The North Sydney Bears are making one final bid to rejoin the top grade - the NRL, as the 18th team.
They are armed with the finance, 220,000 fans, 114 years of history and one of the fastest growing junior bases.
They are hopeful of playing 4 home games a year at North Sydney Oval, one of which must be against Manly.
They are happy to play their other home games wherever the NRL want them to, and are willing to accept the financial risk involved in relocation.
They want to keep the Bears logo and the red and black colours.
In effect, the same setup as the Sydney Swans where the South Melb portion of the club is still alive and kicking.
What are their chances you think?
And where will they end up?
Replies
l like it!
I hear they've been working hard with the WA bid.
Allows the WA team to have a fanbase on the East coast for some home and the away games.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Bears back in the competition. But I would like a rural NSW team in as well as it would take the game to the bush
The bear in the photo looks like someone jammed a fist in its butt.
The aftermath
It's a great idea, but the NRL has gone cold on Sydney teams for quite some time now. Not sure why as that is where the bulk of players and fans come from. I really can't see them welcoming the Bears back.
They be relocating to wherever the NRL want them to, LE.
If you want to set up a team in say Perth, why not have an advantage of already having a fanbase in Sydney?
Bigger crowds and more feeling when they play in Sydney. I mean, would you rather see Parra v Manly or Parra v Cowboys?
I don't think they'd keep too much of their fan base if they moved to the other side of the country. Maybe if they moved to South QLD or somewhere else in NSW , but to Perth ? It'd be really really hard to follow a team that's based in Perth . Imagine The Eels moved to Perth and became the Perth Eels . How many would lose a bit of their link to the club ? I would . Perth just has no rugby league identity at all.
I would rather have the Perth Eels in the NRL than the Parramatta Eels in reserves.
Maybe they'll lose some of their fan base, maybe not. But even if they do, isn't some fans in Sydney better than nothing?
To be honest I'd rather have no Eels than the Perth Eels. They'd never be my same club if they relocated . Especially to Perth.
Because there are far too many teams in Sydney as it is. Rugby league is played by more than just those in the Sydney basin and it needs to reflect that if it wants to keep growing.
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