Just got this members email from the Bears today:
Members & Stakeholders Joint Announcement
Western Bears/North Sydney Bears
21st August 2024
Dear #### (Member #####)
The Western Australian Government, with the WA NRL Bid consortium (WANRL Co) and the North Sydney Bears, are proud to announce a historic partnership that will see the “Bears” return to the National Rugby League competition through the establishment of The Western Bears.
A formal bid document has been submitted for the consideration of the National Rugby League to admit The Western Bears as the 18th club in the NRL.
This follows a formal Request for Proposal by the NRL, which invited select parties to provide comprehensive submissions for evaluation as expansion franchises in the NRL.
The Western Bears Club will make the NRL a truly national competition, returning top-flight rugby league to Perth and drawing on the heritage of the North Sydney Bears, which dates to 1908.
This will be done through an adaptation of the Bears logo to suit NRL competition requirements and full integration of the red and black colours that are synonymous with the mighty Bears.
The Western Bears will be one club, one fanbase, unified by backing a new generation of Bears.
The Western Bears will be a powerhouse on and off the field in the NRL. The Club intends to run a professional and financially sustainable NRL Club and grow men's and women’s professional pathways and participation at the grassroots level in Western Australia and in the North Sydney catchment.
The Western Bears have the strong support of the Western Australian Government, including Premier Roger Cook, VenuesWest, and a board of prominent investors led by Cash Converters Executive Chairman Peter Cumins.
If the Western Bears bid is successful, Perth-based home games will be played at HBF Park, with a regular-season home game to be played in Sydney. This Sydney-based home game will be part of a heritage round with a potential fixture against old rivals the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. It is also proposed that a Western Bears pre-season game be played on the East Coast.
Western Bears are working with other NRL Clubs and venues to allocate sections for Bears fans at East Coast away games where the majority of games will be played.
Upon licence confirmation, Western Bears Foundation member packages will be available, and proposed Bears packages will allow Sydney fans to attend Sydney-based regular season and trial season home games and multiple away games. Exclusive content and events will also be made available to foundation Western Bears fans.
Western Bears, as the custodian of the Bears, consider it essential to preserve and maintain the rugby league pedigree and 116 years of history.
Should the Club successfully procure a licence, the Western Bears will consult with fans, members, club legends, and the North Sydney Board over the coming months to understand what is important to them and seek to integrate their wishes into the club's identity.
The North Sydney Bears will be the feeder club to the NSW Cup for the NRL side, and the Western Bears will invest in and work with the North Sydney Bears football club to improve and develop elite player programs. The Western Bears will ensure that the club remains competitive and leads the NSW Cup in results and performance.
Peter Cumins, Chairman of Western Bears, said:
“Many thanks to the Premier of Western Australia Roger Cook for his magnificent support and to Daniel Dickson Chairman of the North Sydney Bears for his significant contribution to bring this fantastic alliance to fruition. Should our bid be successful, we intend to make the Western Bears a club that Western Australians can proudly embrace and to bring together Bears fans from the East Coast to the West Coast.”
Daniel Dickson, Chairman of North Sydney Bears, said:
“After 25 years in hibernation it will be great to see the Bears back where they belong in the NRL. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the WA Government and WA consortium group to bring the dream to reality and the hard work of all parties involved. The Western Bears will reenergise our passionate fan base and introduce a new market to our proud history and heritage. One club with a national footprint is great for the game.”
The Western Bears and North Sydney Bears are bound by NRL’s confidentially requirements and will not be commenting further at this time.
