There have been on-going bids to resurrect the club in the NRL as either The Bears, based in Perth and Sydney, or as the Central Coast Bears, based at Gosford.[1]. Little success was had during three seasons (2000-2002), finishing 12th, 10th, and 9th, winning 30 of 76 games. Season 2015 saw a strong improvement as Norths won nine games throughout the season and returned to the NSW Cup finals, only to be eliminated by Canterbury in Week One, and finished eighth. [24] North Sydney finished the 2008 season as NSW Cup minor premiers and were eliminated in the finals in straight sets. Full Digital Access to be billed $1 for the first 28 days. Its never easy, is it? A host of Norths' finest . Manly has 270,000. South Sydney who have a partnership with Norths were not happy with this decision and declared that there would be no NRL pathway for Carney and declared that they might withdraw their relationship with Norths as a result. And if you brought back the North Sydney Bears to represent these 600,000 people in the northern suburbs of Sydney and the 400,000 people of the Central Coast it would be an instant and irrevocable success. Not sure if you missed it Freddy but the Bears already did merge with Manly. If Brookie is not up to NRL standard, why does the NRL allow them to play there? But theyd be into, the Northern Sydney Bear people, all six hundred thousand of em, or whatever percentage the NRL could plane off and declare allegiance, and consume the club and love it one way or many. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. And if there were a Bears team to call their own, local people would invest in the Bears, consume the Bears, love the Bears. Penrith (590,000) is about the same. JavaScript is disabled. At the end of the day, we are the North Sydney Bears and well look to not just have a competitive side but a winning side. Rugby league historian Andrew Moore once suggested that the Northern Eagles joint venture may well have established a record for being the least loved football club in sporting history. Perry suggested that the NRL should look at creating a promotion/relegation system similar to other sports around the world. Cronulla has 220,000. https://birdssa.asn.au/birddirectory/white-bellied-sea-eagle/, 2023 R1 Thu - Parramatta v Melbourne @ CommBank, I Dont' Like Cricket, Oh No, I Love it, Yeah. And if there were Bears people would invest in the Bears, consume the Bears, love the Bears. As of 2014, there have been several attempts for the Bears to come back into the NRL by being based at the Central Coast, North Sydney, Perth, Gold Coast and Brisbane. Speaking . Consider my own northern beaches. Probably not irrevocable, either, given the volatile nature of this greatest game of all. The Sydney Roosters revealed that they would be fielding their own team in the NSW Cup for 2023 and would still provide some contracted players to North Sydney as part of the agreement. If the NRL wants to expand it should look inside itself: And bring back the North Sydney Bears. I can see how that might appear. And they didnt. So bring em back, baby, and fill Percys Bar. North Sydney chose to join the temporary Presidents Cup competition which involved teams from country New South Wales and the Ron Massey Cup. If that's the marker, then the ARLC suited bean-counters should do this: Granted! They love the club. And was a year late, thats all. Heart and soul of the North Sydney Bears Greg Florimo has weighed in on the proposal to re-merge Manly and the Bears. [45] Both major political parties showed support for the Central Coast Bears bid in 20102011, with Labor supporting the bid by granting $100,000 for the Bears,[46] and the Liberal party supporting the bid by promising to acquire land at Mt Penang, Central Coast, NSW to build a state-of-the-art Sports Centre of Excellence in the lead up to the 2011 New South Wales state election. Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Prominent rugby league personalities who have publicly backed the club include Phil Gould, Andrew Johns and Peter Sterling while support has also come from as high up as Federal Treasurer and North Sydney MP Joe Hockey. [40], There is a movement for a return to first-grade Rugby League for the club, with the North Sydney Bears moving to Gosford (on the Central Coast, New South Wales) and becoming the Central Coast Bears. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox! The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team that competed in the National Rugby League (NRL) between 2000 and 2002. Anyway: old mate also said the next step wouldnt be Bears to Perth or the Central Coast or where I reckon, the northern region of Sydney with all those people, but rather Port Moresby, for sweet Mal Meningas sake, because the Australian government would like to use rugby league to do something with regional aid or sufficiency, or something, I dont know. I didnt hear much more of his explanation because I was gob-dangling speechless that old mate was actually talking about Papua New bloody Guinea as a dinkum locale for a red-and-black comeback. Bears are now officially the feeder club for the Roosters for the next 5 years starting 2019. featured alongside some of Australias most prominent sports journalists. And watch the people stream across Miller Street and into Bear Park, and fill it full to burst, and chant like Souths fans did. North Sydney Bears. Going with the Flo. Brad Fittler calls for Manly to merge with North Sydney Bears to make 'behemoth' club. Not in conjunction with any other offer. However! It's a rainy Friday evening in Sydney, and the temperature on the big screen at North Sydney Oval reads 14 degrees. The news never got better for Bears fans. Hard-nosed? I trudged in the rain with my Mum, Dad, and four uncles, back to the pub Percys across Miller Street. The North Sydney Bears would be back and there would be, give us your best Rabbits Warren, deadset jubilation. Select the subscription offer youd like to buy, click Subscribe with Google, and you will be directed to complete your purchase using your Google account. The northern beaches. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Big question would be do you brand the new merged club as one, both or neither of the two co-owners? Yep: the grand old North Sydney Bears. Cronulla has 220,000. These are the ties that bind. For mine, sports fans, that is freakin La La Land. Missed out. That's lotta eyeballs. Only Parramatta (890,000) and Wests Tigers (690,000) have a larger catchment than North Sydney Bears would have. Theres still people holding a candle for the Newtown Jets, though not enough that the Jets arent destined to forever be a reserve grade feeder out of Henson Park. Knock On Effect NSW Cup Draw; Harvey Norman Women's Premiership. Former North Sydney internationals Greg Florimo and David Fairleigh play a prominent role in the club's push to join the NRL. New customers only. Like Illawarra got the socks in their merger and the Magpies got Campbelltown occasionally, the Bears got shafted in their merger. "They want to buy everyone. Norths were formidable in the 1990s, regularly bettering storied opponents like Canberra, Manly and Brisbane, upon whom the folklore of 90s rugby league has been built. Newcastle, and Andrew Johns, then 19, beat us at home. Also, the new club's decision to play games in Gosford instead of the Bears home ground at North Sydney Oval alienated several North Sydney fans, despite North Sydney's planned move to the new Central Coast Stadium, which had been rebuilt for the Bears on the site of the old Grahame Park ground. Its why people follow footy teams. Sign up successfully. If thats the marker, then the ARLC suited bean-counters should do this. We just want to make sure that geographically we feel we are the team of the people, and we can take that to the people where the game needs to go. Whether wise brinkmanship, 4D chess, or just playing hard to get, it is fair to say that Dickson thinks in the abstract about location, and is keeping his options open. He was introducing me to the dry, gallows humour that accompanied any seasoned observer of the Bears. Policy played out in the court of public opinion; its how we roll in the twenties. Hes in demand by NRL clubs. But it should still be done. Earlier this year there were reports the Bears were attempting to organise a consortium that will make a bid to purchase the NRL license off the Manly Sea Eagles. Couldn't he go, the Flo. Madness, of course. Don't need to have surfed the Long Reef bommie to back the maroon and white. Even more transparent, in a back-arsed sort of way. Yes, yes, yes adding a team in Sydney would appear to fly in the face of the theres too many teams in Sydney argument. There are a million reasons why. But moot it they did, these people in suits, because television told them. Please call 1800 070 535. [47], With weekly membership drives and ongoing community involvement, the Central Coast Bears targeted entry into the NRL in 2015,[48] but this date passed without admission. Who are these people? And they dont have a footy team to call their own. To be a part, even if its a minor part, of a northern Sydney nrl club or remain a nswrl leagues club suburban entity? On a fine and sunny afternoon at dear little Brookie, against the Eels, say, thered be what - 15,000 fans? It was a wet, Autumnal day in May 1994. Madness, of course. Politicians do the same thing with policy; leak a backbenchers brain-fart to the papers, see how it flies among the populace. Youve got the big business of North Sydney, youve got the Peninsula, then youve got the people of the Central Coast, the numbers, it would be nearly a behemoth of a club if it had the right administration and the right people behind it. We are super excited to have a player of Todd Carneys calibre join the mighty North Sydney Bears". The North Sydney Bears would be back and there would be, give us your best Rabbits Warren, deadset jubilation. [63] The Bears intend to retain their 113-year history and traditional black and red colours. With the scores locked at 12-12, Newcastle player Matthew Johns kicked a field goal with 2 minutes to play to make it 13-12. Manly Sea Eagles and North Sydney Bears must merge into a 'behemoth' club, says Brad Fittler, Cameron Smith reveals the 'difficulty' of not having a consistent halfback for the 2018 season. The Bears are prepared to move anywhere as part of their bid to become the NRL's 18th team but there are some "non-negotiables" they won't budge on. Full Digital Access + Weekend Paper Delivery 12 Month Plan costs $312 (min. Like Illawarra got the socks in their merge and the Magpies got Campbelltown occasionally, the Bears got shafted in the merge. Perry went on to say "You need 12 and 12, so 24 key markets, and stricter criteria about those clubs around their funding model which means all of the 24 may not fit the top tier criteria, it may only be 16-18 franchises that make the cut, their catchment areas, their population, and their commercial growth, because currently I believe a lot of clubs havent been accountable as much as they should have. The Northern Eagles represented Manly. The North Sydney Bears is an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. Problem with NRL is too many clubs in Sydney yet far too many grounds to watch teams ( remember the 2 team West Tigers playing out of 4 venues 10 years ago doesn't help) and the f**kin Roosters should f**k off to CC and Crowe should move SS back to Eastern Seabed but hey you are still strong as English Rugby League is f**ked I think. They have to be from somewhere, represent some patch. Commercial viability. The joint venture club played out of Brookvale Oval and Central Coast Stadium at Gosford, a ground successfully lobbied and built for the Bears. Twice the Bears have adorned the back page of the West Australian, and ahead of Perth's hosting of the State of Origin on Sunday, Bears chairman Daniel Dickson will be in the city to meet a. [31][32], On 25 August 2018, Norths lost their last game of the season against the New Zealand Warriors due to a last minute try scored by Chanel Harris-Tavita. Why subscribe to become a Full Digital Access or Paper Delivery + Full Digital Access Member? In September 2018, North Sydney announced that it had signed a 5-year deal to become the Sydney Roosters feeder club and reserve grade side with Taylor returning to the club as head coach. The Bears have also been the only team to have participated in every season of reserve grade since the competition's inception in 1908. [28] On 20 May 2018, it was revealed that North Sydney were in advanced negotiations to sign former NRL player Todd Carney. Its why they invest in a footy team with themselves, with emotion, with money. Matt has interviewed just about everyone in Australian sport, and has a massive Rolodex of Australian sports folk. In the fifty years the new building has stood, a number of redesigns and refurbishments have taken place. And they could again. North Sydney is based on Sydney's Lower North Shore, and has played at North Sydney Oval since 1910. He recently told The Daily Telegraph: Wherever I go every third person asks me when are you bringing back the Bears?., Speaking specifically about the proposed 18th team in the NRL, Vlandys went on to say: One thing Ive learned in rugby league is that the Bears have an extremely popular brand. [35], North Sydney would go on to lose both finals matches against South Sydney and Newtown. People follow footy teams largely because the team represents them, their patch, their people. I can live on the beach". They defeated the Newcastle Knights 32-28 in the first week of the finals, and were then eliminated by minor premiers and eventual NSW Cup premiers the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the preliminary final, who recorded a convincing 38-6 win. Hes done the PhD, bought the T-shirt. Yet the region the catchment, where the fish are continued to grow. [33], On 5 September 2018, North Sydney announced that they were ending their agreement with South Sydney Rabbitohs to act as their reserve grade side and had signed a 5 year deal to join the Sydney Roosters as their new feeder club team for the 2019 season. Not in conjunction with any other offer. Home Delivery is not available in all areas. Payment will be charged to your Google Account. Poker machine money enabled the first-grade roster some glitz, and though the Curse of the Cammeraygal continued to thwart their premiership hopes, the Bears were nevertheless one of the heavyweight teams of that decade. At the end of the day, if they dont like the decision the Bears make, they can take it up with us. A team they cant really own. The Dragons have 260,000 (not counting the Illawarra). They love the club. A merger of Sydney Dragon-Sharks would be logical. The foundation club exited the league in 1999, before their failed merger with Manly ended in 2003. [51][52][53], On 22 February 2018, it was announced that North Sydney were in talks with a Western Australian consortium with the possibility of creating a franchise and to seek inclusion into The NRL. SUBSCRIBE for the full story. the fun and become a member of the community, You can share sports stories, experiences, match reports, They have also been affiliated with the New Zealand Warriors, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Melbourne Storm in the past.[23]. Florimo then went on to say "I don't see too many other options presenting themselves, The energy and finance that we put into the Central Coast bid really didn't come to fruition so we're going hard to the plate on this". In 2019 the Australian Rugby League Commission cobbled together a white paper of sorts, a plan to prop up under-performing Sydney NRL clubs with revenue that would apparently flow from broadcasters once the club had relocated to a new place where people watch telly. Interim Eels boss Max Donnelly could well be presiding over the Parramatta Bears had he not blocked a push to merge the Eels with foundation club North Sydney. People can also support a team though theyve never set foot in their zone. But as recently as April 2021 the Bears have expressed their intent on eventually returning the brand to the NRL competition. He also pointed out, that only a few years earlier, outside the one-city teams then only Newcastle and Brisbane in 1991 and 1994 Norths were the competitions largest-drawing team. linktr.ee/northsydneybearsofficial. The Roosters 200,000. Photograph: North Sydney Bears NRL Fans gather on the hill at North Sydney Oval to watch the North Sydney Bears. It was more a fishing exercises by suits in high places, the "paper" leaked to select media to disseminate in the court of public opinion. During that time, North Sydney produced arguably the greatest winger the game has ever seen in Ken Irvine. In 2019 the Australian Rugby League Commission cobbled together a white paper of sorts, a plan to prop up under-performing Sydney NRL clubs with revenue that would apparently flow from broadcasters once the club had relocated to a new place where people watch telly. 380 following. Earlier in the week, The Australian's. Wouldn't be surprised if Uncle Nick has seen the writing on the wall for Manly as a business and is ready to pick off carcass of the Sea Eagles Roosters/Norths absorb Manly, become the Northern Roosters and encompass the eastern and northern beaches all the way to Gosford. Bulletin Latest Headlines direct to your inbox, LeagueUnlimited | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer. See www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. Its like when politicians are parachuted into safe seats. At the end of the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW regular season, Norths finished third on the table and qualified for the finals. Before this, Norths were the feeder team for South Sydney from 2007 to 2018. You are using an out of date browser. Same-same. And there are lots and lots and lots of eyeballs. The following year North Sydney came 2nd in the regular season, but were defeated 47-7 by St George, and then lost to South Sydney 14-9 the following week.[8][9][10]. Adding a team in Sydney would appear to fly in the face of the theres too many teams in Sydney argument. Exhibit A: The Northern Eagles. Bulletin Latest Headlines direct to your inbox, LeagueUnlimited | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer. The people of Gosford preferred to wait until a home-grown team was based there. Hes a doctor of demographics. But they are separate, distinct entities. Nobody would win, not even TV. In the next match North Sydney had the chance to make their first grand final in 48 years if they could defeat Penrith in the semi-final. Gold Coast? And relocating an entity, be they Bears, Dragons, Sharks, Tigers, Roosters, whoever, well, knowing fans as I do, and being one of them, youd just as soon they kill your team as see it move away. Since the Northern Eagles folded at the end of 2002, Manly and North Sydney have gone their separate ways. After three consecutive top four finishes, season 2014 was a horror year for North Sydney, who recorded only two wins throughout the entire season and finished with the wooden spoon, eight points below the second-last placed Manly Warringah. Souths: 390,000. For South Sydney and Newtown do you brand the New building has stood, a of! Their own chose to join the mighty North Sydney, New South Wales and the got. South Wales the people of Gosford preferred to wait until a home-grown team was based there give us best... Oval since 1910 thats the marker, then 19, beat us at home and colours! A wet, Autumnal day in may 1994 the end of the North Sydney Bears would be, give your! 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