Expansion talk begins, Bears to be considered
Roar Rookie By canberrabear, 15 Mar 2009 canberrabear is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Central Coast Bears, NRL, Rugby League
Alright, perhaps the article title is a little bit premature and misleading, and yes, I am a lifelong fan of the Mighty Bears.
So I guess at this point I should offer a little disclaimer: the following article provides real facts, combined with some obvious bias, regarding the expansion of the National Rugby League (NRL).
Whilst the talk of expansion continues to increase amongst fans and the media, NRL Chief Executive David Gallop has approached the topic cautiously.
“I think it is critically important that the 16 clubs that we have got are not going to easily deal with expansion,” Mr Gallop said.
“But we are looking at places like the Central Coast, like the areas west of Brisbane, like Perth, like Adelaide, some time in the future but we are not prepared to put a date on those.”
You see, for an excited Bears fan, Gallop’s words are easily misrepresented and rearranged.
“Did you hear Gallop the other day? He said that the 16 clubs would easily deal with expansion and that he would look to places like the Central Coast,” I told my Dad.
OK, so maybe the expansion talks haven’t officially started, but can you blame me for the exaggeration?
It’s been ten long years without my team and the seats at Central Coast Stadium still spell “Go Bears”.
I think I am entitled to be a little delusional.
So what about my second claim? Will the Bears be considered?
Well, I can tell you now, the Bears will be considered.
North Sydney Chief Executive, Greg Florimo is leading the club’s push for resurrection and is confident about their chances.
“If the Central Coast had its own team in the NRL competition we would fill the Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford for every home game.”
Florimo’s confidence was backed up strongly by David Gallop, who openly addressed the Central Coast in Gosford during the week.
“I’ve always had great sympathy for the Bears and for what happened with their former bid to become a Central Coast team.”
“Certainly if it comes to the point of choosing between what clubs should be allowed to relocate to the Central Coast the Bears would be right in the mix,” Mr Gallop said.
Florimo has sniffed out an opportunity, with a new TV rights deal to be negotiated prior to 2012. This new proactive approach might be just what the doctor ordered.
Rather than wait to be called upon, the Bears will be ready to approach business in three weeks, with a goal of securing significant financial contributors.
Florimo is also aware of the Central Coast’s desire for a team they can truly call their own. To provide this, the club will be known as the Central Coast Bears, with the entire football club operation to be located on the Coast.
Other new initiatives will be announced this year, targeted at gaining the support of locals and providing a people power element to the bid.
It is an exciting time for Central Coast and North Sydney Rugby League fans. The time feels right and Central Coast is ready.
So expect the calls to get louder, strengthening the case for a return of the Bears.
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The Crowd Says (7) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Explore:
- Central Coast Bears, NRL, Rugby League
March 15th 2009 @ 11:24am
sportsfanslife.com said | March 15th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
I love your spirit Canberra Bear, as a life long Magpie and now Tiger, I know what it is like for your team to lose the identity you grew up with. Fortunately I still have a club to support after the merger, you are not so lucky, so I can’t say I feel your pain. What do you think will be made of the Bears’ history should they reincarnate? Would the majority of former Bears supporters allign with the new club, or old on to their old, nostalgic memories? Will a Central Coast run side represent the past deeds of the North Sydney club, or would their focus be on forging their own future and agenda? As much as it would be great to see the red and blacks running around again (I always had a soft spot for the Bears, and I loved watching at North Sydney Oval as a kid), on some points I think those that are looking for a nostalgic renaissance of sorts may be sorely disappointed. Either way, you will deservedly have some sort of identity, which is far better than your current situation…Good luck, I’m pushing too!
March 15th 2009 @ 6:42pm
Crosscoder said | March 15th 2009 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
Canberrabear.
I feel for you,losing a team,temporaily one hopes.
The addition of the Bears on the central coast in an expanded 18 team competition,will do more than just make up the numbers.
Why?
1.The return of the Bears would create a state of goodwill within the game,that has been knocked from pillar to post.
One only has to see the emotional return of Sth sydney to the game,after bee=ing given the proverbial flick.
2. Many fans of the Bears from my experience,either turned their back on rl,and followed the Tahs or Swans,gave up football altogther,and the diehards kept the flame burning with the likes of Florimo.A return for the Bears,would IMO see many of these lost souls return to their beloved Bears.
3.The central coast with their host of juniors,a great first class stadium ,and a backer in J son of Singleton would be an ideal fit,with the adjoining Nthn Suburbs of Sydney.
4.A nostalgic return to Nth Sydney oval,playing the Eagles would fill the joint.
5.Gallop has stated openly,you expand where the fish are.There are schools of them on the CC.
6.There is a winter void ATM for first class football on the CC.A Bears team would fill that void.
7.An additonal team in a rl area,would give the Tv stations more content and ratings perhaps,and assist in a better Tv deal.The current TV deal from a layman’s viewpoint appear to be underdone.
8.The Bears have sentimentally been ,most supporters second team.You know the old ‘snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory’ comments thrown in the direction of the big, bad, battling Bears.
good luck in your ebdeavours.
March 15th 2009 @ 8:18pm
Col the Bear said | March 15th 2009 @ 8:18pm | Report comment
Thanks CB..nice to have someone else on board here who wants those mighty Bears back into the NRL, but I have to add everyone on this site has been very accepting to the concept of the central coast Bears.. which is a far cry from a few years ago, when we were told that “tell ‘em there dreamin’” from many a site..around the arena…The momentum is growing for our club..I have just come from TG Milner oval where the buzz around the oval was the possibility that YES the Bears could very well be back, and very soon at that..it is becoming a reality..Flo was also smiling today, as were all Bears fans at the Oval when The Mighty Bears SG Ball side outplayed and outmuscled a Manly side..28/10.. sadly the Matts met with more resistance and went down, but the U/18s were in great shape and I believe are now in 7th position with 4 games to go, it’s a top 12 final series this year, as we play against the QRL junior sides in the finals in a knockout, a great concept by the NSW RL and the QRL..That rivalry between North Sydney and Manly is as ferocious as ever..as I said ;if you don’t win any games in a season it’s all forgiven if you just beat the arch rivalries Manly.
… next week it’s taking on the Dragons once again at TG milner, it will be tough games, but the smile will be there for a week at least; that a very entertaining game gave the Bears a great victory..Next week the Bears NSW cup side play Cronulla sharks..
March 16th 2009 @ 8:58am
sheek said | March 16th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
Back in the late 60s when I first started following both rugby codes, Norths Bears had the reputation of being a “nuisance” team. That is, although usually occupying a place on the bottom half of the ladder, would usually inflict defeat on a top 4 placed side at an inconvenient time for the upper placed team.
The Bears usually played an attractive brand of rugby, but struggled for consistency due to a lack of playing depth across the board. Their demise was terribly sad. You know, if I was running rugby league, I would bring back the Bears to North Sydney, & move the Bulldogs to the Central Coast! Plus add a second NZ team. My 18 club comp would be as follows:
1. North Sydney Bears
2. East Sydney Jets (Easts Roosters & Newtown Jets combined)
3. South Sydney Rabbitohs
4. West Sydney Tigers (Wests Magpies & Balmain Tigers combined)
5. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
6. Penrith Panthers
7. Parramatta Eels
8. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
9. St. George-Illawarra (SGI) Dragons
10. Canterbury-Central Coast (CCC) Bulldogs
11. Newcastle Knights
12. Gold Coast Titans
13. Brisbane Broncos
14. North Queensland Cowboys
15. Canberra Raiders
16. Melbourne Storm
17. Auckland (NZ) Warriors
18. Wellington (NZ) Aces (or whatever)
Everyone plays each other once for 17 games. Then divide into 3 pools x 6 teams for another 5 games each. That’s 22 home & away games each for the year. Followed by 8 teams finals series – quarters, semis & a final.
3 x pools (suggested):
POOL A POOL B POOL C
North Qld Manly-Warr. East Sydney
Brisbane North Sydney South Sydney
Gold Coast West Sydney Parramatta
Newcastle Penrith Cronulla-Suth.
Canterbury-CC St.George-Ill. Canberra
Auckland Wellington Melbourne
March 16th 2009 @ 5:39pm
canberrabear said | March 16th 2009 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
Thanks for the support everyone. To Sportsfanlife,
I am confident that the history etc will be maintained. The name will change to Central Coast, however, North Sydney est 1908 will appear on the jersey. The Bear will remain and the colours will be predominately red and black.
We cannot be too greedy however. We must ensure the Central Coast are satisfied and included in the bid. I’d be happy to allow them to add a colour, vote on the jersey design and vote on the club logo.
We must increase our presence on the coast and make sure that the people their understand that our priority is to give them a team and not just to ressurect the bears.
March 16th 2009 @ 6:44pm
wallythefly said | March 16th 2009 @ 6:44pm | Report comment
Good stuff canberrabear (i know a very supportive bear fan in canberra, is this you JB?), i think it makes SO much sense to bring them back up there in the CC
the central coast will support any side that is genuine and local and it will awaken a whole heap of supporters on the north shore
lets do it!
March 18th 2009 @ 10:49am
JB_Ferret said | March 18th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
To wallythefly, you would be surprised that is not actually me that wrote this article. There are indeed others out there still holding the flame. I remember when the Bears were kicked out of the competition I put my Bears mascot in a sealed jar in my room like some sort of cryogenically frozen sign. I vowed I would keep it in that jar until the day that the Bears came back into the competition. It still sits there but it is cloudy and mouldy to the point I’m not even sure if its still intact.
I would love to see the Bears back in the competition even if it was the Central Coast, although I have a dilemma. Since the Bears were kicked out I watched RL and needed a team to follow. The Raiders were always my “soft spot” team and I started barracking for them and coincidentally moved down to Canberra and have been here for 5 years now. I passionately follow the Raiders now but what am I to do if the Bears come back?
To put it in perspective, I joke about it to my mates that its like finding out your wife died, and then remarrying a few years later. Then 10 years into your marriage you found out your first wife isn’t actually dead. What do you do? Which one do you go for?
Either way Bears for Life! Bring them back!