June 12, 2026 — 11:44amThe Perth Bears and coach Mal Meninga have been issued a combined $40,000 in fines for breaking the game’s new anti-tampering rules.The NRL has issued two separate breach notices over comments Meninga made to News Corp recently, in which the inaugural Bears coach identified Bulldogs stars Matt Burton and Jacob Preston, as well as Panthers champion Nathan Cleary, as potential signings targets if they become free agents from November 1.Meninga’s $20,000 fine has been suspended, while both he and the Perth franchise have five business days to respond to the proposed punishments.Meninga’s name-dropping of possible marquee signings has been deemed the first breach of new anti-tampering rules, which prevent club officials or player agents from publicly courting players who are under contract.“There has also been a heap of noise around Matt Burton,” Meninga told News Corp after the club flew a reporter across the country to drum up publicity ahead of their 2027 entry to the competition.“Jacob Preston, he’s someone coming off contract after 2027, we’ll be in the picture. We will have enough money in our cap to maybe chase a Nathan or a Jake if they come onto the open market.”The law has been colloquially dubbed the ‘Gus rule’ after the blowback that followed comments made by Phil Gould around Lachlan Galvin before the highly rated young playmaker eventually moved from the Tigers to Gould’s Canterbury.The Bulldogs triggered an NRL Integrity Unit investigation after complaining about Meninga’s comments.The NRL has effectively fined itself given the governing body owns the Perth club, though the decision was made by independent decision-maker Geoff Bellew in the role created for him to be the final arbiter on integrity issues.The Bears have been approached for comment.More to come.From our partners