When the NRL cut the Bears, Jets, Magpies, Tigers, Steelers etc, they really devastated and alienated so many fans in the name of progress. I think they missed a trick, unlike the AFL who had to move the Swans to Sydney and the Lions to Brisbane. What has worked with these moves is that Sydney and Brisbane still play at least 6 times a year in Melbourne and their Melbourne based fans can see them play, it's something at least and the traditions of these clubs, ie club songs, colours have been retained. I feel so sorry for the fans of the clubs that lost their clubs and were forced into mergers that the majority of us hated. I don't think for me personally there was a more miserable time that the era of 2000-2002 when we had that inflicted on us. If the NRL are smart they will allow the Bears to be based on the Gold Coast, also merge them with the Burleigh Bears and run a team out of Robina which is a first class stadium. If we get a future expansion of the game, then the likes of the Newtown Jets should be included in some sort of arrangement so their culture is kept alive too. We have just had retro round and what should have been by far the biggest round for pulling in crowds didn't hit the mark. People like me respect the tradition of the game and it's time the NRL got off its ass and for this round especially made the kick off times friendly for all fans who want to attend games, playing Saints v Souths at 6 PM is a brainless decision, who ever came up with the idea of that time slot which the fans all year have hated, should not be in any decision making capacity moving forward.
