bears catchment vs other clubs
@Perth Red
The real question that should be asked is what the Hell have Manly been doing since the Bears demise to embrace and connect with the schools, and locals of that area and why didn't the ARLC/NRL demand and insist and help Manly convert that massive area over to become Manly supporters even if it meant a more northern friendly name change to help the transition? Instead they left them alone and put it in the 'to hard' basket and allowed the Swans to court and convert the locals over to the dark side.
And if you need to see and example of how pathetically weak the Governing body has been over that time look no further then allowing Manly to set up shop in the Parramatta local area and fish where the fish were easiest to catch. That should never happen ever with any clubs catchment area. Just plain ridiculous!
Massive failure both from the ARLC/NRL and Manly. I know many will say North Sydney ppl would rather die then jump over to become Manly fans, but that is just nonsense and who ever said they should be targeting rusted on NSB's fans anyway? They should have been targeting the kids in the local areas who wouldn't have the foggiest about those old rivalries and couldn't care less. They had a generation to do it ffs!
Anyway to late now. Lets see if the ARLC/NRL shows some strength and wisdom and puts in some binding pathways rules and demands of expenditure that must be made and met to continue with the franchise licence. You know measurable KPI's and if not met severe penalties and ultimately the licence revoked and given to another consortium including name and colours. You want to play with the big boys then you need to play by our rules.
Remember the ARLC/NRL holds all the Aces at this point of negotiations and I'm sure even the existing Clubs will not stand in the way of the ARLC in making sure that whoever comes into the competition must look after and develop its own players. I get that they will have all of Perth to develop also. That shouldn't mean that they neglect their ancestral and historical home base. After all when they are playing in Sydney if they put the effort in and reengage with the area they will have a ready made supporter base that no other out of town team will be able to match. So in theory their Sydney crowds should be better they any other non Sydney team.
But all of this takes wisdom, planing and single minded effort. If they do it right the Perth Bears could truly become a power house on both coasts of Australia. But I have a feeling that we will see the ARLC just hand out another licence with just the same old weak as piss criteria's that all the other franchises have too, cause that's what they do.