The Grizzwolds

Can Jamie Humphreys and Matt Burton coexist in Perth?

Phil — Tue, 19 May 2026 19:30:00 GMT

It's been another big week for the NRL club not yet playing any games.

Foundation memberships officially landed on the day this podcast was released, which is big news for all the hardcore fans.

In good news, the club has reportedly secured Jamie Humphreys on a three-year deal. He's an excellent pickup.

And the rumblings surrounding Matt Burton won't go away. So here are the latest bits and pieces doing the rounds in Dubbo, where the Burtons are from. And it's juicy.

Chapters:

1:00 - Memberships launched

5:00 - Jamie Humphreys on a three-year deal

11:20 - The new Matt Burton links

18:00 - We miss out on Cam McInnes

20:45 - Tyson Smoothy linked to the Bears

27:00 - Leeds Rhinos lose

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

We don't want salary cap concessions

Phil — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Most people think the Perth Bears need help. That we haven't signed anyone of note. That we're heading sharply towards a wooden spoon in 2027. And that the NRL needs to step in. But it's not that simple.

Also, is Ben Ikin genuinely a possibility to take a big role in Perth?

The name Luke Metcalf is getting thrown around - should we be interested and is he a good fit?

Chapters:

1:30 - Whispers about the away jersey

3:30 - Ben Ikin leaving QRL

6:30 - Do the Perth Bears need help... and more publicity?

12:30 - Our roster-building concessions

14:00 - Cam McInnes talk

15:30 - Reported friction between Meninga and Gardiner

19:30 - New signings to be announced soon

23:30 - The Matt Burton thing is falling into place

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This week's media meltdown, Sam Wykes' unique player insight

Phil — Tue, 05 May 2026 04:33:58 GMT

Well, what a week. And, let's be honest, none of it was the club's doing. PNG landed a big fish, and all of a sudden, the Perth Bears pile on went into overdrive. It's a case of Perth-ception vs. Reality. So where do we come down?

Also, we have our very guest! Sam Wykes played 87 games for the Western Force and joined the show to offer his unique insight into the challenges involved in relocating to Perth and the types of issues the Perth Bears will need to be across when players uproot their lives to the West.

Chapters:

1:45 - The Bears 'bad' week and how PNG's big Jarome Luai coup has altered perception ('Perth-ception') around the Bears and their roster

5:45 - Lucrative pay vs opportunity and how our recruitment philosophies are unique

8:00 - There's a lot of Moneyball in what we've done with our roster so far

12:25 - Sam Wykes joins to provide insight around relocating to Perth and the challenges for not just players but their families

25:30 - Does Sam buy our supposed Central West NSW nucleus?

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Our GM walks, PNG's coup, Sua's 4 year deal

Phil — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Well, what a week. It contained good, bad and ugly.

We need to be blunt about Sharpe's departure - after reports of boardroom tension, David Sharpe exits. So what's it all mean?

The NRL's other new team PNG had Jarome Luai visit over the weekend - are they winning the hypothetical PR battle of the new teams right now?

And it's reported that Bulldogs rising star Jonathan Sua has signed a four-year deal with the Bears amid his 250-metre breakout game in Brisbane.

Chapters:

2:30 - GM David Sharpe departs after only joining the club a matter of months ago, which threatens to cause instability and mismanagement of football-related matters

11:00 - PNG are circling Jarome Luai and appear to be winning the PR battle right now. But what do we make of how it's going over there?

17:30 - We've signed Apa Twidle on a three-year deal. Love this.

20:00 - What do we make of the Kit Laulili'i signing?

21:00 - Jonathan Sua signs a four-year deal. Huge.

24:30 - Luke Laulili'i is in strong form

28:00 - A recap of the Leeds v Catalans game from last weekend, involving plenty of future Bears

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Travel fears, Tracks Academy, our Super Leaguers

Phil — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT

There has (apparently) been a bit made about our extra travel considerations and how things might logistically look. So is there cause for concern?

We also thought it was worth covering the recently-launched Bear Tracks Academy and the tangible goals the club has in place.

We bring back a round of 3,2,1s featuring linked or contracted Bears playing elsewhere this season, a convo that included Brodie Croft, Toby Sexton, Charlie Staines, Josh Curran and Tyran Wishart.

Chapters:

4:00 - Merch release

9:30 - Travel concerns

15:30 - Our Bear Tracks Academy

20:00 - Players of note dominating - or participating in - the Super League right now

27:30 - Poor Josh Curran

30:00 - Tyran Wishart's the man

32:30 - Are we closer to a marquee yet?

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Boardroom tension, new Burton reports

Phil — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Well it was a dramatic week for the Perth Bears! Our CEO and GM are reportedly butting heads, culminating in a board meeting last Friday to attempt to resolve tension. We unpack it on the show and point to what's really going on.

There was Rugby league in Perth last weekend, with a doule-header at Optus Stadium, where plenty of seats were left vacant. What's that mean?

And reports would indicate that Matt Burton's camp and the Bulldogs have begun extension talks. But we're not buying it for a second.

Chapters:

03:57 - The spectacle at Optus Stadium and whether any other League games should be scheduled there

9:50 - Boardroom tension between the CEO and GM and how this has come about

19:12 - The recruitment strategy and the rhetoric around it

23:10 - What we can learn from Scott Drinkwater's contract talks and how it relates to Matt Burton

Early exit clauses, Oledski's value, Easter Monday lessons

Phil — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT

We kick things off with our thoughts on the Perth Bears mascot being announced, then dive into the show.

There are reports that three key Bears signings have player options in their favour, which will impact our roster management from as soon as 2028. Spoiler: it's Wishart, Henry and Curran.

Mitch then has a man-crush on Mikolaj Oledski.

Then we race through some players that have been linked to the club and make calls on whether we'd like the Bears to sign them or not.

Chapters

01:00 Kodi the Bear
06:00 Early Exit Clauses in Player Contracts (Wishart, Henry and Curran)
13:00 Mikolaj Oledski's Growing Credentials
17:00 Learning Experiences for Sean Russell and Luke Laulili'i on Easter Monday
21:30 We race through players that have been linked to the Bears and play a game of 'Would You' (sign them?). Names featured:
22:00 Charlie Staines
24:00 Brodie Croft
28:00 Jaydn Sua
30:30 Jamie Humphries

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Signing whispers, Sexton's form, Manly's mess

Phil — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:00 GMT

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

We reveal some signing scoops and discuss whispers surrounding Jake Averillo, Matt Burton, Connor Watson, Arama Hau and Jonathan Sua. We also assess recruit Toby Sexton's current form in the Super League, which is cause for concern, and unpack the mess at Manly and the type of dysfunction we need to avoid as an aligned club in the west.

Chapters

1:00 - Noah Johannssen :(
3:00 - Perth Bears inaugural jersey release
5:00 - Toby Sexton's worrying form
8:00 - The self-inflicted mess at the Sea Eagles and a good example of what mistakes the Bears can't afford to make
20:00 - News and murmours around Jake Averillo, Matt Burton, Connor Watson, Arama Hau and Jonathan Sua

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Country connections & key recruiting targets

Phil — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:00 GMT

We are the Grizzwolds! This is a Perth Bears podcast. We're independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

We delve into recruitment targets and recent signings, unpack whether the struggles of the Western Force impact the Bears, dive into the seeminly strong Central West NSW connections and speculate on who the recruiting team should target next.

Chapters:

00:00 Introducing the Grizzwolds Grizzly Lifelongers
10:44 Financial Struggles of the Western Force
18:24 Central West Connections and Recruitment Strategy
23:32 Country Players and Recruitment
30:15 Recruitment Strategy for Outside Backs
36:10 Importance of Yardage Wingers
42:07 Identifying Potential Recruits

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player.

Dogs dominoes, marquees & favourite signings

Phil — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:28:01 GMT

We are the Grizzwolds! Grizzly lifelongers … a dysfunctional family and community … a Perth Bears podcast. We're independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

For Ep 1: We pop straight into it, unpacking Bulldogs dominoes and how they relate to Matt Burton, a key target. We also try to define a 'marquee' player, given it's been a recruitment talking point. We also hand out some 3,2,1's to Bears-contracted players that have started their seasons (still with other clubs) well and dive into the club's recruitment efforts so far.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player.

The Trailer

Phil — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:28:55 GMT

We are the Grizzwolds!

Grizzly lifelongers … a dysfunctional family and community … a Perth Bears podcast.

We're independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player.