Roar Rookie
Joined September 2017
2.6k
Views
1
Published
11
Comments
Published
Comments
We are in the midst of finals footy there is a lot of chatter about results, crowd numbers and the refs. But there is…
I agree there are a lot of issues to work out with this idea and it may not be possible even in the next decade or two but its an awesome idea.
Imagine a second tier comp of:
– West Coast Pirates
– Adelaide Rams
– Central Coast/NS Bears
– Central Queensland
– Brisbane 2
– Western Corridor
– Southern Orcas
– Newtown Jets
– PNG
– A Pac Islands team
and more! All fighting for a place in the NRL. People complain about talent but if you think about it, this would replace the Instrust super comps and you’d have roughly 24 teams all now funnelling into 10 or 12. You’d get a better concentration of talent.
People are complaining about supporter bases, however if these 2nd grade teams have glory to play for then that would galvanise a lot of fans. Being solely a reserve grade team doesn’t quite cut the mustard in terms of getting people pumped.
The downside is true that this could mean fans are lost in key markets when relegated, but this system wouldn’t be the death kneel that reserve grade clubs face now.
An alternative to the NRL expansion
I love the idea of combining the two entities and developing a proper second tier. The current model needs a shake-up and the merry-go-round of NSW Cup affiliations, combined with the Bulldogs essentially rigging the comp this year with NRL players proves that it isn’t sustainable. Stand-alone clubs would be great – it works for the A-league, and every other professional sport – just build squads with depth.
Also like your list of proposed clubs if the reserve grade system is retained, only comments I have:
– If the Bears ever feed into manly I will neck myself
– The Magpie should be the reserve grade mascot of the Tigers
– This is a great opportunity to bring in a southern NZ and Fiji team, and also cover the Riverina
Why the NSW Platinum League could be a third-tier tournament
Hi Not So Super. Also for 1994, looking at attendance the same trend applies. The Bears were only behind single city teams Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast and Newcastle. They were the most supported Sydney club.
http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrl-1994/venues.html
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
Thanks for your insight Rob9, much appreciated. Another question however, again a hypothetical I’m afraid. The local QCup team is of course the Burleigh Bears, if Burleigh were part of the GC Bears bid does that change anything? I’m not saying they are, I can’t imagine they’d have the financial backing. But I’d be curious to know would that impact your opinion?
The reason I ask is I remember reading a while ago that after the Super League rationalisation, apparently East Tigers proposed a merger with Balmain with games split. That arrangement obviously seemed to suit a well established BRL team.
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
From Andrew Moore’s social history of north sydney rugby league “In 1991 the rousing performance of the first grade team brought a record 168 324 patrons through the turnstiles at North Sydney Oval. With taking short of $1M, as already mentioned, the Bears were that year Sydney’s most popular football team, their popularity exceeded only by the single-city teams such as Newcastle and Brisbane”. Still looking for the 1994 quote from the same book.
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
Hi MagpieRugby just double checked. The Pirates who were the Rugby Union club on the north shore originally wore black with a skull and crossbones. When the rugby union comp was reorganised into districts in 1900, the Pirates merged with the Wallaroos to form the North Sydney team, but at that time wore the colours of cardinal green and gold.
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
It’s a fair point Rob9, and yes Kelly and Frizelle will be the front runners. However let me propose a hypothetical. If the Bears manage to put together a proposal, plan and investment strategy that would blow K&Fs out of the water and ensure the longevity and success of Rugby League on the Gold Coast. Do you turn it down and stick with Kelly and Frizelle?
The reason I ask this is because the NRL wouldn’t want to change branding if they don’t have to and would only consider the Bears is if their offer is considerably better.
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
If they have the money behind them to do so, then why not throw their hat in the ring? The NRL have been saying they are going to sell the Titans for the last two years so I’d assume the Magpies can’t or won’t. I’m not saying the Bears have more of a right to own the Titans than other QLD teams, unfortunately when it comes down to buying a club finances are important, and the Bears have it. If they could, I would also find the prospect of a team like Souths-Logan buying them more interesting than Kelly and Frizelle continuing to stumble along as the Titans. Kelly has also said he plans to retire soon as well so he can’t be their white knight forever.
Also when or if, expansion ever happens. I would love to see Brisbane 2 be a franchise that has history rather than another terrible entity like the Titans or proposed Bombers.
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
Hi MagpieRugby, will double check this tonight. I do know originally the local Rugby Union club wore all black as their strip and my understanding was that was still the case when the Bears were set up. If my understanding is incorrect then I apologise but will double check.
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
Is it an insult though? I know lots of people in South Melbourne who still barrack for the Swans and they get no home games in Melbourne. The fact is the NRL will never allow another team to set up in Sydney. Some people will say they would rather have no team that a relocated team, I firmly disagree, bit that’s my opinion. The Bears meant so much to me growing up and I just think depriving the future generation of that feeling, just because of stubbornness is selfish. The North Sydney Bears will always exist in the NSW Cup and below, it’s just time for the red and black to re-enter the NRL.
How much ownership talk can the Gold Coast Bear?
This article couldn’t be more wrong. What you’re saying your perspective and is entirely subjective and while I’m aware that there are a bunch of fans that are north Sydney or central coast only. The majority seems to be pro relocation because that’s how the bears get back.
You say it can’t work but it’s been proven to work in Australia – twice, with the Swans and Lions. I’m sure some fans were lost but the clubs are bigger now as a result. And they still have followings in South Melbourne and Fitzroy.
Wanting North Sydney and nothing else doesn’t make you a diehard. Saying you’d rather have nothing and torpedoing any other bid just makes you selfish for the diehards who have a different option to you.
I want my kid to grow up watching the bears the same way I did and would support a Perth move, a qld move or a NZ move.
'You cannot relocate emotional attachment': Grin and bear it, NRL expansion just doesn't fit league's much-loved club