Smithies joined Canberra in 2024 and has become a mainstay of Ricky Stuart's forward pack, piecing together a strong 2025 campaign as the Raiders clinched the minor premiership. "The opportunity to make history and be a part of the Perth Bears was too good to refuse," Smithies said in a statement. Smithies played 114 games for English side Wigan before his 67 at the Raiders and featured for England in last year's Ashes series loss. He joins Penrith premiership winners Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen in Perth's inaugural forward pack, with Canterbury's Josh Curran shaping as another key man. While 19th franchise PNG can offer tax-free salaries from their first season in 2028, the NRL did not provide incentives for Perth.