Nick Meaney

Born in Lismore and raised in northern New South Wales, Nick Meaney played his junior rugby league for the Ballina Seagulls before making his first-grade breakthrough with the Newcastle Knights in 2018. A move to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs the following season saw him cement himself as a resilient NRL-calibre back, but it was his transition to the Melbourne Storm in 2022 that truly elevated his career to new heights.

Under the guidance of Craig Bellamy in Melbourne, Meaney transformed into one of the competition’s most reliable and dangerous utilities. Whether stepping into the fullback role or executing with precision in the centres, his lethal combo of safe handling, sharp positional play, and elite goal-kicking made him a cornerstone of the Storm backline. Meaney played a central role in Melbourne's dominant 2024 and 2025 campaigns, featuring in back-to-back Grand Finals and playing for Australian PM’s XIII this year.

Meaney will headline the Perth Bears' historic expansion into the NRL. Having signed a three-year deal taking him through to the end of 2029, the 29-year-old brings over 150 games of top-flight experience, a clinical point-scoring boot, and championship pedigree to Western Australia. The Bears view him as a primary leadership pillar capable of anchoring their spine or backline from their very first kick-off.

Head Coach Mal Meninga said securing Meaney alongside Storm teammate Tyran Wishart was a massive coup for the expansion franchise.

"Nick provides us with creativity and spark in attack and is also an exceptional defender," Meninga said. "He can play multiple positions in the backline, is an exceptional goalkicker, and will be a leader at our club."