The very idea of the Gold Coast Bears is laughable. If it was to come to existence, you might as well thrown in the towel and give the Gold Coast to the AFL.
Conceding the Titans brand is conceding defeat in the Gold Coast, making it a another failed franchise in the Gold Coast sporting landscape.
In typical rugby league fashion, there always talk of re-branding, relocation or just shutting down the Gold Coast Titans completely. It’s the short-sighted, insular mindset of rugby league where self-interest and selfishness is ever present.
The Bears see this as a opportunity for themselves to re-enter the NRL.
Now what would a Gold Coast supporter get behind a NSW team for? Sure, there be crowds in the Central Coast and North Sydney when the Bears come to town for nostalgic value, along with the rivalry games with Manly Sea Eagles.
But when it comes to the key market of the Gold Coast, why would a rugby league supporter accept another brand so quickly after the Titans short existence since 2007?
The Titans need time to get it together like other rugby league clubs in the past who had financial setbacks at one point. Considering that the majority of NRL clubs are making losses those who want Titans gone should take a look at their own club before demanding the Titans be booted out or rebranded.
The Cowboys early in there existence went through financial trouble before News Limited intervened and kept the club going through the hard times. The club was eventually sold to the Cowboys League Club. Now the Cowboys have won their maiden premiership and the club – along with the game in the region – are in great shape.
It’s a matter of patience and support. The Titans need not re-branding and nostalgia to get through the hard times. Hopefully, the NRL give the Titans their support on and off the field.
It is for the best of the game to have a strong Gold Coast.
DoubleDown
Guest
The NRL approached the Bears about the takeover, not the other way around SportsFanGC.
NF
Roar Guru
MF The AFL expansion teams are always secure throughout the years.In the 90's Lions/Swans went through financial hardship the AFL back them while in the same time-frame the NRL abandoned the Western Reds/South QLD Crushers/Adelaide Rams in the exact same time of hardship. At the moment, GWS/Suns are getting the financial backing they need in the formative years until they can be sustainable while the NRL fail to give the light of day to non-heartland teams of the past. The AFL always thought of the bigger picture and looking after there own, while the NRL has a pattern of self-consuming itself and focusing on the heartland always. While, the expansion and non-heartland teams get left out in the cold by the NRL to fend to themselves while the admin gladly bails out the heartland clubs year after year.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Well said NF. People should do some research about the Titans, particularly those from Sydney and the Central Coast, before another crap article suggesting a Bears takeover is good for the game. The Titans have a solid Board Room structure in place finally, they are getting ready to move into their new Elite Training and Administration Facility at Parkwood International Golf Course as part of the $100M redevelopment of that site, they play in the excellent Cbus Stadium at Robina and the Board are negotiating with the QLD State Government regarding the home game rental fee and they are starting to re-engage with the community after the Searle debacle of recent seasons. Make no mistake the Club is in full rebuild mode, on and off the field, and they need time to see their fruits of their labour. The NRL needs to come out and make a strong statement that the Bears will not be allowed to buy and rebrand the Titans and end this nonsense and uncertainty.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
On the bright side, the Titans did last longer than the other coast incarnations.