I know so many work colleagues who work out rydalmere way, who supported and still would support the bears, if they they have a chance to return to top flight, most of them are tradies that live in gosford, but travel to sydney for work. We go to most of the bears games now, and are always bringing up the rivalry with manly, and mostly the failed merger, i honestly think if the northern eagles, were called northern bears, the franchise would still be there, but in saying that manly obviously would never had merged under that reason. Basically theyd be in illawarras shoes, i grew up watching the bears as a kid, and most of my mates are balmain supporters, so its sad to see both these iconic foundation clubs wither off, as many other teams have done in the past, wests tigers aren't the same as the tigers of balmain, i cannot remember the last time they wore orange as their primary uniform, always the black or white, i think the last one i saw was the aboriginal jersey that was closest, little things like that urk me, as i grew up in ryde, and both those teams were prominent at my school growing up, now its all parra jerseys at all the local shops, im for expansion, but i also want to see the iconic clubs to still exist too, even if they move cities, id be ok with it, just as long as the club still has its heritage existing or a link to it, i dont see that in the merged teams at all, its a shame, i know the magpies side of the club is stronger financially as was the manly side of the northern eagles too, i kinda hoped the magpies just called themselves magpies, instead of the tigers, Atleast it would be the truth, same as easts, i know why they want to be called Sydney, and i feel thats wrong especially when there are 8 other teams representing parts of sydney also
