The NRL has stepped in to give Perth a hand in their search for marquee players, with NRL boss Peter V'landys tipping them to grow a tribal following from the outset.
The Bears officially unveiled their home jersey on Friday, with V'landys in Perth to spruik the expansion club in the lead-up to Melbourne's clash with Manly at HBF Park.
The red-and-black hooped jersey pays tribute to the first-ever North Sydney Bears side of 1908, when the club was a foundation member of the NSW Rugby Football League.
Excitement in Perth is building ahead of the Bears' arrival, but the franchise is yet to land a marquee player.
In contrast, fellow expansion club the PNG Chiefs, who will enter the competition in 2028, have been able to reel in star after star largely due their ability to offer tax-free salaries.
V'landys used his trip west to give the Bears some handy gifts in their bid to land some marquee players.
"They will be given a 20 per cent dispensation for one player above a million dollars," V'Landys said.
"So if the player is worth $1.5 million, they can pay another 20 per cent from a sponsor and that won't be counted in the salary cap.
"That gives them the opportunity to get somebody because they've got a 20 per cent bonus for that player from the sponsor, which is not allowed at the moment (for other clubs) because it would be included in the salary cap."
V'Landys said the other concession handed to Perth was actually an idea formed by rival clubs.
"If there's a player that's contracted currently that wants to leave that club, as long as the club and the player agree, that player will be first offered to Perth," V'landys said.
"So you may have a marquee player that's not happy in a particular club, and if the club and the player want to separate, that player can only go to Perth in the first instance."
V'landys said it was important for the Bears to be successful from the outset.
"I always use my focus group - being the Uber drivers and the taxi drivers - and one of the things they said is if they're successful, we'll follow them," V'landys added.
"So we need success pretty quickly, and people will become tribal and follow Perth.
"It's a one-team state, and I think you'll be surprised at how many people will become tribal and follow the Perth Bears. We're confident.
"I think the roster they've put forward is underestimated. I think they're going to be very competitive."
Bears coach Mal Meninga has full faith in the squad he has assembled so far and is taking the outside criticism on the chin.
"I reckon I've got marquee signings, so that (criticism) is just a matter of opinion," Meninga said.
"That's external voices. Internal voices say that we've got a really strong roster. The proof is in the pudding. I've always maintained that.
"Critics are critics. Everyone's got an opinion. It's the results that matter. We'll play it here on a Sunday afternoon and we'll be judged on that."
Saturday's clash between the Storm and Sea Eagles will mark the final NRL match in Perth before the Bears launch into action.
Before the game, Meninga will lead a 'Bear Walk' from the Brisbane Hotel car park to HBF Stadium to celebrate the team's NRL entry.
"We've got the Storm and Manly (on Saturday), which is fantastic for WA Tourism and our great game," Meninga said.
"But we take over on Sunday. That's going to be Perth Bears country then, and this is going to be the Bear Pit."
