Outside of PR & yourself are there any Western reds fans left anyway bruhz? …. also there are rumours PR wasn’t even living in Oz when the Western reds were around so not sure he even counts?… would a general sports fan in WA even realise if the new club is wearing a Norths or norths inspired jersey?
There are plenty of old Western Reds supporters around still. I'll occasionally see a Reds car rego plate or someone in an old Reds jersey (or even one of those retro ones released last year).
Thing is, while actual Reds fans might be minimal these days, plenty of people here still remember them. And even more people are fully aware of North Sydney's involvement in the new Perth Bears club. People here are on board with Perth being in the NRL (except those absolutely devout to aussie rules ... The West Australian very much included), and even though may dislike Rugby League or just not care about it, will still get behind a WA club giving it to the east coast. Never underestimate the passion WA people have for WA. I'm from Newcastle myself but have lived in Perth since I was a kid. I'm like a wolf in sheep's clothing. I live amongst them but I'm not one of them. I see and hear their 'us vs them' attitude flowing through their veins. It's deeply rooted and immensely passionate.
If they see/feel/think this Perth team as being an east coast team plonked over here, they will not get the full support.
Perth Bears can certainly tap into North Sydney's legacy (heritage jersey, ect), particularly for the Sydney market, which is where they will play most of their away games every year), but they have to be careful about leaning into it too much at the cost of their home city's supporters / general public.
Likewise, tap into the Western Reds past history as well, but not too much.
I'm on board with the Perth Bears. I'll be a member first chance I get and will support them every week of the year (except the weeks they play the Knights). But I'm a WA League man moreso than Bears man, and I'm concerned that they are already looking like a returning North Sydney more than a fresh new club. The emblem and colours, no problem (I would've liked gold in there too, but alas, not to be!). The modernised bear head logo just made sense, so again no problem. The inaugural jersey being an old traditional North Sydney jersey instead of a new design for the new club, hmmm, nope, I'm not loving that. And the bumper stickers you get with a purchase of those t-shirts state in bold lettering 'OUT OF HIBERNATION' which, to me, is saying that the North Sydney Bears are returning, as opposed to being a new Perth Bears club.
I fear Round 1 2027, Optus Stadium, at Perth Bears first ever competition game, there will be a largish contingent of Norths supporters who'll have come across from Sydney for the historic game who will be chanting "North Sydney! clap clap clap North Sydney!" which won't help with local acceptance.
It all sounds negative against the club, and I apologise for that tone, because I am a Perth Bears supporter and I've never disliked North Sydney, but as someone who's lived in WA for about 40yrs, I'm just wary of the choices being made to obviously want to reinvigorate the old Norths supporters but at the detriment of the WA feeling of ownership of their new NRL club.
I'm still excited for that day Round 1 2027 rolls around. I was there on 12th March 1995, and I'll be there on that day too.
