By PETER ROWE
Willagee Bears are preparing to defend their Fuel to Go and Play Premiership knowing there will be a chasing pack of clubs eager to emulate their success in 2026. PETER ROWE caught up with coach Nelson Davis to preview his club’s chances for the new season.
Prepare to see a lot of new faces in the red and black of the reigning premiers Willagee Bears in 2026.
Those were the words of coach Nelson Davis recently as he put the final touches to his squad for the upcoming campaign.
No major losses – a couple – but some quality additions that will make the Bears favourites in most people’s eyes.
Captain and 2026 Grand Final MVP Kainoa Gudgeon will still be leading them, ably assisted by John Leota, Kelvin Coleman, Derek Chizuni, Tamaho Tierney and most of that championship squad.
But keep an eye on newcomers Iverson Satiu, Iziah Lolohea, Matthew Lansdown and from North Beach, Kobe Aiesi as the season unfolds.
“We’ve had 50-plus at pre-season training and it’s been very positive,” Davis told NRLWA media.
“A lot of people fighting for spots. That might give me a selection headache, but I can manage that,” he joked.
Tongan fullback Lolohea looks an exciting prospect as does backrower Satiu, who played NSW Cup for Parramatta before a hamstring injury sidelined him.
A powerful Kiwi edge forward he came to the club on the advice of Davis’ son’s hairdresser.
“My son was getting his hair cut and the hairdresser asked him if he had any rugby league contacts in Perth as he had a friend who wanted to play,” Davis said.
“A couple of messages and calls later and he signed. He’s only 23 and powerful and I think he will be a name to look out for.
“Matty Landsdown is a former Kiwi sevens player with real quality, has been through the western Force system and will be pushing strongly for one of the halves spots.
“So with Kelvin and Tamaho there, plus Matty, and then Iziah and Kobe and Kainoa all in the mix in that spine, it’s a nice sort of headache.”
With retention so high during the off-season Davis has an abundance of talent to choose from – Jackson Bond, Jackson Hanson, Leota – it’s a selection challenge most coaches would love.
And with a nine-team competition in 2026, and a reduced interchange down from 12 to ten, bench rotation will be crucial.
“We will be looking at mobile players able to play 70 minutes, some the full 80, so fitness is key,” Davis said.
The club has been in pre-season mode since November, with a boot camp and other activities, as well regular gym work, to keep the momentum up.
They have even hired an AFL kicking coach to look at how they can improve that aspect of their game.
“We will focus on ourselves and you don’t really get an all-round view of the opposition until you’ve played everyone,” Davis said.
“South Perth have brought in some new talent and North Brach look strong. Joondalup and Rockingham will be better this year as their youngsters have matured and Kalamunda could surprise a few people.
“With four new teams it will be a steep learning curve for some. It was for us last year, but until we’ve done a full lap of opposition, I can’t really say who the standouts will be.”
Davis admitted as the newcomers last season they had a point to prove, and they certainly proved a lot of critics wrong. But this year?
“We have gone from being the hunters to being the hunted, so it’s a different challenge. Now we’re the beast and everyone wants to tame us.
“But our standards are high, they’ve never dropped and our expectations are still up there.”
Davis said one of the team mottos last year was ‘Happy but not satisfied’ and it is the same this year.
“Yeah, it’s the same, we have a lot of work to do if we want to win it again. We all collectively know that and I’m really happy with how the preseason has gone.”
Back-to back – is that achievable?
The Bears are too humble publicly to say it, but privately, with the squad they have assembled, consecutive premierships is very achievable.
