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As a rugby league tragic, I like to think that I’m Mr Know-It-All when it comes to the game. The reality of it is that I am just another jack of all trades with his opinion. Sometimes right, most times wrong, but never shy about a good argument.
For the last 3 months, I have been honking the loudest about expansion into South-East Queensland.
When the NRL looks to expand in possibly 2013, I thoroughly thought that the two licenses should go to Perth and a choice between Brisbane, Ipswich, and central Queensland.
All these regions have bids in place. Ipswich has two. And even though the general public support isn’t there yet, I believed wholeheartedly that one of these fine Queensland areas should be home to an NRL team (or in Brisbane’s case, a second one).
Then I went to Darwin for ANZAC Day and my entire view of expansion changed. What I saw in the dawn morning service was a man and his boy, silent and showing their respect to the great men and women who fought for our country.
Both happened to be wearing Central Coast Bears jerseys, and I started to get curious. So I went and greeted the gentleman, and after sparking up a conversation, the topic eventually on the Central Coast bid.
I was convinced that the Bears were a bad idea and wouldn’t happen, but as I found out, my lack of knowledge concerning the bid had formed my attitude.
The gentleman said that he lived in Darwin, grew up in Brisbane and had supported the Bears all his life. He said his son, whom was only 8, had obviously never seen the Bears play in the NRL, but somehow they were his favourite team.
As we chatted on, I asked why he had chosen to wear a Bears jersey to the dawn service.
The gentleman replied that his grandfather died in World War II, and had been a member of the North Sydney Bears reserves team during the late 1930s.
After telling me about others in his family who had played for the Bears at some stage or another in various grades, he explained that the Central Coast Bears had been the manifestation that attitude of never say die, never give in, never surrender and fight til the very end for what you believe in and love.
Much like the great men and women who served Australia during the wars.
We came to the agreement that rugby league is a great way to unite people and communities, to bring families together and enjoy the little important things in life.
He mentioned that the Central Coast Bears had something like 6700 financial members and that they represent a united cause. Like the diggers, these Bears tragics are fighting for what they believe in, what they love.
I was surprised to find out that a team whom had seemingly died a decade ago still had such a following. He said that if the NRL abandoned the Central Coast Bears now, to their fans, it would be like Australia abandoning our diggers.
He said Australia would never do that, because that’s not the Australian way. I am now a converted fan and I have even placed an order for my own Central Coast Bears membership. I want to fight alongside this gentleman.
If he won’t give up on the Central Coast Bears, then neither will I.
I hope the NRL don’t either.
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