By Col The Bear
October 16th 2009 @ 2:07am
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Ten years without the Mighty Bears
October 15th marks the tenth year the Bears, along with the Bunnies, were officially removed from the NRL competition.
The Bunnies were readmitted for the 2002 season, but the Bears were left in the wilderness: this iconic foundation club wearing their traditional colours of Red and Black were gone from the top grade competition, for the first time.
But instead of closing up shop, and lulling in self pity, the Bears kept fighting to get reinstated as the Central Coast Bears. They continued to field their NSW Cup side, U/20s side (until recently), U/18s,and U/16s.
The Bears were not going to roll over.
You felt as if you owed it to every Bears player who wore the red and black since 1908, to keep going.. and keep fighting..
In 1997 the North Sydney District Rugby League Football Club members voted on relocating to Gosford as the Central Coast Bears to play out of the Central Coast for the 1999 season.
Funds were arranged to build a 22,000 seat stadium at Grahame Park, “Bear Stadium”, this funding was secured by the NSDRLFC from the State and Federal Govt, Gosford council, and four million of the Bears’ own money, to build this state of the art stadium on picturesque Brisbane Waters.
But in the end, it was all to no avail. We never got to play one top grade game there.
The Bears were forced into a merger with their arch rivals Manly to be known as the Northern Eagles and to play out of Gosford and Brookvale.
North Sydney Oval was neglected.
The joint venture was never going to work. Try merging Collingwood and Carlton together, it would never happen.
Over the past ten seasons, the Bears supporters haven’t had much to cheer about. But at last there does appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Can it be that the Bears are about to make the biggest comeback in sporting history?
The Central Coast are crying out for their team and the North Shore want their team back, and will be happy to see once and for all the Central Coast Bears back in the NRL.
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ros said | October 16th 2009 @ 6:27am | Report comment
Ten years on the some of the media and some members of the rugby league community just hoped the mighty bears would just go away and die. How they under estimated the bears and their supports. It has been at time an up hill battle in the first couple of years the bears where at the bottom of the comp but we were still surviving. Over the last 3 seasons from 2007 grand finalists, 2008 minor premiers and this year we finished 4th overall only to go down in golden point double extra time by a point to the balmain tigers in the grand final qualifier. Thanks for keeping this club alive, go firstly to greg florimo who was a legend on the field but what he has done over the past ten years to keep our club alive, the fans and supporters could never repay him. Save the bears group who at times paid a very heavy price to save our club. We will never forget what they have done. And the players, staff, all of the volunteers and the supporters the last ten years has been worth it, and to souths, wests, newtown and balmain who have had their own battles in the nsw cu, thank you the nrl could learn a lot about our comp what rugby league and the true supports are all about. now on the back of a 3 million dollar sponorship deal with mortgage house and more to come the bears are very much alive and ready to come back into the nrl in 2013 as the central coast bears or sooner wuold be fine with us. HERE COME THE CENTRAL COAST BEARS
Chris said | October 16th 2009 @ 6:34am | Report comment
Red and Black – they’re coming back!
katzilla said | October 16th 2009 @ 6:40am | Report comment
Are we going to get some games at North Sydney Oval?
Chris said | October 16th 2009 @ 7:57am | Report comment
Yes – the plan is for all home games to be at Central Coast Stadium except for the Manly and Easts games which will be at North Sydney Oval.
Nam Turk said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
I like this plan but why not just call them Bears RLFC, like the Bulldogs?
Chris said | October 16th 2009 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
The Bulldogs – as of next month – will be Canterbury Bulldogs once more. Getting rid of location markers is one of the most stupid things the NRL ever did. If the Bears are to engage with the CC community they need to be called Central Coast Bears (otherwise it will just feel like a club imposed on the CC).
ros said | October 16th 2009 @ 6:55am | Report comment
The heritage round against manly will be played at north sydney oval each year i can’t wait
Bay35Pablo said | October 17th 2009 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
They’ll be hanging from the fig tree again!!!
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 7:01am | Report comment
Central Coast will be the Bears home ground..unlike the Northern /Manly Eagles the Bears will play all their home games at Gosford stadium..with the exception of one game a year in the heritage round which will be played against Manly at North Sydney Oval.. but just the one game at NSO a year.. but what a blockbuster it would be, 23 000 at the old beautiful ground..and an event to look forward to each year..
NSDRLFC wil still field teams in the U/18s and U/16s as the North Sydney Bears out of North Sydney, and I have heard also the NSW Cup side…
On the Central Coast will be the NRL side and the Toyota cup side (U/20s) playing as the Central Coast Bears in the Red and Black.. and their will also be an U/18s and a U/16s side playing out of the Central Coast, we’re trying to get the affirmation that the 2 younger teams will be called the Central Coast Cubs .. there has been a phone in poll on the CC the past few days on Star FM , and the CC Cubs does appear to be the favoured name for the SG Ball and Harold Mathews side but the CRL have the final say on it..
we hope they will go with this name as it shows the younger Cubs becoming Bears..
Both these areas will feed into the NRL side and the Toyota cup sides known as the Central Coast Bears…
Beardan said | October 16th 2009 @ 7:41am | Report comment
It would be great to see the Bears back. I saw all of those inglorious chokes in the 90s and i would love to see some more chokes but better still, a premiership if they return..!!
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 8:01am | Report comment
only the Manly game at NSO, the rest at gosford..
Willo said | October 16th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
The Jets v the Bears at either Henson or NSO is always one of my favourite games of the year. Good luck to the Bears coming back, many people would love to see it happen.
Analogue Cheese said | October 16th 2009 @ 8:37am | Report comment
What an animal act that was to ‘merge’ manly and Norths – shows you the level to which the game was and has been corrupted over the past 15 years. Can you imagine the Football Association in England forcing Manchester Utd and Man City to merge? Or Everton – Liverpool? The English Civil War would pale.
Hopefully soon the wrongs done to the bears will be put right, and our reinstatement occurs. Go the Mighty Bears.
malabi said | October 17th 2009 @ 6:20am | Report comment
One would like to think that the truth will emerge one day about what really happened and who caused it to happen. There are some people out there who have no shame and have caused us more than 10 years of grief. Cheers
Whaler said | October 16th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Col, are the bears defintely back or is just looking likely that they will be back. What a powerhouse team they were during the ’90s, hardly every missing out on the semi finals and providing two of the world’s best backrowers in Fairleigh and Larson, need I say (billy) Moore.
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
No official word coming out of the NRL as yet referring expansion.. The Central Coast Bears will launch their bid in Nov..this on the back of the 3 million dollar sponsorship..for a club not even in the NRL.this will also include the launch of the merchandise, memberships,website, and the new Central Coast Bears office at Erina…For a club not in the comp. they are going about it like a club on a mission..also mentioned Central Coast Junior(Ourimbah) and former Bears player David Fairleigh has agreed to be the inaugral Coach..
print coming from the news ltd press though and their journos.. that 2 teams will be admitted and the Central Coast and the south Qld team are the two areas most likely….so we continue to go about what we are doing.. and make sure the club is out there..
we have been working towards this for 10 years..
Whaler said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
This is great news.Would JT stick his hand up to help out as well ?
Firestarter Bob said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Norths weren’t “forced” into a merger. The Bears were broke. Bankrupt. Gone.
Analogue Cheese said | October 16th 2009 @ 11:14am | Report comment
…while Manly were as rich as Croesus.
Club financial difficulty in that era was a direct result of Murdoch’s nasty incursion, and the consequent wage spirals. Norths, Cronulla, Sea Eagles, Panthers to name a few were all shot. Some took the blood money. Some didn’t. Some despite the blood money and ongoing decade of subsidies from News are still basket cases. Norths got screwed, plain and simple.
In a foul irony, it is now in News’ direct interest to suppress player wages, given their stranglehold over game and various clubs. Which, mind, they have done quite nicely by ensuring TV rights last time round went for a pittance (mainly to their interests). So, they’ve choked down the gross money pot available to clubs and players, and scared off major commercial sponsors who can see no reason to contribute money to a competition that will only end up in Rupert’s pockets.
Alan-CCBears On Facebook said | October 16th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
I would just like to say that on Wednesday April 1st 2009 i was at home online and surfing the net, when i came across the new Central Coast Bears Logo.
This grabbed my attention being an old Norths supporter through the mid 70’s to mid 80’s,introduced to rugby league by my grandparents. My grand father at one time was President of the North Sydney supporters club and was a through and through Bears supporter, he was even born in 1922 the last year they won a premiership,he has since passed on now and never got to witness a North Sydney premiership. I am now living on the Central Coast and following the Penrith Panthers, when i came across the new CCB’s logo online that day something came over me and i thought we have to get them here on the coast.
I ended up starting a petition on Facebook called ‘50,000 people who want the Central Coast Bears in the NRL by 2012′. I was a bit dubious of starting the petition that day because of the date being April 1st and thought to myself that what i was doing was far from a joke and that the Bears didnt need any more bad luck. I ended up thinking that maybe this was an omen and maybe my grandparents had something to do with this and continued on to create a petition to give the Coast their own team and get the Bears back to where they belong.
Now 6 months down the track the petition has 10,550 members and is continuing to grow and spread the word and the brand of the Central Coast Bears. It has far and away surpassed all of my expectations and the petition will be used by the bid team when they take their official bid to the NRL.
Just recently i have created a Fan Page on Facebook and already have 1,600 members which has doulbled in the past 10 days. This site is a way to keep the fan’s up to date on how the CCB’s bid is coming along as well as generating interest and promoting the brand.
Most of the feedback i get from both sites is very positive and how people cant wait for the CC Bears to be admitted to the NRL. There is still a long way to go and we are not across the line yet but i am 100% confident that the CC Bears will be given the green light.
Since creating the petition it has introduced me to Flo and last week i was privilaged to sit in on a meeting about the launch of both their new offices at Erina and the new CCB’s official website. I got to witness the new premises first hand which are virtually brand new and very professional which were kindly donated by the team at Fortunity Buisness Solutions. All this stands us in good stead and bases the CCB’s on the coast fulltime from now on. At the meeting the other night i was highly impressed by the team organising the launch which is on 20TH Nov 09′ with great enthusiasm and everyone working together for a common goal headed by Flo.This stands us in good stead for the future with the gathering of a great bunch of people and buisnesses prepared for the long haul and to go the distance.
After that meeting i recieved an e-mail from one of the guys at the meeting which read ..”Alan i look forward to our journey together to the NRL with the Central Coast Bears” which i think represents the passion and comittment of the team involved and summed it up perfectly. I have no doubt that with a great team behind the bid and the most passionate,loyal and patient supporters in the league we will see the Central Coast Bears running out onto Bluetongue Stadium in the not too distant future.
I cant help thinking my grandparents above had something to do with me getting involved and if there is a higher power then they are up there doing their best to get the Bears back on the park and give the Central Coast their own team. If this is true and they are behind it, well then the wait is almost over.
Red N Black we’re on the way back!!!
Analogue Cheese said | October 16th 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
inspirational stuff Alan.
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Nam Turk they will be the Central Coast team and thats why they need to be called the CC Bears..
Bulldogs are going back to be called Canterbury Bankstown next year..
Firestarter Bob.. if I started going into the ins and outs of what happened to the Bears I’d be here for the next 10 years..
and I’m not getting bogged down on that..
I’ll let other members of the save the Bears talk about what happened but, i’m past that as we all are and just pushing for the future of the CC Bears and for reinstatement…
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Alan your site has been a very informative site for Bears supporters around the globe..
we should add, we are looking at a CC Bears supporter launch at Bear Stadium (Bluetongue) possibly in January but this is still in the infant stage..so stay tuned for that…
Brett McKay said | October 16th 2009 @ 11:35am | Report comment
keep fighting the good fight Col…
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 5:55am | Report comment
There’s still a lot of fight in us to come Brett..imagine how much fight will be in the team when we get back in..10 years of vented up frustration.. watch out Newcastle in Round 1 2012/13 at Gosford.. the Bears will be brutal…
Jeremy Parsons said | October 16th 2009 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Let’s not forget the good work from the team at the Red & Black Army launched back when first word come out. They did a fantastic job of getting the message out. I reckon that website pushed alot of attention onto the bid!!!!
http://www.redandblackarmy.com.au [For those who haven't yet visited]
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
True the Red and Black army should also be mentioned, and a lot of members signed up there very quickly..it just shows how many people want the Bears back where they belong, back in the top grade..
I also noiticed another old site while looking around, .”.Red and Black Zone” from 2001-05, still has some great photos from our first time we tried for our bid back in 2004..
a lot of people have been getting the word out there for the Bears over the past 10 years and thats why we have stayed in everyones mind.. now we just need the NRL to come to the party..
RickG said | October 16th 2009 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Great news, all lthe best with it. To be truly successful of course the people of the CC will have to embrace this team as their own – not just a relocation. I don’t have a problem with this (in a way the CC league fans finally get their own club, but at the same time a real link back to the foundation of the code in Australia). I hope for the Bears’ sake the CC sporting public do embrace this, and not just because it’s the only chance of having an NRL presence.
Things are so advanced and organised I would assume many of the hearts and minds have already been won over.
CJG said | October 16th 2009 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
Bring it on I say.
The competition needs the Bears.
Chris said | October 16th 2009 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
The biggest danger to this bid seems to be the hard liners (ie: Bears supporter wanting the team to be based in NSydney and CC people wanting an entirely new team). What I have found remarkable so far is how everyone (except for a few) seems to be happy with the compromise. I can’t wait to be at North Sydney oval in the Winter of 2012 watching the Bears get revenge on Manly (that is if I can get tickets, which will probably be sold out several times over).
Chook said | October 16th 2009 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
I wasnt really aware of them, until I got the google going.
Its amazing that a club like the bears were ever dumped.
I cant see how they are going to get up if the NRL are looking to dump a NSW club for expansion.I cant see it happening
Chris said | October 16th 2009 @ 5:59pm | Report comment
NRL are looking to dump a Sydney club – not a NSW one. The CC has long being one of the NRL’s preferred expansion areas (they even offer a $8 million carrot to existing clubs to move there.
Midfielder said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
RL needs to expand it’s game to compete with other codes.. To put another team in greater Sydney makes little sense in terms of increasing the media deal… which is the most important aspect about future expansion.. Beyond this why NSB are more entitled than the Queensland Crushers for a spot back in is pure arrogance and greed… Given many on this thread post about past history they seem to forget that’s Norths went broke by their own doing but maybe I am being to pickie….
The real worth of RL …. in the right hands … it could get a media deal others could only dream of.
To explain the population of regional NSW & QLD is almost a million more than the combined population of SA / WA / NT / & TASSIE …. Further I have read a number of times the number of NSW & QLD folk in NT … mean it could be a RL territory .. however lets no argue as it’s only small anyway….
But RL is very popular in PNG , most in NZ have a NRL team, and the NRL is quite popular in Fiji. If you add the combined population of PNG / NZ / Island Nations … it’s about 11.5 million people… of which 6.25 million live in PNG… 4.2 in NZ & 800K in Fiji…
If RL take the game to Perth … where they have a track record… and friend in Perth Glory who are only happy to share ground and common costs … then a Perth team again given the number of NSW & QLDers there again could rate … plus the great Ch 9 marketing of the Storm (read the Richard Hindes bit in the smh very funny but true in that the CH 9 media by being so Sydney Bias in the GF and lead up to the GF they actually had Melbourne cheering for the storm)
The arguement is people in regional NSW & QLD watch RL… whereas the current method of allocating the way these people watch TV is via a the capital cities approach meaning it gives a false impression of the rating between AFL & NRL ( who cares I hear you ask). Football should as NSW & QLD regional also have a huge football TV audience which is not counted either…
So lets see ….
State ……………Pop………..Regional NSW & QLD
QLD …………..4,279,411 …..….2,421,817
NSW…………..6,967,200…….…2,630,826
ACT…………… 344, 200…………344,200
VIC…………….5,927,600
TAS…………..… 498,200
SA …………….1,601,800
WA ……………2,163,200
NT……………… 219,900
Total……..….. 22,001,511……….. 5,396,843
TAS…………… 498,200
SA …………..1,601,800
WA …………..2,163,200
NT………..…… 219,900
Total …………4, 483, 100
Meaning regional NSW & QLD has more people than TAS / SA / WA / & NT…
The combined population of NSW / ACT / QLD is 11, 590, 811, and RL rating territory … add PNG 6.25, plus NZ 4.2 plus 1 million over Fiji, Tonga, Soma,
In broad terms almost 23 million … with only NZ & other island nations not having RL as their first spot .. but number 2 in both countries… Plus notional TV audiences in the Southern states and you would assume growth… This does not count the pay TV market in the UK where RL has a market … when added to the 23 million above … HMMMmmmm interesting indeed…
Throw in the State of Origin & an annual Six nations tournament …. In the right hands this could bring a pretty penny indeed.
I understand that the buying power of the good folk of PNG other island nations and NZ may not be the same as in Australia … but they all buy soap and milk … and Clive Palmer has offered to fund a team playing out of PNG… However the buying power of England would be more than Australia ….
If RL is thinking this way the next round of media deals will be very interesting …. very interesting indeed…t
That is as long as they expand the game rather than try to consolidate it …….
True Tah said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:23pm | Report comment
Midfielder
I know you are both a Manly fan and a Mariners fan, so maybe that clouds your judgement to an extent.
Bringing the Bears back makes far more sense thatn putting sides in Fiji, PNG or the South Island of NZ. Papuans, Fijians, Samoans and South Island Kiwis will not travel to away games. Not to mention the fact that most Islanders do not have PayTV anyway.
Central Coast supporters will travel to away games in Sydney, and you’re conveniently forgetting the ready made market for them.
AndyRoo said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Sport doesn’t have to be all about the money. Bears fans feel a loss and a void. Giving them back their team will make them a lot more happier than ex crushers fans would be at a new QLD team coming in.
There is also the fact they won’t need any subsidy from the NRL.
Analogue Cheese said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
mate why shouldn’t we have our team back in the top flight?
why don’t you volunteer your club for the great global expansion you think league needs, either by relocating or liquidating? The greater good, and all that.
As for the administration furphy – true, we went into administration. False, it was our doing.
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:37pm | Report comment
ah yes Analogue Cheese.. administrator..we could spend another 10 years on that one as well .couldn’t we.
the Bears were broke?? the Bears also put in 4 million of their own funding to build Gosford stadium..maybe a short cash flow problem, but broke ,?? I don’t think so….
Bay35Pablo said | October 17th 2009 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
Super League sent the Bears broke …
danwighton said | October 18th 2009 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
I am as bigger Bears fan as they come – I grew up in Cairns in North Qld and my dad took me to my first ever game at North Sydney Oval in 1994 – good times.
But having said that, I am inclined to agree with Midfielder – the game needs to expand and needs to do it soon.
While I think PNG, Pacific Islands and 2nd NZ are long term goals, Perth should be the next step.
They seemed to have warmed to the Force, and their Reds juniors were quite strong before the ARL team folded – I think Perth will be a much easier sell than Melbourne – setting up an RL club in Melbourne was the hardest sell of any national sport, and it has gone reasonably well.
Analogue Cheese said | October 18th 2009 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
mate, on this comment, you’re no bears fan.
as for Melbourne, sure, it’s gone reasonably well, so long as you’re not the one paying for it. the Storm would be gone yesterday without a $5 million subsidy a year, currently courtesy News Ltd.
Hansie said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
Bring back the Bears! Providing a home team to the north shore/central coast will greatly add to the passion of supporters. If there is no room for an extra team, the Sharks can make way. The Sharks have no future and cannot expand. When the Bears are back, Greg Florimo should be knighted!
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 7:31am | Report comment
Not sure if Flo would like the knighthood.. a better suggestion when the Bears get back in.. one of those bronze statues like Wally and Loz have and Pricey as well doesn’t he.sitting .at the South end of Bear Stadium Gosford would be nice.. and one of Kenny Irvine at NSO..have to get on to Genia about that one..
danwighton said | October 18th 2009 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
Sharks should move to Central Coast ASAP, or else they will fold and not have any identity in the league (sound familiar). Of the struggling Sydney teams they dont have the financial resources (such as the Bulldogs or Roosters) or the juniors (such as Dragons, Penrith) or the fan support (such as Parra, Wests and Souths) to sustain themselves.
Tom Alexander. said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:23pm | Report comment
Bring them back. Rugby League has had it’s traditions fucked around with long enough. South Sydney have proved any things possible. They maintained their traditions and colours and if anything have probably strengthened their identity/brand by pushing into the worldwide merchandising market. North Sydney should never have been pushed out in the first place. Gallop could be a stumbling block though because if the Bears were to be re-admitted, then that would prove that they (the NRL) were wrong all along.
Analogue Cheese said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
hear hear and hear again. The Souths point is spot on. I’m a hardliner and would prefer us to readmit as the NS Bears. But after shotgun marriage, near death, and years dredging the bottom of the state league, I’ll take anything.
The issue of identity is absolutely correct. Souths have got lore, heritage and heart, a soul and a story to sell. respecting tradition can take guts, but inevitably pays off. Case in point, possibly the world’s most dominant competition ‘brand’ – the EPL – built around English village, suburban and even parish clubs, with fierce derby rivalries.
Jay said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
I think the CC Bears are trying to attract Nicole Kidman as their potential investor – what a great stroy that would be for the NRL – having Crowe and Kidman given traditional Sydney RL clubs international exposure.
If the bears are re-admitted – I bet they will be a huge success just like the titans were. Plus, Ive maintained all along that by re-introducing the bears on the North Shore would be a huge blow to the AFL, in particular the Swans. After the bears left, the RL lost its presence there.. Now if they are back and run like a family club – watch out AFL! They need to be introduced for the traditions of the game and also to disrupt any gains the AFL have made in the region over the past 10 years!
Col the Bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
Chris there will be no problems if they want the Bears back.. this is the only way it’s going to happen..afterall the Bears while still in the ARL voted to go to Gosford before the NRL started in 1998 .. and the original plan was to go there in 1991 wwhile still part of the NSWRL, thats when David Hill first mooted the idea while he was president of the club..
and yes MF we have all seen your stats.. but this time is the Bears time..
Analogue Cheese said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:05pm | Report comment
aah, stats. eyeballs, demographics blah blah. that’s what got us into this mess in the first place. that, and ‘vision’. go with the heart, it’ll trump an graph-paper brained marketer’s ‘model’ every time.
Alan-CCBears On Facebook said | October 16th 2009 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
Just in case you havent seen our CCB’s Facebook pages here are the links….and then tell me that the CENTRAL COAST BEARS wont work!
Petition Site 10,500 members;
http://www.groups.to/centralcoastbears
Fan Page 1,600 Members and growing;
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Coast-Bears/72707929443?ref=nf
Cheers!
Hansie said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
Imagine the Bears vs. Manly at North Sydney Oval. Where can I buy a ticket?
Midfielder said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Just to humour me can anyone answer the following questions..
1) In a viewing area already one of the highest RL viewing areas i.e. the CC … how many more in % terms will a CC team add to the national / international audience? Will it increase the audience by 100, 000 people ??
2) Why will a team playing one game at NSO have the good folk of Mosman / Crowsnest etc follow a team playing 90 Kls away?
3) Has the general demographic of much of the North Side changed i.e. Chatswood etc ?
4) Given in Brisbane / Southern Queensland generally their are two RL sides, 2 Football sides, 1 RU side… with both the AFL & Football planning moves in this area ……. remember the AFL have budgeted 100 million dollars to this area …. how does a CC team assist in the code war…? ?
5) In WA / NZ / Fiji / PNG … does a CC team add to the international / southern states TV viewers ? ?
6) Will a CC team with a North’s tag make a number of baby boomers dinosaurs happy ? ?
7) Will a CC team make a lot of Baby Boomers Dinosaurs in the media happy?
8. Has RL done heaps of analysis to determine the best place to go … say like the AFL / Football or is the drive driven by a number of baby boomer dinosaurs who want their team back ? ?
9) Is there any evidence aside from general statement like their are one million people on the north side? ?
10) Has anyone else been allowed to prepare a bid to enter the NRL … like Football in choosing where to locate??
TT tis True I follow the Mariners … but the Mariners will make money from a CC RL team …. and from a Manly stance TBH Norths for the most part of my life a push over … it’s was more from Norths the feeling where felt … it was Wests & Parramatta ….
But I am going from a view of expanding the game not making another greater Sydney side…
I honestly believe the CC have complained they were dudded when in fact they went broke …
The CC team for the relocation team…. not a new team…
Analogue Cheese said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:30pm | Report comment
i couldn’t give a shit about any of the above points. I love the Bears with my heart and soul and that is the sole reason I want to see them play in the top flight again – a top flight they initiated, and into which they voted Manly in 1947.
The rest of your points are just more blah blah blah let’s live life by a sliderule and an economic formula. as i said above, if you think the game needs growth you bang on about, volunteer your club for the chop.
As for SEQ – NRL has only got itself to blame here – I was a season ticket holder for the Crushers and loved brisbane as a two team city. News and the Broncos screwed that goose good. Any potential difficulties now, they can eat the sh*t pie they’ve been baking for themselves for a decade and a half.
Bearforlife said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
Midfielder,
Your arguments are sound and passionate, but they seem to strongly support the game as a business venture with little regard for the sport. Business and sport must both have a say in the NRL when it comes to expansion, but one should not override the other. I will though, attempt to answer the ten questions;
1. A CC team may not increase viewers by 100,000, but it could certainly bring another 50,000 into the fold, which is not a number to be ignored, particularly with AFL crowd numbers falling north of the border.
2. You dramatically underestimate the passion of the “good folk of Mosman/Crows Nest”. I grew up in Lane Cove and now live in Milsons Point. It is one train ride to get to Bluetongue, and remember that in the NRL teams also play Away games, which would be easier to get to and attract more fans for a CC Team with a Northern support base.
3. I am not a social demographer, but the general demographic of much of Sydney has changed. If anything, more people from the NSB catchment have moved into the CC catchment in the last decade, strengthening the argument for the bears.
4. Taking the code war interstate didn’t work with a 20 team comp, and there is no indication it would work now. The CC Bears would assist by reconnecting with an RL heartland which has been ignored.
5. Know many folks in PNG with Foxtel Midfielder? Know many Victorians who would switch to rugby league if the St Kilda Dandies were admitted? My intention is not to mock, but lets be pragmatic about the ability of the Southern states and pacific islands to make an impact on viewer numbers.
6. Yes, it may make some baby boomers unhappy, but both of them will get over it.
7. Thankfully Peter Fitzsimons isn’t writing much about league these days, he’s too busy on Masterchef.
8. The NRL may well have done analysis, but it would be commercial in confidence. There are also more immediate issues that the NRL needs to address before they start trumpeting where the next teams will be.
9. The CC Bears have secured a multi million dollar sponsorship deal from a company that has a long association with many RL clubs. There is a stadium in place, and local media and politicians are constantly talking up the prospect. There is a forest here Midfielder, stop counting trees.
10. Anyone may prepare a bid to enter the NRL. You may even like to consider one. The fact that the CC Bears have a strong, detailed and agressive bid is entirely of their choosing, and they should not be criticised for making their intentions known.
The North Sydney Bears did have a financially perilous situation, and went broke, because they refused to take payments from News. If you think that makes us a b ad club who deserves nothing, then thats fine and that is your opinion, but it may say a fair bit about who you are.
prowling panther said | October 16th 2009 @ 7:02pm | Report comment
kill off the sharks and bring in the bears.. simple
it is the equivent of the heartless, fanless sharks moving to CC but they die and we bring back the NS side. Seriously, Gallop is just waiting for any news of the banks calling in the Sharks debt. THen they’ll be axed before you blink
Pippinu said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
…well, now that you put it that way…
I don’ t know.
The two points of view:
1. there’s great strength in shoring up traditional areas of support, for starters, the media in the biggest city in Australia continues to focus about 80% of its space to the dominant game – no risk of that being ceded to anyone else – game remains strong regardless of what happens around it.
2. there are more longer term benefits in expanding to growth areas (the AFL’s reason for shunning Tassie).
Which is right – which is wrong? I reckon it’s impossible to judge.
Maybe you can in 30 years time.
But even then, say, for argument’s sake the NRL remains the same size in 30 years time – one might be able to argue it was able to do that precisely because it shored up its traditional areas (and if it had not done that it would have been vulnerable).
Who can really know the answer.
Phil said | October 16th 2009 @ 4:47pm | Report comment
For the last 10 years I’ve had to put up with sooky Manly poofs with the same arguments: “You went broke and nearly dragged us down”, “You care more about the North Shore derby than we do”, “How many premierships have you won?” – blah, blah, blah. If you don’t care about the Bears then don’t post comments.
Thanks to everyone who has put hard work into this bid – as someone who has moved to the NT and looks at this from the outside I can tell you that CC Bears look like a deadset certainty for re-admittance! Just let the whingers whinge and look forward to that good old derby back at Bear park!
Chris said | October 16th 2009 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
For me it is pretty simple: Sharks out, Bears in!
Angus Boyle said | October 16th 2009 @ 8:59pm | Report comment
And I thought this was going to be about the deeply lamented Brisbane Bears…
But seriously, what was ABC TV coverage of the NSWRL without Saturday arvos from North Sydney Oval? I still reckon they had better trees than the Adelaide Oval.
Hansie said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
Ah yes, the good old days for rugby league. I always preferred the Saturday afternoon games to the channel 9 matches. I’m sure it was just coincidence that David Hill ran the ABC and the Bears seemed to always end up on the ABC coverage. (Actually, I think the real reason was that there was no Winfield signage at Bear Park and the ABC preferred not to show corporate sponsorship).
Col the bear said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:16pm | Report comment
Personally I don’t want any team to fall over..it’s not nice sitting on the sideline as all bears people well know ..Cronulla should be Ok..i think if they play a few home games at Adelaide a year that could bring their revenue up…
the main priority here is to get the Bears back and on Central Coast..
in saying that i would like to see Manly sweat for awhile though..
Chris said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Don’t worry Col – I was only joking with the Sharks comment. Personally I’d like to see it expanded to an 18 team comp with the CC Bears as well as another team from SE Queensland by 2012-15 (Brisbane is already big enough for two teams). By 2025 I’d be disappointed if we didn’t have the WA Reds and Adelaide Rams back up as well as a second Melbourne team and a team in Wellington.
Alan-CCBears On Facebook said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:47pm | Report comment
The one thing i have noticed, whether your for or against the CCB’s is the passion in which everyone puts forward their points of view.This to me is the backbone of why the NRL (Rugby League) has survived the turbulent years and exactly why it is and will always remain The Greatest Game Of All.Once the passion of the supporters of the game is lost, then so is the game.
Chris said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Alan – I’ve been a member of your group since April 2. We all owe you a lot for mobilising the support base. Let’s hope we can break through the 11,000 mark in the next few days!
Owen the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 12:03am | Report comment
Having the Bears on the Central Coast will be great for the game.
I am over the petty conflict between some of the Manly supporters and us. Some of my mates are Manly fans and the rivalry is long missed. I don’t want to see Manly die or any other club. Why I know the feeling of not seeing my beloved Bears running around each week in the top flight of League. It is not a good feeling. Come to see a game between the BEARS AND NEWTOWN, there you will see passionate supporters who love their club. In addition, to see clubs die it will not be good for the game. There is history between us and it should be rekindled by bringing back the local derby between the Bears and Manly, oh the memories when we won 41 – 8 at Bear Park. The merger should never of happen. We were not broke and had all intentions of moving to the Central Coast way back in 2000 once the stadium was built. However, bad weather, poor workmanship and other issues we did not get the stadium built in time. Give the Coast their team – the Mighty Bears which should of happen over a decade ago. Having a NRL club at Gosford will bring revenue and more supporters to the game from the North Shore and Central Coast. The Central Coast is a booming area and having two top clubs will benefit the region – namely the Bears and Mariners in the Soccer. End of day we want rugby league to be the winner – having the Bears back and a team on the Central Coast will be a winner.
For the other team I hope they bring in another QLD team and called it the Jets, Brothers or Diehards. All three monikers relate to clubs that are playing in lesser competitions but still have alot of pride.
Bring in the CC Bears and the Ipswich Jets.
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 6:10am | Report comment
Also not only will it bring in revenue Owen, but it will also give the Central Coast a team to call their own.. as the community, have all got behind the Mariners the same will happen with the Bears..give them pride in their team.. and the North shore get their Bears back..It’s a win win situation for everyone.. more employment will also spring from having a team there..it would be a social benefit having the NRL side on the CC..
There are more issues then just how much Pay TV gets sold in these areas..
Having the Bears on the Central Coast fills that final gap.. and brings a lot together.. you’ll have the Bears as the Winter sport and the soccer as the Summer sport…Both codes will work and help each other.. and the community as a whole… Can’t wait ;just bring it on NRL sooner rather then later..
malabi said | October 17th 2009 @ 6:22am | Report comment
The office up there, the main ground up there, the CEO living up there – it’s all good.
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 6:47am | Report comment
We just have to relocate Percys and the fig tree to the CC Malabi
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
“IT’S A BEAR MARKET” article in the Saturday telegraph today.. page 128.. sport, Nick Walshaw piece.. the rivalry between Central Coast Bears(who aren’t even in the NRL yet) and Newcastle Knights has begun… have a read on line.. excellent stuff… Bring on the Bears…
Midfielder said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Still no answer to the questions…
How will this grow the game in WA ?
How will this help in the code war in Brisbane ?
How is this going to increase TV ratings … more than other choices?
Now for the greed answer…
The Perth Team & the Crushers never went broke they were just kicked out…. So why do Norths get back in before them.. in Brisbane you only have one other team to follow and watch and in Perth you get none.. Where at Norths or the CC you have 9 teams you can watch….
Excuse me for being the odd one out here … but the CCB IMO have no more right to get in ahead because of history than either a Crushers team or a Perth Team… in fact less as CCB caused there own demise (hard call I know but it is true none the less).
A CCB committee spend two years preparing a bid and when no one else is ready or have a bid prepared to say look at me there is no one else…Please don’t do any analysis .. just let us in…
The reason the AFL have been so successful is because the AFL commission can rise above club emotion needs… The CCB have done an excellent job in creating the hype the media etc……
The decision to expand and where to expand needs careful analysis … not a claim jumping group who want their position ahead of any studies of the strengths of other areas and RL future directions …
Any commission looking at RL in the future would undertake extensive analysis … then make the call…
So for me anyway … just because you are ready …. and created heaps of hype does not mean the rest of the RL community needs to stuck with a further concentration of teams in greater Sydney… simply because they have not run a media campaign used selective data … by a group who do not want a detailed analysis undertaken about expansion… It is the Tassie AFL argument and for the same reasons the AFL does not have a team in Tassie … so RL needs to expand well beyond the CC (an already captive market)
Redb said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:48pm | Report comment
Mid,
Just on your comparison with the AFL and question of a Tassie side, I think there it is a fair bit different to the Nth Syd Bears scenario.
Tassie has never had a club to support and are basicially divided loyalty wise along the old VFL teams lines, whereas the Nth Syd Bears existed in their own right for many years before being culled.
The comparison is similar to Fitzroy in the VFL/AFL and beleive me there are still many people to this day who follow Fiztroy in the Vic Amateur Comp, have resurrected their old ground, have a social club,etc.
People power is stronger for the Bears and it would be bloody good to see another team in red and black.
Redb
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
as you and I keep saying, and have for sometime now.. we will continue to agree to disagree.. MF..
The Bears are a great option.. come on MF “Go With The Flo” and get on board the ride.. you are more then welcome.. your CCBears cap is in the mail..
Midfielder said | October 17th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Col
As I said we will have many beers together watching a CCB team at BT…. my shout for the first round…
I am kinda trying to look for the …. GREATER GOOD ….. and as we have discussed many times I see expanding RL in new areas important ….. while I agree with every comment made by the CCB committee that does not mean their are a lot of other complying cases for other areas as well…
Analogue Cheese said | October 17th 2009 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
the greater good – as I’ve suggested twice already, nominate Manly to give up its place in the league so an outpost can join, and you’ll be taken seriously on this score.
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
would you come back if the Bears were on the Central Coast and back in the NRL… and agree with the scrums..what happened to roll in the tunnel and let the hookers go for it..Ross Warner must be laughing at these…
hey MF been off it for some years now.. It would be a cheap round of tonic water…
Alan-CCBears On Facebook said | October 17th 2009 @ 11:05am | Report comment
You two guys should try putting more effort into your beliefs rather than pointless toing and froing trying to prove the other one wrong because for the rest of us it gets boring.
The same ole stats, the same ole comments, the same ole arguments, re hashed over and over and over again. I like to read peoples thoughts but you both are boring the hell out of the rest of us. If you both could harness your passion and put it into actually making things happen or a difference it would be a much better option for the game.
Chris said | October 17th 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
The fact is MF that the Central Coast is a very decent sized city (bigger than Townsville, Geelong, Wollongong, not much smaller than Canberra and they all have NRL/AFL teams). It will continue to grow and the population is big on league.
It makes perfect sense for the NRL to put a team there. After all if it can support a Soccer team it can support a League team. There is no point in the NRL expanding to far flung locations if it hasn’t fortified its own base yet.
Plus having a North Shore team could do some serious damage to Union given how weak they are at the moment – lets kick them while they are down!
Midfielder said | October 17th 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Chris
I suggest you read my posts …
But to your research… explain how a CCB team will increase the national / international TV audience…. fight the AFL in Brisbane…. expand the game in WA … expand the game in Oceania….
Then explain why CCB folk are more important than the supporters of the Crushers or the Perth Team… BTW Chris, Brisbane has more people than the CC and is said to Australia’s fastest growing city and will overtake Melbourne within 25 years in population…. I also think the last time I looked so WA had more than the CC…
Then lets look at Oceania another 11.5 million people … a tad bigger than the CC me thinks….
While you at it maybe you can explain something no one else has attempted…. given the CC is already one of RL highest rating TV viewing audiences … where is the massive TV audience coming from…
Analogue Cheese said | October 17th 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
there’s absolutely no genuine bid for a legit second brisbane team (i.e. based in the city). so you can give this fantasy away, someone else with a different set of figures and a little more clout did the Crushers and us supporters in last time and they’re going to keep it that way.
Chris said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
MF – the last time I looked New York had a larger population than CC. Lets put a team there.
Bay35Pablo said | October 17th 2009 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
Midfielder, derbies attract interest and ratings. I went to the Storm v Parra GF only because I got free tickets, but I didn’t care that much about it. Had it been Parra v Dogs or Parra v Dragons, I would have cared more, because of the derby rivalry. It is that reason the HAL are putting a 2nd team into Melbourne and Sydney each, and that reason the Super 15 will have conferences and more “derby” games. Derbies. Get. Interest.
So the CCB wil ensure that.
Midfielder said | October 17th 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
The following is an article I wrote a little while back on future media deals… with respect to other Roar posters I suggest you read it to understand where I am coming from … from a personal stance having another team on the CC gives me more to do..
However sport today is an ever increasing business and RL is in a dog fight with the AFL and losing badly (essentially because of money in many many many ways)…. Football (my preferred code) is on the rise … Union is also looking at sooner or latter a Super format that will have at least 6 teams in Australia…
Anyway a client of mine who is a exceptionally well connected media person and I had a chat over dinner and I posted our general conversation … thats is my my article was about … since posting this article RL has moved towards an AFL commission which opens up WA & Oceania and thus a huge TV audience (see one of my posts above)…
BUT read my article to see where I am coming from … BTW most if not all comments where positive … not bad for a cross code article on the Roar…
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/24/the-next-round-of-media-deals/
Analogue Cheese said | October 17th 2009 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
when the Bears are back in, stuffing the Sea Eagles and easily outdoing the Mariners for avg home gates, you’ll at least have the self-satisfaction of knowing your stats told you it all shouldn’t be so, MF.
You can tilt at windmills all you like then and howl “this is not what the model predicted.”
Have fun with that.
Chris said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Yeah I think MF is just getting a little concerned that the Bears are going to destroy the Mariners already small crowds.
Alan-CCBears On Facebook said | October 17th 2009 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Midfielder you need to get a life!
Ourimbah Magpies said | October 17th 2009 @ 11:56am | Report comment
I know I’ve got my new Central Coast Bears stickers all over my car.
From Milsons Point to Lake Munmorah how can the NRL ignore this bid, Newcastle CEO Steve Burraston has come out with detrimental comments about the Bears bid, this was always going to happen, the Newcastle v Central Coast rivalry goes back decades, Mr Burrastons son actually played for the Bears juniors just a few seasons ago, maybe Mr Burraston is affraid because the current Newcastle Tooheys Cup Premiers are the Wyong Kangaroos, an Central Coast club.
If the Newcastle region doesn’t have enough talent to feed their NRL side on its own there are alot of regional areas to draw from besides the Central Coast.
Hell I’m a Newcastle Knights supporter, have been since 1988 but if the Central Coast Bears are admitted into the NRL, I’ll be following my local side.
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
If my memory serves me right weren’t the Crushers based at QE2 stadium at Griffith, virtually in the middle of suburban Salisbury and Mt Gravatt on the south side…. while the broncos were over at lang Pk on the other side of the river and their office at red hill..maybe the idea was not to have 2 teams in Brisbane, but if there was one at ipswich or toowoomba it might be a different story..also the differance between the Crushers and the Bears, was oh about 87 years.. the Bears had already had 4/5 generations supporter base, compared to the Crushers 3 year history…
blink and you missed them.. except Mario did make a formidable captain..Falcon anyone….
I have no problem with another team coming in as the 18th team just as long as the Bears are the 17th team on the Central Coast.. and yes, I think we should be next in because we have done the hard yards,more so then anywhere else. 10 years and we are still at it where someone else may have given it away a lot sooner…thats how passionate we are about this.. so why wouldn’t the NRL want to harness this passion, why keep surpressing it….
2013 they say.. I’ll be happy to come in in 2011 or 2012… and then they can have a Bye for a year or 2 until the other bid group can get their act together.. they did have byes before when Souths come in until the Titans, how long was it a 15 team comp for.. 2002 to 2007 / 5 seasons, I don’t think that was detrimental to the game in that time..South/Logan in Brisbane said they won’t be ready until at least 2014… PNG have already said it will probably be 2015 for them..THEY are not ready yet… and they are the first to admit it.. we are ready to go now..and have been for over 10 years and thats the differance MF.. we’re ready to go…Just bring On the Mighty Bears…
Chris said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Weren’t the Crushers at Lang (aka Suncorp) and the Broncos QEII (aka ANZ)?
prowling panther said | October 17th 2009 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
from wat I gather, souths logan have no chance. The people don’t identify themselves as Loganese/Loganish (i dont know the term). Most league followers there support the broncos or a sydney team if they hate brisbane. But the region is for the most part -the southern suburbs of brisbane. Ipswich is a better bet as the people could get behind a team that represents a distinct region with an identity. Plus it is forecast for massive population growth.
also think the bears should come before 2013 in order to maximise the hype surrounding a new team entering the league. If they’re admitted in 2013 then theyll have to share media coverage with the 18th team.
AndyRoo said | October 17th 2009 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
That’s true about Logan, it is quite easy to get to Suncorp so even though I think a team called South brisbane would be a fine name i don’t really see the point as it is easy enough for those people to support the broncos and I don’t really feel like there are really any supporters hanging out for their own team. perhpas a general feeling of “oh yeh that would be nice”.
Sunshine Coast or ipswich would be better choices for the 4th QLD team
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
must admit though I did like the crushers colours and logo
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:53pm | Report comment
I thought the Broncs were at QE2 and then went to Lang pk when the crushers come along..can anyone correct..
Dogs Of War said | October 17th 2009 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Broncos#Stadium
In their first five seasons, the Broncos played their matches at Lang Park, the ground considered to be the home of rugby league in Queensland. However, following ongoing conflict with the Queensland Rugby League and Lang Park Trust, the team relocated to ANZ Stadium in 1993.[4] The club’s home match attendance, which had averaged 19,637 at Lang Park, increased to 43,200 at the new ground in the first season following the club’s premiership title in the previous season.[11] However, despite the team’s second premiership in 1993, crowds gradually declined, with the club failing, until 2002, to register more than the 1996 average of 23,712.
With the Queensland Government’s $280,000,000 redevelopment of Lang Park,[12] the team moved back to the refurbished and renamed Suncorp Stadium upon its completion in mid-2003
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
Thanks for that DOW.. cleared that up.. so Crushers come in in 95 until 97 and played at Lang Pk..
Norm said | October 17th 2009 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
Here’s another media story about rugby league players. This one however is unlikely to attract much comment from fans outside the game as there is no opportunity to ridicule & sneer.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/nrl-stars-ditch-overseas-bars-for-overseas-trip-with-meaning/2009/10/16/1255624734043.html
MW said | October 17th 2009 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
A very nice passionate article Col. Since we lost the Bears I have switched to rugby union and frankly can’t stand rugby league any more. What is it with those pathetic league scrums?
The Link said | October 17th 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
If you’re watching Rugby Union or Rugby League just for the scrums then I suggest you’re watching the wrong games
MW said | October 17th 2009 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
I believe that if you are looking for non stop ball movement and running you would be happy with rugby league but the game I used to watch at North Sydney Oval was more balanced. Union of course has its problems but a pathetic set piece isn’t one of them.
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
MW interested to know would you come back if the Bears were back in the comp and on the Central Coast…
(I posted this before but went somewhere)..re: scrums , i agree what happened to rolling the ball in the centre of the tunnel and let the Hookers go for it, a real contest.. Ross Warner must be laughing from ear to ear…
and MF I’ve been off it for some years now, it would be a cheap round on tonic water…
Midfielder said | October 17th 2009 @ 6:33pm | Report comment
AS I said before … to most games and will buy you a beer or tonic water my first shout… in fact will buy a joint season ticket…
What most people don’t know is the Mariners will make money if the CCB enter the competition…
MW said | October 17th 2009 @ 10:35pm | Report comment
Col I don’t know if I would go to see another game of league but I would be very much tempted if the Bears were on the box. A lot of my league prejudice arives from not having a team to follow.
The Link said | October 17th 2009 @ 5:28pm | Report comment
Briging back the Bears may not make as much economic sense as another SEQ team or the Reds, but Rugby League would finally heal the wounds of 15 years ago and be able to move on. It would give RL back its heart.
LT80 said | October 17th 2009 @ 5:57pm | Report comment
Why is it that Bears supporters don’t get along to games at NSO? I was at a game there this year against Newtown and there were around 2000 people, which the ground announcer said was the highest of the season to that point. Not too bad, but many of the crowd were Jets supporters.
The Bears final game in the NRL at NSO was on Fox the other day and it looked like there was only about 6 or 7 thousand there, a pretty poor send-off.
Why will the people of the North Shore get behind the Bears if they come back on the Central Coast, when they don’t now and didn’t when they were in first grade and located on the North Shore?
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 7:47pm | Report comment
There was a reason for the crowd of ‘99 and you’d have to go back and see the season in full to see what happened to the club.. by the time the last round at NSO was on, in round 25 everyone was frustrated to the point of enough was enough..
By that game; people were sick of seeing our team play HOME games in NQld, brisbane and other outside areas..it was a very sad year.and considering we had to meet a certain crowd figure for the 2000 criteria it was looking ominous for us now..there is a lot I could go into about the 99 season..for instance how could a team like the Bears be in the top 5 or 6 clubs during the 90s and even one year we were the most popular sydney team, for merchandise sales and ticket sales..possibly 94 or 95 and then to finish up as they did in ‘99….??
what happened without going into to much detail..The Management at the Bears at the time made arrangements that they would be playing in gosford for the ‘99 season . they didn’t have it in writing that if anything happened ie. unforseen circumstances “weather” (and I have to watch what i say here,)they would play out of NSO until Gosford Stadium was finished, which miraculously was finished for the opening round of 2000 against Newcastle if I remember right, although it wasn’t the Bears who were playing at the stadium the bears “built” it was the new merged monster known as the Northern Eagles..I could go into more but as I said I think thats all for another day..and we will get bogged down in this..( tell you what, lets get the Bears back first, then it’ll make a great book.)…
The Bears played their last game in round 26 1999 against North Qld at townsville..which we won also.. LT80 if you go back and look at the previous 10 years, 89-98 you will see the crowds were extremely healthy.. I remember playing against Melbourne in 1998 at NSO, friday night footy and the oval was full..and we beat the Storm that time as well.
as for crowds at NSW cup sadly, this comp has never had huge crowds, it is never promoted, and when it is it’s mainly a put down in the media.”.. so and so player has been relegated to the back waters of the NSW cup..”.I remember reading that one not so long ago..believe it or not though, NRL Coaches and staff really like this comp. because they can see how their NRL players are going while coming back from injury, or suspensions..they can’t do that with the 20s comp…
Oh I just wanted to add which is very important..all that old management and Board that were in charge at the time of the demise of the Bears are not there anymore and haven’t been there for years.. and we have had a new lease on life ever since…
I hope that helps.. but what a game that last game at NSO was.. Michael Buettner what a star…
Chris said | October 17th 2009 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
I hope if the Bears do come back they sign “Ogre”. He will only be 31 in 2012 and would be a great link between past and present. Lets just hope his form improves a bit.
Col the Bear said | October 17th 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
while selecting the NRL team the club has to be very smart about it.. we want the Bears to come back with a success rate straight up..Melbourne did it when they entered the comp.. Gold Coast have also done it, the Bunnies are doing it gradually and they should have a good year next year, they have bought well. and the Bears will also have to do it.. be smart about it.. pick a few marquee players after all the nucleaus for a team is there now.., but i’m sure there is a wish list tucked away some where, and I’m sure there’s a list with players coming off contract over the next year or 2…
Love to see Slater and Inglis in Bears jerseys.. Slater has already played for the Bears, and we have photos to prove it
Alan-CCBears On Facebook said | October 17th 2009 @ 10:22pm | Report comment
The Roosters have just lost their Major Sponsor Samsung as per todays Sunday Telegraph $4 million gone…..Relocate the Roosters and bring back the CCB’s.
Col the Bear said | October 18th 2009 @ 5:26am | Report comment
Alan we don’t want anyone to fall over, otherwise they may just try and force a relocation.. and if they force a club on an area that the residents know they are only there to save their bacon, and not because they want to.. it’ll be a disaster..The Bears actually wanted to go and still do to the CC..on their own accord..
Roosters have got Nick politis, so i don’t think anything will happen to the Roosters.
Also what we also have to remember the relocation money on offer to anyone to relocate, is not in a lump sum of 8 million, but spread over 3 years…that waters down that a bit..
Col the Bear said | October 18th 2009 @ 5:33am | Report comment
also we do have the 3 million in sponsorship just sitting there..and thats a big plus for the Bears, and thankyou Mortgage House for your support of the Central Coast Bears.. thats Mortgage house, if you want to get a house go to mortgage house first.. thats M.O.R.T.G.A.G.E H.O.U.S.E.,,,,
final trials for the Bears SG Balls and Harold mathews today, so off to that now..keep the threads coming this is been very productive…
Ourimbah Magpies said | October 18th 2009 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
I just wish that the Roosters would merge with the Rabbitohs and become the Sydney City Rabbitohs or something similar, how close do these two clubs need to be to each other its ridiculous.
Robb said | October 18th 2009 @ 5:13pm | Report comment
Exactly the same thinking that saw the Bears and Sea-Eagles merge – and didn’t that work a treat! As a Roosters fan I would never, ever support anything called “Rabbitohs”. In fact I would sooner see the Roosters cease to exist altogether than operate under the banner of “Rabbitohs”.
Col the Bear said | October 18th 2009 @ 6:00pm | Report comment
Have to agree with Robb here.. you can’t merge 2 arch rivals as in the case of the Bunnies and the roosters.. you know there was talk of merging the Roosters withe Manly back in ‘99 they were thinking about calling them the Eastern Eagles, this is before they pushed the merger through with the Bears..
and Dan I think you’ll find that no one will relocate to the Central Coast except for the Bears..you can’t force a team to relocate if they don’t want too..and the CC residents will see it as just a way of trying to save their financial bacon..if the Sharks or any other NRL club decided to go now..it doesn’t make sense for any other team to go there.. geographically the Bears are the right fit.. in the article yesterday as Flo said.. you need both areas for this to succeed..I can’t see the Bears putting any financial assistance into any team that wants to gazzump us..would you.??
and you’d have the problem that the Sharks would still want to play home games at Cronulla…so it wouldn’t be a true relocation….and before you say it.. we are planning to play only 1 game at NSO and thats in the heritage round against Manly…and we have always been up front about that..and I really don’t think the rugby league supporters on the CC would begrudge that..after all the coffers would go back into the Bears and junior development on the Coast and North Shore…
Ourimbah Magpies said | October 19th 2009 @ 4:22am | Report comment
O.K. point taken, bye, bye Roosters then.
The Roosters also tried to merge with the Dragons and that one nearly went through.
Being a Central Coast resident I’d have no problem with the Bears playing Manly at North Sydney Oval.
Mick from Giralang said | October 22nd 2009 @ 4:15pm | Report comment
Great article Col. I’d love to see the Bears back, together with a return of the Perth Reds.
Col The Bear said | October 22nd 2009 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
There is growing support for the Bears to be reinstated..people feel they were hard done by, and they were, there is no question about that..
as someone else mentioned if you bring the Bears back it will heal the last wounds… I think David Gallop said that….
Col The Bear said | October 22nd 2009 @ 6:17pm | Report comment
also just wanted to mention David Fairleigh begins full time employment with the Bears next week..he’ll be working with Wayne Lambkin the current Coach of the Bears while doing a lot of work for the Central Coast Bears…there’s an article in the North Shore Times today…
Michael B said | October 22nd 2009 @ 6:34pm | Report comment
Sorry to break this to you Col, but David Fairleigh was not rated as a coach at his time with Parra.
I would be considering other options if/when the Bears eventually join the NRL.
Col The Bear said | October 22nd 2009 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
Daisy will be fine.. I recall John Cartwright was in the same position before he become Coach of the titans…
Ourimbah Magpies said | October 23rd 2009 @ 11:32pm | Report comment
Fairleigh not considered a coach, well the Cook Islands had a great upset win over Samoa the other day, Fairleigh should’ve gotten the Knights gig before Brian Smith and the Eels went for Daniel Anderson over Fairleigh, how is an young coach supposed to prove himself if not given a go in the 1st place?, Fairleigh has done the yards in the lower grades, he’ll be fine.
Midfielder said | October 23rd 2009 @ 11:53pm | Report comment
Was listening to Bill Harrgion on talking sport during the week … he said how much the good folk of PNG want an NRL team…
6.25 million people HMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm Clive Palmer has offered to fund totally …… Interesting plus other Oceania nations 7.25 million HMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm … I guess the response from those wanting to make more teams in greater Sydney ……. Narrrrrrrrrrr
Col The Bear said | October 24th 2009 @ 5:31am | Report comment
yeah good onya Billy…they may get a team but won’t be until the the later 2010s, they have said so themselves…by that time the mighty Central Coast Bears will have at least 2 premierships under their belt..
Col The Bear said | October 24th 2009 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
I like the article concerning Clive and the Gold Coast united team… now thats interesting !!!!
Col The Bear said | October 25th 2009 @ 7:02am | Report comment
Coach Daisy and his team do it again..after beating Samoa last week, The Cook Islands have gone on with it, downing Fiji..in the dying seconds of the game..
Well done Daisy.. keep up the great work..