I called North Sydney stalwart Greg Florimo yesterday and opened with a simple question: “Flo, are the Bears dead or is the flame still flickering?”
There was not even a skerrick of hesitation from the other end of the phone.
“We have not given up hope,” said the 285-game Norths’ veteran, a flint-hard character in his playing days, and nothing less than that as we hit the back end of 2012.
“But I reckon everything rides on a meeting we are trying to set up with NRL Commissioner John Grant this month.
“If he says we (Central Coast Bears) are welcome to submit a proposal at the end of 2014 for possible inclusion in the 2017 NRL comp, it will be all systems go. We would run with that, and I have no doubt we would be one of the strongest teams in the comp.
“If he says the League is looking at other options, well, I would have to report back to our Board and members. That’s when the dream to keep the Bears alive would probably dead and buried.
“We desperately need some kind of endorsement from the NRL Commission.
“I am seeking to meet with John Grant and Shane Mattiske and we will have Joe Hockey (Federal Member for North Sydney and Shadow Treasurer) available to strongly push our cause. He firmly believes in us and what we are doing.
“Yes, it has been very frustrating. Many, many sleepless nights. But we are still in with a realistic chance until we are told otherwise.”
Florimo is unshakeable in his belief that the Bears deserve inclusion to a National Rugby League that embraces the Central Coast of NSW. Since he initiated the CC Bears bid almost seven years ago, he has spoken to and met with thousands of rugby league fans and players who are of like mind north of the Hawkesbury Bridge.
“This area is full of league folk and if they turn their back on us, the district will be wide open to other codes such as soccer and AFL for expansion,” he said.
“They are very, very aggressive and that comes as no surprise. If rugby league dithers, they will simply walk in and take what they want.”
Florimo told me his faith in keeping the Bears alive was reinforced on a weekly basis as he mingles with local players and their families along with potential, but wavering sponsors of the code.
“In my mind, there is no doubt that the Central Coast needs a rugby league team and I know that the Bears can provide a successful, winning franchise.
“It’s entirely up to John Grant and Co. from here on. “
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
As a Manly fan the no1 priority for the club has to be survival. Whatever ensures survival while keeping the club whole must be done. If Manly went the way of the Bears I'd never watch another game of league again. If that means moving to the Central Coast then so be it. We just posted a 1.5m loss for 2012 Financial year. The white night benefactors cannot be relied upon to be around forever so we better work out a way to be self sustaining /funded or we risk vanishing at any point.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Just as regards Jacksonville - the NFL have a policy of refusing to broadcast live into the home market when the game is not sold out; serves to motivate people :)
Johnno
Guest
crosscoder I agree mate, some of those crushers signing was big time open chequebook throwing money like it was unlimited , there whole forwad pack was just about Dad's army, and by the end of the season most of the 1st grade forwad pack were in reserve grade and swapped over by the younger reserve grade pack , the most expensive reserve grade side ever lol. Anthony Herbert the wallaby was another bellringer waste of money signign like Garrick morgan. Bob Linder was signed up , and he ended up being the head coach choosing to coach rather than play. John Jones the Manly veteran also was signed. And an ageing cement Gilmister, and aging Mark Hohn, what dad's army that side was. A young travis Norton and scotty sattler got a start with the crushers too. And heck even kiwi vetran Tony Kemp got a start at the crushers
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Johnno.Love the Falcon like a brother,but really he was at the end of his career or at least not at his prime,and the signings of players, smacked of a rushed job. The club needed more time for recruitment.
Johnno
Guest
Crosscoder what's wrong with the falcon , why is that a bad signing he played Origin.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Any team who took on Mario Fenech, Garrick Morgan in their playing ranks,deserved the death of a thousand cuts.It was a last minute concoction,with little grass roots thought going into it. Yet I met a couple who were devoted Crusher fans,who would not countenance a move to the Broncos when the Crushers were hung and quartered. Lost opportunity,that should not be repeated. Can't understand why a 2nd Brisbane team can't be called the Stingrays,there are thousands of the little bs,sliding over local beach sands. I will suggest this view,the rebirth of the Bears back into the NRL,would have an impact IMO far greater than the Rabbitohs.Why is this so? the Bears from my experience were many followers' second favourite team.The welling of emotion should they be readmitted and the tears would fill an Olympic pool.The code would get a resurgance on the Nth Shore.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
if you wish to live in the past,be my guest.
Valleys Diehard from Brunswick st.
Guest
True. But blame the ARL/ NRL. The Broncos inclusion killed the BRL, there was no "due diligence" to ensure local clubs that were loved and supported got a gig. Pfft to those who say the ground attendances had shrunk to unmanageable levels by 1995, so would any comp if it was neglected. A few survive, but play to a few hundred on Saturday afternoons only. The Crushers used Brothers training grounds, but failed to really embrace local fans. Their name, colours and signings were total shockers as well. There is your precedent, these administrators are really out of touch. The Bombers will find it hard as there is no passion for the brand. I wont support a team in the NRL in Brisbane that fails to acknowledge the BRL. I'm sure they'll win a licence and then when it starts to fail the Sydney media will bash the rationale for a second Brisbane team.... and admonish the relocation of a Sydney team. I'd love to see the new QLD team wear White, Blue and Maroon jerseys and be called the Brisbane City Diehards.
Valleys Diehard from Brunswick st.
Guest
Good comment Alex. Hindsight is always 20/20 and a tough administrator like the Dogs Greenburg would have seen the storm clouds looming large. The Bears were shafted, no doubt. They did the "right" thing and Manly screwed them over. North Sydney oval, much like Leichardt is a jewel, 3 games a year there from the Black, Red n Whites would have been tremendous. The Bears should get a start in 2017, and 2 Sydney teams (perennially useless Cronulla & Parramatta are the obvious candidates) to move to Perth and Ipswitch. Keep the brand, relocate the team.
Australian Rules
Guest
"No point in citing 2011 as a basis." Ok, I'll use the most recent *actual* figures (2011)...you can use the speculative figures (2013).
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
I don't think its the lack of a 'hard man' that's the issue. Souths being instantly kicked out of the comp led to an reaction and public outcry. The main problem with the Bears was that the merger with Manly led them to die a slow death, much in the way the Magpies are going now.
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
The Bombers is a terrible bid. I like the idea of a second Brisbane team, but QLD is an area rich in RL history and that bid completely neglects the areas history and any potential fans it could have.
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
As ideal as this would be, I can't see it ever happening. The NRL want less teams in Sydney not more. The only reason Souths got back in was due to the high level of public support and legal action. And with 13 years outside of the comp, it would be impossible for the Bears to drum up that kind of support now.
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
Bondy, without the Bears the CC will never have it's own NRL team. The market just isn't big enough without the north shore. The simple fact is, people on the coast either need to get behind the Bears or don't, and never have an NRL team.
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
Completely agree. I love Greg Florimos passion and am behind the CC bid 100% and would make the trip up to attend some home games. However if it got to the point where the CC was ruled out, I would still get behind the Bears if they targeted a new market. As you pointed out Fivehole, there would be 9 'away' games in Sydney I could attend
Dave of Wollongbar
Guest
Alex got it in one. NRL would have gained credibility if bears came back. I personally would have thought the tigers and bears would have been a better joint venture.
Phil
Guest
Great naysaying champ, why don't you and your half a dozen anti-Bears mates start up a stand-alone Central Coast NRL bid and get out in the community like Flo and his team have been - I will be the first to sign up but until then I will support the Bears bid as they are actually doing something.
stormtrooper4
Guest
why so many clubs in sydney? It would just dilute the spread of talent and melbourne would win another premiership. GO THE MIGHTY STORM
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No its the Bombers.The B52s .Theme song Loveshack.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
For the first time,since man set foot on the moon ,we have had no mention of the Sharks relocation,either to reposition the Bears back in,or set up in Perth. Viriginia,there is a Santa Claus