The NRL needs to hand a licence to the Central Coast
Roar Guru By Steve Kaless, 24 Dec 2008 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Central Coast, Central Coast Mariners, Cronulla, Cronulla Sharks, football, Gold Coast, North Queensland, North Sydney Bears, Rugby League, Super League, Warrington
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There is an elephant sitting in the NRL boardroom and it is adorned with a large flashing Las Vegas style neon light which reads ‘Central Coast rugby league’. The next big thing on the domestic to-do list is to get the Central Coast up and running and into the NRL.
The current pattern of teams relegating games against Newcastle to Bluetongue Stadium is the sort of halfway house solution that doesn’t satisfy rugby league fans in the region nor the fans of the travelling teams, and only slightly cheers up the club’s bean counters.
In fact, the only people it would make happy would be a few hard heads looking to test themselves against Belinda Neal after a dozen schooners at Club Troppo.
You could even argue it actually alienates local fans as it deprives them of the respect of seeing their own team in action. If they are good enough for NRL matches, they are good enough to have their own side.
For god’s sake, the people of Cronulla do.
I’ve also always maintained that a relocated side is also doomed to fail. Why should the people of the Central Coast pick up a side that has failed elsewhere?
The only exception would be a revival of the North Sydney Bears.
This is due to the fact that the Bears have always had an eye on the Central Coast (the attempts to get up there actually killed them off) and it is probably closer to their rugby league territory of Asquith, Pennant Hills, and the rest of the Hills district than North Sydney Oval.
I’d argue the NRL needs to hand a licence to the Central Coast in the same way it did the Gold Coast: that is, with a few seasons for the club to build its side and infrastructure.
The Titans are the blueprint for a successful launch, so plagiarism is encouraged if not demanded.
They’ve looked to restart the momentum by appointing David Fairleigh, and acting CEO Greg Florimo is clearly a contender for Australia’s most patient man.
A new club could also help retain players heading to Super League. In fact, I’ll even create the first rumour that Matt King could be a great marquee signing.
Unhappy in Warrington and a former North Sydney lower grader, it could be the sort of signing to get things happening, at least in the tabloid press.
Bluetongue Stadium is also a great ground and it is a crying shame it is only used in the summer months by the Mariners.
I’ll also fire a pre-emptive strike against anyone who believes that the area is strictly Mariners territory now.
You are dreaming.
The Central Coast clearly has a big enough population to support a number of sporting franchises, and given the Mariners crowds this year, they are clearly as far away from a mortgage there as many of the battlers in the area are.
If no other code could survive on the Central Coast, what hope the A-League franchises in North Queensland or the Gold Coast?
Remember, reality exists outside cyberspace.
But I digress, be it as the Central Coast Bears in red and black or the Central Coast Bucks in a Hawaiian motif, I’d love to make the trip come 2011/2012.
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December 26th 2008 @ 7:59am
ros said | December 26th 2008 @ 7:59am | Report comment
midfielder the north sydney district rugby league football club lobbied the government andgained the funding the norths league club did in fact put in over 4 million and for the first 3 years once the stadium was open paid over 320000.00 per year for the up keep of the grounds so the stadium would not have been built if it was not for the bears moving up to the central coast.
December 26th 2008 @ 10:08am
Midfielder said | December 26th 2008 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Ros & Crosscoder
I agree with your recent comments but disagreed with Ros’s previous comment that Norths Built the stadium.
But back on topic… What in in this for RL … how many more people will watch TV because of it. Sydney has what 9 teams and Newcastle to the north .. 300, 000 people and many of these especially in the northern parts of the CC have Newcastle as there team. Reach year the NRL play a number of games there so where is the advantage to grow and expand RL. Are other areas better say Sunshine Coast, Wellington, PNG as I said earlier.
IMO the CC needs a Sydney team to die and take its place with its own team… lets look at the contenders.
Manly … no way
Easts … needed to counter the Swans & SFC and who else other than the Easts Leagues club would fund them so they stay,
Souths… I don’t think RC would allow it.
Saints … no way Commonwealth just re developed their ground and the gong thrown in so no.
Cronulla … Good chance they will go broke ..
Wests … No way are to well supported by their various leagues clubs
Parra … not with the new board,
Penrith … NO with the leagues club and the Commonwealth Gov redeveloping the ground a real no go.
C’Bury … Ya homeless have had some big problems so ya.
IMO put in a bid when the next Sydney team falls over you will take their place much like Tassie has done in the AFL … the sharks or the dogs more likely the sharks will go under and its yours then a new team.
December 26th 2008 @ 11:21am
Crosscoder said | December 26th 2008 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Midfielder.
Have to disagree with you on the perilous position re the Sharks.In view of proposed development plans( on land which they own), and which they will put to council in the DA proposal 1st qtr 2009 involving confirmed committment of a 3.5star hotel group,retail outlets and over 55s housing(120-150 apartments/villas),think they will be in a far better financial position than the majority of Sydney clubs.This will take away any reliance on poker machine profits.More about this development will appear in the media over the next few months.The early stage of local input and comment has already taken place,prior Christmas.
The Commonwealth also threw in $10.5m for the development of a new stand at Shark Park.Thank you to Mr Pierre Costello.
I do agree a team is needed on the CC.A team with the nostalgia of the Bears would do more to heal the SL rift than any other
decision IMO.
A team in Perth ,one involving PNG and one in Wellington NZ. 20 teams 2 conferences .Should just about do it.
Adelaide and Sunshine Coast down the line maybe.
December 26th 2008 @ 1:00pm
Midfielder said | December 26th 2008 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
Crosscoder
Thanks for that info on the Sharks I did not know that … that leaves the dogs as I see it, or Souths if RC does not see improvement.
I am still not convinced a CC team adds more value than than others I have mentioned … QLD is now the real power house in RL and I would give the Sunshine Coast a team before the CC.
In the end we are both going on gut feel more than a detailed analysis ..Hopefully the NRL will do some homework on which brings the best result for the overall betterment of RL as a whole.
December 26th 2008 @ 7:15pm
Marty said | December 26th 2008 @ 7:15pm | Report comment
This is not just about the Central Coast getting it’s own rugby league team (which is needed).
This is also about reconnecting the North Shore of Sydney to Rugby League.
On their own they are two important markets for Rugby League.
Together, they should be handing the Bears a licence for 2210, why wait ’til 2011 ??
December 28th 2008 @ 2:32pm
Col said | December 28th 2008 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
It’s time to fix the wrongs of rugby league..David Gallop has made it clear that the next target is the Central Coast,end of story, this statement he made back on august the 1st 08,in the media.not my words, his…The Mariners and the Bears can both live side by side on the CC, there is room for both clubs to succeed and they will..As Ros has stated, it was the Bears who negotiated the funding from the govt,Bob Carr and John Howard were not sitting around one night having a couple of beers and said “hey lets build a 32 million dollar stadium at Gosford” it was Norths who instigated that, plus 4 million of their own funding and with Gosford Council and a big Bear supporter in the mayor at the time here Chris Holstein..Norths junior clubs have also had an affiliation with the CC and each year since the 70s have played trial matches against Kinkumber, and Ourimbah..The very strong North Sydney Junior club of Berowra, enjoys their annual outings against the CC juniors and vica versa..Yes ;the Bears will work,the Central Coast will work, all we need is the go ahead from the NRL..I agree 2010 would be better for all concerned, but you have to get the players coming off contract to make the CC Bears a very strong club straight up, as Gold Coast have done..it took then 1.5 years to get up and running..Its our turn now, Bears supporters so keep the momentum going, but as I look around on all these other forums,the Bears reinvigorated on the CC seems to be what the majority of posters want weather they are from the CC ;North shore. or Penrith supporters or Souths supporters even Manly supporters are saying bring the Bears back and when Zorba openly says it on air, you just wonder don’t you…Its been mentioned about the value of another team, well I’m sure Fox would love to have more subscribers from Milsons point to Wyong.plus more merchandise sales, plus a stop on players going overseas to super league or other codes, if they have another team..Yes lets just get on with it, Mr gallop.but just one more thing,the Swans have also been making inroads to the central Coast recently, with camps, and getting into the schools , if the NRL don’t act soon,they will loose more and more kids to AFL,.cheers Col.
December 28th 2008 @ 2:49pm
Col said | December 28th 2008 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
oh and just an add on here, not having an NRL team has had some major effects on clubs in the CC and North Shore region…When the jim Beam cup first got up and running you had 4 Central Coast teams in that comp..now I believe for next season it’s just one and they are struggling..Union has made major inroads into the North Shore as has AFL..Junior clubs have lost many many teams from the Bears Juniors since Norths were dropped..Clubs like Lane cove are no more, Penno struggles as does Brothers and willoughby, once all very strong clubs not that long ago,Hills Hawks, Berowra and Asquith, have continued to be strong, but even those clubs have lost teams since the Bears were ousted..Northern district Knights gone…Yes it is time to finally fix this before more rot sets in..Col.
December 28th 2008 @ 7:15pm
billy said | December 28th 2008 @ 7:15pm | Report comment
Col, agree with much of what you have written except the bit about union making major inroads on the north shore. Rugby union has always been strong on the north shore in part due to the vast array of rugby clubs e.g. first division clubs such as Northern districts, Gordon, Manly, Warrigah. Many sub-district clubs, plus a very strong presence in school especially private schools.
I am a Manly rugby league supporter but would love nothing more than to see the Bears re-instated!
December 29th 2008 @ 6:50am
Col said | December 29th 2008 @ 6:50am | Report comment
I refer to one junior club in prticular..Hornsby, now Hornsby Lions were the colours of forrestville, Green and White,they were quite a strong junior club, I recall them winning the A Grade grandfinal in the late 90s..they are no more.The only Hornsby Lions club now wear the colours of Red,Black and Yellow and play Union..The Maroon and white club of Berowra Wallabies are a stong club, they don’t have the backing of a Leagues club as Asquith, but this year were the first North Sydney Rugby league junior team to take out the Manly A grade comp on a shoestring budget unlike the Valleys United..But Berowra are a very tight nit communtiy based club, and the majority of the community do get involved and behind the club, and the boys are all locals..I feel the same can be done for the Central Coast Bears team..the community to get involved..and it will be a great success.as the Mariners are.it’s just 9 seasons overdue for us..but as you know Billy, we are an old and very resiliant club…probably one of the darkest years for the Bears was in 2004,after that year we were extremely lucky to keep going,But the ‘wiz’ Gary Freeman come on as Coach for the 05 season and now we are thriving again,getting into the 07 Grandfinal, Minor Premiers in 08, and ready again for the big time and don’t forget General Manager Greg Florimo needs a medal for the way he has kept the club afloat,,we just need the NRL to make Central Coast and North Shore bears supporters once and for all content..Bears for 2011, Sunshine Coast for 2012…hell if the AFL can put in 2 teams for 11 and 12 why not the NRL.good hearing from you after all these years Bill, this is the first forum, I’ve been on for years..loosing the Bears ripped the heart out of many many Bears supporters, and you wouldn’t want any other club supporters to go through what North Sydney had too for way too long, everyone just has to get out there and help get those Bears back, we need the Central Coast Bears…cheers Col
December 29th 2008 @ 8:08am
Col said | December 29th 2008 @ 8:08am | Report comment
now I hear NO central coast teams in Jim Beam /Bundy cup for next year Erina out as well…