Apa Twidle

Hailing from Ngaruawahia, New Zealand, explosive playmaker and utility back Apa Twidle honed his raw athletic instincts within elite systems before storming onto the professional rugby league scene. The 21-year-old prodigy initially made waves as a standout at Marsden State High School, a performance baseline that quickly saw him integrated into the Parramatta Eels junior pipeline. Demonstrating elite playmaking vision and footwork, he steadily climbed through the SG Ball Cup, Jersey Flegg, and NSW Cup ranks. His undeniable trajectory reached a spectacular culmination earlier this season, scoring two brilliant tries on his NRL first-grade debut for the Parramatta Eels during a high-stakes clash against the Wests Tigers.

Twidle's immediate impact in the topflight provided definitive proof of his multi-positional star potential. Equally brilliant pulling the strings as an organic halfback or tearing open defensive lines as an explosive outside back, his natural flair and sharp footy IQ make him a rare tactical luxury for a foundation team. Beyond his freakish ability to create scoring opportunities out of nothing, the young Kiwi-born star is heavily praised for his mature positional flexibility, giving the coaching staff an incredible asset who can adapt to any backline scenario or bolster a young, highly competitive playmaking unit.

Securing his future on the western coastline, Twidle has agreed to a three-year contract to spearhead the Perth Bears franchise for their historic entry into the NRL from 2027 through 2029. The long-term security and the unique opportunity to build a brand-new top-tier legacy in a fresh territory under an elite coaching framework made the cross-country transition the ideal next step for his budding career. The Bears view the young sensation as a central marquee building block, perfectly embodying the club's deliberate recruitment strategy of anchoring the franchise around high-ceiling youth sourced from top-tier professional pathways.

Head Coach Mal Meninga declared the versatile young star would be a pivotal element of the club's long-term tactical blueprint.

“Apa is a prodigious talent who has excelled across multiple positions in the Eels junior pathways system for a long time now,” Meninga said. “He is highly talented and possesses the work ethic and attitude needed to make an immediate impact in our footy team.”