouring the traditional spirit of North Sydney.
Announced ahead of the team's inaugural 2027 NRL season, the much-anticipated red, white, and black design has finally become a reality.
The branding pays homage to the North Sydney Bears while embracing the club's future in Western Australia.
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Speaking on Nine's Today, Bears coach Mal Meninga celebrated the official launch of the club's identity, highlighting the deliberate effort taken to honour the club's dual heritage.
"It's been a long time coming. We had to get it right," he said.
"I love the new logo, the branding. It represents both sides of Australia, the east coast and the west coast, and looking forward to launching it, obviously.
"Hopefully, all our fans jump on board, and it's the start of a brand new era."
Bears board member and Nine sports host James Bracey expects diehard supporters to remain loyal during the club's transition to Perth.
As a lifelong fan himself, he validated the emotional importance of the new identity for those who felt lost when the North Sydney Bears were originally removed from the top-tier competition.
"You can see the evolution of the logo here over the years," he said.
"We love the heritage behind this one and looking back on the past, etc, but we're all heading forward now, and this is a new era.
"But it's the same spirit. And the Bears, so many of the diehards like me, my dad walked away from rugby league when the Bears were booted out of the comp.
"So, this re-engages all the Bears on the east coast. You can see the old bear there, but Perth has been a new team, [and] needed a new logo, and I just think that having the east coast and the west coast together, it's a huge day."
The Bears continue to build their inaugural roster by adding key players like Josh Curran and Nick Meaney, while actively pursuing further signings to round out the squad.
Asked about the timeline for future signings, Meninga emphasised that joining the club is a major life transition for players rather than a simple job change.
"It's a tough decision. It's a life decision for all the players that we're approaching, you know, we're still in the hunt for more players," he said.
"We've got some players that we're talking to at the moment, and hopefully, you know, we can get across the line.
"So, you know, really excited about you know the squad we're putting together. But still a long way to go."
Meninga dismissed the idea that the geographic isolation of Perth creates a significant recruitment challenge, instead framing the move as a "bold decision" and a test of character for potential players.
"You've got family to consider as well, but at the end of the day, the people who are coming over actually want to be there," he said.
"They want to represent WA in the best light, and they want to play really well. They want to be successful in Perth.
"So, you know, it's a bold decision. It's a courageous decision, and we're just getting on with it."
To mark the reveal, a limited run of merchandise will be available on Wednesday on the club's official website.
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