What's the point of partnering with the bears if the aim of the Pacific team is to create pathways for the Pacific Island players. Right now there is not one single NRL player that was born and developed in the Pacific. RU players don't count.
The cost of developing players over a wide geographical space would be expensive. Not to mention the cost of telecasting games over there.
Using Fiji as example and keeping in mind that it takes less time to fly from Sydney to Fiji (3,100 kms) than it does to Perth (3,900 kms).
The Bears (if they aligned with, say, Fiji) would be crazy if they didn't locate a scout and start recruiting schoolboys from there, they can take advantage of schooling here while developing their league skills. Everybody wins, some will make the grade and even if they don't make it they can go back to Fiji and talk about their experiences and share their learnings. A golden opportunity to break the Union stranglehold in Fijian schools.
Some examples of Fijian born and raised NRL players that were scouted and brought here, only from memory, there are probably more;
Marika Koroibete plays union now but he played for the Tigers and Melbourne for a combined 6 years.
Tui Kamikamica plays for Melbourne
Semi Radradra
Viliame Kikau, needs no introduction, scouted by Adrian Thomson in a schoolboy match.
Noa Nadruku, possibly the first
Always a Bulldog