I'd say so. Bears are the team I first supported and would be still supporting if they were in the competition now. Although Id still have a soft spot for the Eels.
I'm a diehard BEARS supporter. The thing is I lived in Brisbane for a large chunk of my life, so the only time I'd see the BEARS was vs. the Broncos. Super League brought the Crushers into the comp and then suddenly I could watch the BEARS, twice a year (three if parents drove to Carrara to see them vs. the Chargers).
Made it to N.S.O. a few times in high school and sat underneath that fig tree. The club and team were something else. There was a different vibe about the BEARS over the other teams to me. They were the strugglers who just kept showing up. They were like a QLD team in NSW with Larson, Moore, Dallas, Ikin and Goddard in the side, mixed with the 80min battlers Soden, Seers, Roy, Buettner, Florimo. The 80's were dry but the 90's proved fruitful. We made the finals in that decade more often then not. Only to have our dreams of a 3rd premiership end in the same fashion, in the same major semi situation.
I once heard a story at NORTHS Leagues about how we were pursued hard to join Super League. I dunno if that is true but I'm glad we stuck it out in the ARL. With grants given and the funds in place, we started collaborate work to build Bluetongue Stadium in 98 for the 99 season however it got pushed back a year. By the time work started, the NRL has stated that our stadium was not suitable for NRL games thus we travelled most of the 99 season. By the time the stadium was finished, it was too late and everything happened as it did.
Merged. I didn't support the Northern Eagles. Cut. I had no team but QLD Maroons and Australia Kangaroos. Even though I was from Brisbane with no NRL team to follow ever think about going for the Broncs. I did in early 03 start to back the Penny Panthers. Whom incidentally that year would go on to win the comp.
Having spent time now on the Central Coast. I absolutely back the Central Coast BEARS. Even though I have interests in the Panthers still, my energies are 100% spent on the CCBEARS bid. Any chance I have to fight for and have my team back is a chance worth taking. Asks Souths fans, they know all about it.