Panrith duo leave for Perth Bears seeking regular starting roles

Two Penrith Panthers players, Jack Cole and Liam Henry, have signed with Perth Bears, the NRL’s newest club, citing the chance for a regular starting role and a different lifestyle as their primary reasons for leaving the competition’s dominant side. The 22-year-old Cole and 23-year-old Henry, who share a history spanning junior ranks, first-grade debuts, and premiership wins at Penrith, each agreed to three- and four-year deals respectively. Their departure marks the end of an era for the Panthers’ depth, as they join a new team without a playing history or a single game played.

A move built on family and culture

Both players emphasized that their decision was not an escape from success, but a calculated step toward a more stable environment. Cole, who has been with the Panthers since he was 15, described the appeal of joining a club led by Mal Meninga, who prioritized recruiting good people before focusing on on-field talent. “He just spoke to me about just being a family-first club,” Cole said. “I think that’s really important, especially for culture. If you have a good group of boys, nice people, then obviously footy will go well off the back of that with a connected crew like that.”

Henry echoed this sentiment, noting that the culture at the new franchise aligns with his values. He admitted he had never visited Western Australia before signing but flew over with his family to confirm the decision. The environment in Perth, combined with the prospect of raising a family near the beach, convinced him to commit until 2030. “I feel like it would be a great place to raise a family as well,” Henry said.

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Comparing the Bears’ current situation to the one Cole left in Penrith highlights a significant shift in priorities for the players. In Sydney, the pressure to perform at the highest level is constant, often exacerbated by injuries and suspensions that force players into roles they did not choose. Cole explained that he wanted to leave a system where he was often filling gaps around established stars to join a team where he could cement a spot. “The chance to nail down a genuine starting spot rather than continue filling in around injuries and suspensions,” he said, was the key factor.

As the Panthers prepare to face the Newcastle Knights this Sunday, Cole and Henry remain focused on their immediate goals with the club they helped build. They are chasing a win and a Grand Final victory before officially transitioning to their new roles with the Bears. The move to Perth represents a new chapter, yet the parallel tracks of their careers suggest that their paths are destined to remain intertwined for the foreseeable future.

Life in the west and the path ahead

Neither player pretends that leaving Penrith is a small thing to give up. The club has provided every opportunity for Cole since he was fifteen. However, both men view the move to Perth not as an escape, but as a chance to stop waiting. Cole met with Bears officials in Sydney rather than flying west. A few conversations and phone calls convinced him to sign a three-year deal until the end of 2029. He was struck by what Mal Meninga told him about the club’s recruitment strategy.