Southern Bears

[flippikat]

With the NRL set to expand to 20 teams, why don't the Bears do this:

Move their club now, move to Christchurch ! Play in the NSW cup as the Southern Bears, start forming pathways and relationships there as a local club in a high standard competition. They could announce it for next year.
Then when the NRL asks for bids from NZ, they would have it in the bag as a stand alone bid.

That sounds like a reasonable pathway in - and it would clearly be nailing their hopes to ONE market, but would Norths be willing to take that gamble?

If they moved the club to Christchurch, would that then mean that their area in Sydney would be ceded to other clubs - or would they continue as a club running juniors etc across two geographically separate markets? (That's a huge task there)

Would the CRL (Canterbury Rugby League) go as far to re-branding their rep & junior rep sides from Bulls to Bears in NZ competitions, for brand alignment?

Where would the money for transport & accommodation for away games come from? (Maybe the NRL could help with that until the NRL Christchurch Bears team debuts?)

It's an interesting scenario, but one that IMO would need full buy-in from The Bears, CRL & NRL - and full commitment to Christchurch - and I believe that entails relinquishing the North Sydney district.

Half measures & "hedging your bets" would make it a mess several times worse than the other joint venture sides we've seen.

 

[Gobsmacked]

That sounds like a reasonable pathway in - and it would clearly be nailing their hopes to ONE market, but would Norths be willing to take that gamble?

If they moved the club to Christchurch, would that then mean that their area in Sydney would be ceded to other clubs - or would they continue as a club running juniors etc across two geographically separate markets? (That's a huge task there)

Would the CRL (Canterbury Rugby League) go as far to re-branding their rep & junior rep sides from Bulls to Bears in NZ competitions, for brand alignment?

Where would the money for transport & accommodation for away games come from? (Maybe the NRL could help with that until the NRL Christchurch Bears team debuts?)

It's an interesting scenario, but one that IMO would need full buy-in from The Bears, CRL & NRL - and full commitment to Christchurch - and I believe that entails relinquishing the North Sydney district.

Half measures & "hedging your bets" would make it a mess several times worse than the other joint venture sides we've seen.

I think we should have a side from the south island in nsw cup regardless.
The NRL should be open to fund a move there imo.

There's no chance of Norths getting into the NRL from North Sydney, so there's no future for them there. .

They should take thier position in the NSW cup to either Perth or New Zealand where they can launch a bid from.

But we know that won't happen because thier only commitment is to being a squeaky wheel and given the chance to show their books regarding finance, structure and growth projections... they be denied for the same reasons they were nearly 30 years ago.
So...
Please go away Bears.

 

[Pneuma]

An alternative to that - which I think could well happen - would be for some expansion team (thinking either Perth or Christchurch or Adelaide) to use the Red & Black colors with a brand of their own, thus trumping one of the Bears big marketing angles.

(Red & Black team? Nah, we already have one of those thanks..)

Black and red for Perth would be my preference. Perth Devils!

 

[Colk]

I would say to the head bear: we're happy to give you a license under the following conditions:
You can't play any games at North Sydney oval ever.
You can't play any home games within 2000km of Sydney.
You can't use or ever mention the bears name, logo, colours or history.
You can't associate yourself with any other city's bid in the southern hemisphere.
You have to forget about the past completely and never mention it ever.
Any breaking of the above conditions will see your licence immediately removed.

If they're willing to do that then maybe they can have a licence.

This reminds of Fight Club.

First rule of NRL admission: don’t ever mention NSO.

 

[Colk]

Black and red for Perth would be my preference. Perth Devils!

Then if you ever put in a team from Adelaide call them the Angels. Religious showdown!

 

[Wb1234]

The Bears or Christchurch? I

Yes

 

[Centy Coast]

Yes

Bring Back the Bears, two huge wins today in both the NSW Cup and Harvey Norman Womens

 

[SpaceMonkey]

A bear there was, a bear! a bear!
All black and red, it didn’t care where!

 

[Gobsmacked]

Bring Back the Bears, two huge wins today in both the NSW Cup and Harvey Norman Womens

They're looking to introduce a reserve grade.. probably to snuff out the last wiff of hope the NSW cup gives you..

 

[Gobsmacked]

The best thing about the Southern Bears concept is it doesn't involve Perth..and as such we dance in the glory in the absence of Perth red

 

[AlwaysGreen]

The best thing about the Southern Bears concept is it doesn't involve Perth..and as such we dance in the glory in the absence of Perth red

He's busy at work.

 

[greenBV4]

Bring Back the Bears, two huge wins today in both the NSW Cup and Harvey Norman Womens

thriving in the second division where they belong

 

[Foreign Legion]

 

[Perth Red]

Bears in christchuch makes good sense, no one there will give a sht when the inevitable happens and the Bears move the license to gosford.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Wait, is it Wellington Bears now? That looks like Warriors Wellington colours “bush shirt” jersey…

 

[Centy Coast]

Nah that’s our WA jersey, added yellow with red and black to make the locals happy lol

 

[flippikat]

Bears in christchuch makes good sense, no one there will give a sht when the inevitable happens and the Bears move the license to gosford.

Except some rather peeved South Island league fans.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Bears in christchuch makes good sense, no one there will give a sht when the inevitable happens and the Bears move the license to gosford.

Inevitable?
God you're a dope.

 

[Centy Coast]

Bears in christchuch makes good sense, no one there will give a sht when the inevitable happens and the Bears move the license to gosford.

What are next weeks Lotto numbers ? you seem to know what’s going to happen in the future

 

[Perth Red]

Bears owning a license is like jumping off a 20 floor building, you just know it’s not going to end well.