Big-Steve said:
Noyce talks about history AND mentions Souths but no mention of the Bears.
Denying a 16th team is the same as denying a Central Cast Bears and therefore any chance of the Bears being represented in the NRL.
I've come too far for too long not to be considered in the same light as Souths, Wests, Balmain or any other team.
Norths or the Bears shouldn't be viewed in the same light as Souths, Wests or Balmain. Those three clubs took steps to ensure that they would be represented in the NRL and have survived in some guise.
Norths/Bears should be looked at in the same light as Newtown...a club who through it's own mismanagement went bankrupt and thereby forefeited any right or chance to play in the NRL.
You want to talk history, lets talk history....
Which club, historically speaking chose the most important year of it's history to tell North Sydney Oval to stick it's ground where the sun dont shine before having another ground to play at?
Which club, due to the above (from memory) was forced to play (I think) Manly in North Queensland before a crowd of 3 men and a dog?
Which club had it's chairman and CEO ride off into the sunset with pockets full of superannuation, cars & cash one week prior to receivers being called in?
It makes me sick to think that a club that was solely reponsible for it's own demise (didnt even get to the criteria or NRL judgement) thinks it can bleat about history and expect that gives them some right to re entry.
I can't believe that after only a small period of time people can't see the sarifices that clubs like Souths, Balmain, Wests, St George, Illawarra made to ensure their own survival, but belittle that in the naem of a club that cut it's own throat but thinks it has a right to a second chance.
Glennb