‘We’re here in a big way’: North Sydney Bears refuse to give up on NRL return
The North Sydney Bears haven’t given up hope of returning to the NRL in some form, with the club’s chairman declaring: “We wouldn’t be doing our brand justice if we weren’t getting ourselves available for any NRL growth.”
Bears fans are still getting over the pain of being squeezed out of the top tier more than two decades ago. The foundation club exited the league in 1999, before their failed merger with Manly ended in 2003.
However, independent research shows the club still has 220,000 avid followers, a huge supporter base for an outfit now acting as the Roosters’ feeder club in the NSW Cup reserve grade competition.
While most pundits felt the Bears were content with their second-tier status, club powerbrokers say their ambition is to return to the NRL. While it is highly unlikely that will come in the form of a stand-alone entity, there could be an opportunity to partner with an existing club or one of the prospective franchises jockeying for the NRL’s 17th licence.
“I want to be the chair of an organisation that wants to be part of the NRL,” North Sydney chairman Daniel Dickson told The Sun-Herald.
“It has been 20 years [since exclusion] and our fans still feel that pain. But, as a club, absolutely, we want to have our heritage, our foundation and our brand involved in anything the NRL does moving forward. There are different opportunities and ways that could occur.
“We want to show respect to the NRL, but let them know we are here. And we’re here in a big way.”
The Bears have assembled a consortium of businesspeople prepared to invest millions of dollars to help fund a return to the NRL. Departing chief executive David Perry, who helped assemble the backers, will continue to assist the club on a voluntary basis.
“We still have very relevant backers financially and corporately that are ready and waiting for an opportunity,” Dickson said. “Whether that presents itself in someone taking on our brand, in a relocation or a 17th team ... we would be a fantastic partner.
“It’s about bringing the fans back into the game. The game has been starved of a lot of Bears fans who are still shattered and don’t have a team they are following.
“For me, this is an NRL piece. If we strengthen the game and bring in great heritage and following, that will be a huge generation that can be reconnected that needs to be re-engaged with.”
The potential return of the Bears, albeit in a different guise, could also result in occasional games being played at North Sydney Oval or on the Central Coast. Dickson is hoping to have discussions with the NRL before it makes a call on whether to add an expansion franchise in July.
“You need to be very strategic about how that is done,” he said. “There are very strong contenders to be that 17th side and they believe they have everything, but they are missing one thing and that is the heritage.
“They are very rich clubs, Redcliffe and so on, rich in money and local passion. But the Bears have a national brand that has been around for 113 years.
“We’ve been respectful to the game. The reason we have been quiet isn’t because we’re not doing things, it’s because we’re making sure whatever we do is right for the game and the club.
“We don’t make the decision on whether the Bears come back into the competition, but what we do ensure is that we are ready to go should an opportunity arise.
“We’re also very respectful of the game and our current relationship with the Roosters. We are very proud to be their feeder club, they have been an amazing partner of ours.”
Some of the Bears’ favourite sons – including Gary Larson, Greg Florimo, Mark Soden and current coach Jason Taylor – will be on hand to honour Tommy Raudonikis in Sunday’s Bears-Jets clash at North Sydney Oval. The occasion will also celebrate the club’s 1921 premiership-winning side.
