The NRL isn’t going to revive the Bears – the Sydney rugby league market is just too packed and the Central Coast is not far enough away.
The league isn’t really ready for a 17th team and other bids have more merit.
I would love to see a Perth team join the competition, this would not only make the competition truly national, but also open up a late-night TV timeslot.
So while we have to accept that the Bears won’t be coming back, surely we can get the next best thing: rugby league games at North Sydney Oval.
It would be great to have at least one game a year at the historic ground which has held more first grade rugby league matches than all but two other grounds. Moving a game here would be financially beneficial to the team hosting as well.
The idea came to me as I drove past the field over the weekend. Seeing the oval brought back some great childhood memories of watching the Bears run around in the late 1990s. Nostalgia alone would fill that 20,000 capacity stadium.
Geographical location suggests Manly could do it, but that would seem a bit of bad taste due to the club’s long history of disagreement (in saying that someone did think it a good idea to merge the two clubs).
The Rabbitohs are the perfect fit for two reasons; they have a relationship with Norths through the NSW Cup, and both are foundation clubs.
One sticking point could prove to be the playing surface and facilities but the oval still hosts regular NSW Cup rugby league, Shute Shield rugby and Sheffield Shield cricket, so that ensures the ground is looked after.
The facilities might be a tad uncomfortable, but I’m sure fans wouldn’t mind to see footy played in North Sydney again – surely it couldn’t be worse than Brookvale.
The last premiership game played at the ground was ten years ago, when Souths hosted Manly. That day 14,855 people attended, which is quite a good crowd when you consider how poor both those clubs performed in 2004. Both those teams are powerhouses now, so taking that game to North Sydney would potentially lockout thousands of fans.
But there are plenty of options. The Rabbitohs could take one of their games against non-Sydney opponents to the venue. These games generally have low attendances and lack atmosphere, but that a game between the Rabbitohs and the Storm on a Sunday afternoon would sell out North Sydney Oval and be one of the spectacles of the season.
The Central Coast Bears bid has pledged to play one game a year at North Sydney Oval, against Manly, but that seems destined to never come to fruition. In their absence someone needs to pick up the slack.
While we hear responses that the NRL is considering moving games away from suburban grounds, a piece of Sydney rugby league history would die if this were the case. ANZ stadium with 12,000 fans provides no atmosphere and I cringe at the idea of not being able to watch Manly play at Brookie.
We should do the opposite and bring professional rugby league back to North Sydney Oval.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
(they are - don't tell anyone)
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
What a ridiculous article. There are games at NSO tomorrow!!
Storm Boy
Guest
Hold the NRL 9s there over January 26 long weekend.
S.L. Craven
Guest
If they actually did the right thing and ran a light rail out to the Northern beaches, which they should have done 40 years ago, then everyone would benefit. Even if it ran from Manly Wharf like the old tram that ran from Manly to Narrabeen, it went right past Brookie Oval according to some old blokes I've spoken to down at the Palm Beach RSL.
Mana in Mosman
Guest
Sounds perfect bro Glad to hear u had a true old school experience with your family in this day an age .
Paneer
Guest
The Bears should b in the NSW cup
Parrafan
Guest
Bring back the Bears!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Was recently in North Sydney for work and wandered down to NSO where I hadn't been since attending the Bears last ever home game back in '99. All the memories came flooding back. It truly is a majestic oval that very few other grounds can match.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
The hill is the place to be on a sunny Sunday afternoon, But a rainy Saturday night? That's another story...
Shadow
Roar Rookie
Thats a waste of tax payers money. North Shore may as well be Adelaide. Rugby league will have to re-expand into that market because it has long been lost to rugby and aussie rules. Sizable chinese population as well which would be more drawn to football. Sad to see the Bears shafted and despite the goodwill around the Central Coast bid, it has been even sadder to see it gradually decline too. It is cruel but the best outcome for the area would be join manly's catchment and work with together in making the eagles a northern sydney entity..
Shadow
Roar Rookie
Great post and sounds like a great day out. The NRL's eye for the dollar really does take away the essence of rugby league.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Paul I can assure you the hill at the SCG was no place for the faint hearted,fights, drunks falling over and taking two or three with them,getting showered with beer or the contents of someone's bladder, and then it would rain. Sigh, then they built a grandstand.
Paul
Guest
I recently attended a game at Henson Park between the Jets and the Tigers. What a fantastic day of Rugby League. The NRL can have their fancy expensive stadiums that at times aren't even at half capacity. It was a Saturday afternoon, the kids were allowed on the ground at half time and every time the Jets scored a try a bloke rode around the ground on a mini penny farthing with kids chasing after him. The kids were having a ball. What a fantastic day (and atmosphere). We sat on the hill - yes the hill. Why did the NRL ever get rid of the hill ?? A glorious patch of grass where families - yes families can spread out the picnic blanket and watch the footy. The kids can enjoy a game between themselves where kids who have never met join up and live out their dreams pretending to be the stars of our game. A day at Henson Park is a day in the past but what a great day for families and Rugby League. To the Newtown Jets - please don't change a thing I will take the drive south from Newcastle again next year but this time I will be bringing more families. My missus and daughter loved it. I loved it. My father took me there regularly as a kid and I was there the day the gridiron player threw the ball over the new stand all those years ago - from memory I think it was against South Sydney. I have tickets for the Knights these days and unfortunately our hill has been taken from us in the name of progress. Now I have the displeasure of sitting in a half full stand with less atmosphere than Henson Park. No where for the kids to play, no where to spread the picnic blanket only 2 tiny patches of grass. David Smith and the execs at the NRL - get your families out to Henson Park for a dose of what Rugby League is all about - a sport for working families. The kids want to be able to jump the fence at full time and steal the corner posts. They want to pat their favourite players on the back while mum and dad fold up the picnic blanket on the hill and prepare for the trip home. You can have your fancy stadiums for home semi finals - get me back to the grass roots. Back to the future !!!!! It's a long drive but see you in 2015 at Henson Park
Tom G
Guest
If the politicians and NRL are so negative about spending a cent on Brooky, I would personally have no issue whatsoever in relocating to NSO. After all it beats the tripe out of the alternatives for convenience.
Johnno
Guest
I'd like NSO to renovate, but it's a heritage ground, so can't see it happening, or the state govt or the feds, building a 30K stadium on the north shore. They seem commited to fixing Brooky. But the north shore needs a 30K stadium, chatswood oval would be good next to a train station. NSO is 10 minutes from the train station.
Fred
Guest
Just let it go
Big Ted
Guest
It is sad that the Bears have slipped away. We are unfortunate enough in Brisbane to have an NRL bid team preparing to call themselves the 'Brisbane Bombers'. I'd rather that they called themselves 'The Lack of Imagination'. Perhaps a new team called the 'Brisbane Grizzlies' or the 'Central QLD Koalas' would be an appropriate tribute to the 'North Sydney Bears'. If some of the Sydney clubs wanted to merge further to allow in some more clubs in other states or PNG / FIJI in the future, then perhaps they could call themselves the 'Sydney Swarm'.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Bring back the bears, how good an injection would that be for League, just p@ss the Sharks off.