Roar Rookie
Joined October 2021
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Just for the record:
My family are third generation Canterbury supporters. I was lucky enough to be at the SCG for the 1985 GF to see us beat StGeorge 7-6, I remember us losing to Parramatta in the 1986 GF in the wet. We had a party at home in 1988 when we beat Balmain, I remember the Dogs barnstorming into the GF against Canberra in 1994 only for Martin Bella to knock on from the kick off and we lost 36-12 against Canberra. I was at Belmore when Terry Lamb thought the scores were level and he kicked a field goal against Newcastle and we lost by 1. I remember the magnificent run to the GF and premiership in 1995 to send Terry Lamb out a champion. I can go on at length about the incredible 1998 run to the finals and Darryl Halligans goal from the corner to beat Parramatta. I went to both the 2012 GFs against Melbourne and 2014 against Souths to see us lose both times.
There are a million Bulldog stories I can share.
We all have our teams and we all have our stories.
And so do Bears fans.
The Bears would like to come back, they were unlucky to miss out and the Super League years were clearly some of the toughest for Rugby League- for everyone.
I think whatever team you support you should be thankful your team didn’t draw the short-straw like the Bears, who were the only long-standing team to emerge from Super League with absolutely nothing.
Besides when the Bears return you can have the joy of your team thrashing them for at least a few years whilst they build back up again. ????
Heritage vs Expansion: Full time for the Bears or one final chance?
Research was done by Nielsen as reported by The Australian. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/north-sydney-bears-claim-to-have-500000-avid-supporters/news-story/253b29cd145ef5dda162f220ac245992. I think there are 600k living on the North Shore, and 1M+ if you include Central Coast. I think the Sydney Swans / Brisbane Lions are good examples – they engage in their new locations (Sydney/Brisbane) whilst their traditional supporters back in Melbourne help to sure up the numbers. The Titans clearly have virtually zero support in Sydney and its not much better for many other interstate teams. An interstate team aligned with the Bears would help to mitigate setup risks especially in the early decades when new clubs often struggle. I’m a Bulldogs fan but the Bears might be a goer in Perth. The Dolphins obviously won’t be a big ticket-seller for any Sydney club when they host the Dolphins down here.
All the best.
Heritage vs Expansion: Full time for the Bears or one final chance?
The research was conducted by Nielsen.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/north-sydney-bears-claim-to-have-500000-avid-supporters/news-story/253b29cd145ef5dda162f220ac245992
Heritage vs Expansion: Full time for the Bears or one final chance?
The independent research actually found 220k supporters, as reported by the SMH in April.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/we-re-here-in-a-big-way-north-sydney-bears-refuse-to-give-up-on-nrl-return-20210410-p57i2p.html
Heritage vs Expansion: Full time for the Bears or one final chance?
The SMH reported in April that the independent research actually found 220k supporters.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/we-re-here-in-a-big-way-north-sydney-bears-refuse-to-give-up-on-nrl-return-20210410-p57i2p.html
Heritage vs Expansion: Full time for the Bears or one final chance?
Although no relation, I have to admit Bob McCarthy is best remembered for his 1967 GF intercept try – against Canterbury.
Canterbury had to wait another 13 years before our 1980 premiership (for us the first since 1942).
Heritage vs Expansion: Full time for the Bears or one final chance?