Sharks are out of their depth in Gosford
Roar Guru By Steve Kaless, 9 May 2009 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Cronulla Sharks, gosford rugby league, NRL, Rugby League
Misi Taulapapa lines up a nice right cross at Anthony Quinn during the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Melbourne Storm Preliminary Final National Rugby League match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
The NRL board are one hundred percent right to block any half-baked move by the Cronulla Sharks to Gosford. The Sharkies may be in financial trouble, but the game as a whole would suffer if they shifted up to Gosford.
First, it is often the job of governing boards to right the wrongs of the past, not repeat them.
Say the word “Northern Eagles” anywhere between Mosman and Club Troppo and you’re about as popular as Damir Dokic.
As Gabriel Knowles wrote during the week, and I have previously said in the past, it’s painfully clear that the people of the region want their own team, not just a group of traveling bandits keen to pick their pockets when the cupboard is looking a bit empty.
The Eagles prove this and so does the fact that the relocated matches are hardly pulling in sellout crowds. It is merely the mystery of accounting which makes them viable for the clubs involved.
If the people of the Shire don’t want to watch the Sharks, why the hell would those in Gosford? There is a side ready and waiting for Gosford. The Bears.
After a short mourning period, the Bears have worked hard to rebuild their club around Gosford.
They have the colours, the coach, the CEO, even the captain in Chris Heighington, all ready to go.
For a side yet to have a match, they even have a rich history, and what’s more, they have more juniors than most current NRL clubs.
They also have the important X factor the Sharks don’t have.
The re-entry of the Bears would provide an enormous boost for rugby league. In my opinion, it would outstrip the readmission of the Rabbitohs and would provide a real excitement about the team.
Gabriel made the point yesterday that Adelaide could be the answer for the Sharks.
I agree. The matches they are considering moving to Gosford should be switched to Adelaide. What’s more, the NRL should provide some support for this.
It’s the best way to actually find out whether there is interest in a professional rugby league franchise playing out of the city of churches.
In fact, the crowd they got to their match against the Cowboys this year was roughly the same as their average this season at Shark Park, so it is not like we’re starting from zero.
While a move to the Coast would be muscling in on someone else’s territory, Adelaide doesn’t have the same hurdle (bar a few Rams fans still waiting for their return).
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Replaying the same old record of shifting to Gosford does no one any favours. The team from the insular peninsula needs to broaden its horizons.
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May 10th 2009 @ 12:53pm
Crosscoder said | May 10th 2009 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Col the Bear.
Appreciate your comments.All I know at this stage is the D/A has been lodged with Sutherland council 25/3 on view for 30 days.There has been only 8 objections to the development,none on environmental grounds.The club it appears spent $1.1m on various studies soil studies,flood studies,blue green frog studies to ensure that side was covered.
According to director Brett Crowley director former player and chartered accountant ,an announcement could come as early as June 29 ,when the club has a meeting with the council.
Once and if teh club gets the green light from council,there would be freed $5m for funding,$2m of which pumped directly into the leagues and football clubs to ensure their long term viability.
ATM the club is treading on eggshells,however a few wins would help,and games aginst bigger drraing clubs such as Saints etc,instead of the out of towners would help lift the crowds.
i intend to cast my vote at the coming club elections in a couple of weeks,should be interesting.
May 10th 2009 @ 12:55pm
Crosscoder said | May 10th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Col the Bear.
It is now 1.08pm and Flo is about to lob onto 2BL radio discussing the Bears.
May 10th 2009 @ 9:13pm
Col the Bear said | May 10th 2009 @ 9:13pm | Report comment
Crosscoder did you happen to hear what flo said, I was out at Bear pk watching the Bears flog the Dragons 36/12 today..
29th of June? our proposal will be in by then for inclusion , and Flo would have set up office at Gosford for the CC Bears..
I also think it’ll be interesting what crowd they get to gosford tomorrow night for the Roosters/Storm..game after the debacle this week..
Gallop did make it clear that he wanted Cronulla to stay at cronulla as he wanted Newcastle to stay at Newcastle, and Manly to stay at Manly.. he said they were RL geographical areas the NRL needed..either way, I think there’s some interetsing times ahead…
May 12th 2009 @ 1:32pm
Crossocder said | May 12th 2009 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
Col the Bear.trying to get my thinking back in order after the M Johns publicised dramas.
Flo stated that the team will be wholely and soley domiciled on the CC.They will play 1 game at the Nth Sydney Oval.They will be moving offices,and mentioned the name of an advtg/publcity group that would assist them in promotion work for the Coast’s juniors and another large sponsor ready to sign up.
They will ensure the team is part and parcel of the community,in much the same way as the Titans are on the GC.
Should a team fall over(not the Sharkies pleeeease) they would be ready within 12 months to take up the slack.
They will be known as the CC Bears not the Nth Sydney Bears.They have received strong public support for the move and reintroduction.
He feels that Cronulla using the CC for 5 games over the next 5 years is a cash grab,and can’t see it being a real goer,as the coast really wants their own team.He understands a club playing the odd game there,but 5 is a bit much.
Pretty much a rehash of what you probably know.
The latest on the Sharks, to the Leader.:the management will meet with council this week in the hope of receiving development approval.The NRL will be sending a team from the finance and marketing division as Annersley stated “tThe NRL wants to help the Sharks.We all want to see them survive and prosper.It will start at the end of the week”.
Fingers,legs and nostrils crossed.
PS Anyteam that flogs the Dragons is my team.