Could the Bears be back?

[Peter C]

Watching the local news last night and it seems the Bears consortium is by far and away the front runners to take over the Titans.

They'd become the Gold Coast Bears.

And they'd play in their original colours as well.

And just when I thought we'd got rid of those pricks almost 20 years ago.

You have to give Greg Florimo 10/10 though he's never stopped trying.

Hi Mark, as far as consortiums go, I imagine the one favoured least by the NRL would be the one from the Bears, despite the fact that they may be the leading contender.
I'm sure the NRL would prefer the current status quo
A team called the Bears playing out of the Gold Coast and also a handful out of North Sydney Oval , would totally alienate the support from the Gold Coast.
The Bears are constantly circling around clubs like vultures in the hope that one dies so they can pick the carcass, just like what they wanted to do to us.

 

[The Who]

This would be a perfect marriage. Two clubs with a history of underachieving.
It would also stop the whinging from my North Sydney mates who love taking potshots whenever Manly is struggling.

 

[HoldenV8]

If the Bears consortium was serious they would put in the hard work and try for a new startup club somewhere like Perth or Adelaide or Darwin. Instead all they seem to want to do is take over a financially struggling existing club and change the logo name to the Bears and claim that they are back.

They want the easy option.

Correct me if I am wrong but don't the Bears still exist playing in the NSW Cup as the feeder club to Souffs. They even play out of North Sydney Oval. For mine any re-named Bears wouldn't be the same club just because a few ex players (e.g. Florimo) are part of it.

 

[Harvies elbow]

I don't really know how much longer the NRL can support a Gold Coast side.

The Suns ( AFL) are in trouble as well and have just sacked their coach.

I just don't think the demographics there support a team, 90% ( yes a guess) of their fans actually support another side but attend just cause they love the game.

I sat next to a family once in the Manly away section, and the guy ( dressed in Manly gear) showed me his Titans membership and said he gave up his 4 seats on half way to be with the MWTS for the game.

He told me most fans up there are the same.

If they went with say the Burleigh Bears they might actually get more fair dinkum locals , not all the ring ins.

And I reckon there lies their intent.
They probably don't want it to work on the gold coast so they can move to the central coast as was their original intention, sharing games with north Sydney oval.
F*ck that.....
I'll move !!!

 

[mosto]

I don't know why the NRL keep bashing their heads against the brick wall that is Gold Coast. Of all the various incarnations, Giants, Seagulls, Gladiators, Chargers and Titans, not one has remotely looked like succeeding. Firstly, people on the Gold Coast obviously don't give a **** about having a team there, and secondly, the Broncos have a vested interest in ensuring they don't have any competition for fans or playing talent in SEQ. As soon as Gold Coast have some one half decent, they poach them, just look at the talk now that they want Ash Taylor back. Just bite the bullet and move the franchise to WA, whether that be as the Bears or whoever.

 

[Class of 96]

I think a merger into the Bear Tits has a nice ring to it.

 

[manlywarringah]

I think the license should go to another Brisbane side like Ipswich or Redcliffe or a merged entity of Brisbane/Gold Coast clubs.

How would they feel supporting an ex Sydney team in the bears?

I know of so many people who love dolphins and would support a team because of that logo alone.

If Redcliffe could be involved somehow and the new team were able to use their logo, I reckon it would create plenty of interest.

I know the Titans tried to buy the logo when they started up but Redcliffe wouldn't allow them to use it.

If they're involved somehow they would.

 

[dowdz]

Not sure how this sits with the Titan fans. I know a few who love them, and go to all their games. If they change to the Bears, do they lose the current supporters, and maybe with a link to Burleigh get a different sort of fan? Personally just leave it i think. Gold Coast needs to build and stop changing all the time.

 

[tookey]

Is the phone box outside Percy's still there?

I just saw them taking it away for delivery to the gold coast I think that Jason Taylor was in it answering a call

Sounds like the move is happening and Taylor could be the first coach of the good time Gold Coast bears

 

[Ryan]

Good lord .. the poor people of South Queensland might as well place their heads between their legs and kiss their hopes goodbye. May as well rename the club the "TITAN..ICS"

PSS I hope this doesn't mean that old Norths fans like @Ryan will be leaving us to join a Titans forum .. who would I argue with ..

Nah mate, Manly has taught me something I've become quit addicted to that was completely foreign to the Bears:

Winning.

 

[Hamster Huey]

I know of so many people who love dolphins and would support a team because of that logo alone.

Is that why Eastern Suburbs took on the logo of a cock?

 

[COMMANDER]

The Titans are a basket case. Week in and week out the visiting team has more support at their home ground then they do. The fickle Titans fans don't deserve any consideration from the NRL.

Bring on the Bears, at least they'd bring some real fans with them.

 

[Tomay]

What an absolute disaster this will be. Hopefully it will finally see the end of the Bears! Can't wait to see it play out.

 

[Peter C]

Let's get rid of the Gold Coast altogether, been nothing but a basket case for thirty years, if the NRL was really serious about this they should immediately transfer the license to a second team in Brisbane

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Let's get rid of the Gold Coast altogether, been nothing but a basket case for thirty years, if the NRL was really serious about this they should immediately transfer the license to a second team in Brisbane

It's a sporting team graveyard up there , they all fail eventually.

But of course the stupid QLD Government of Beattie / Blight thought it would be a real vote winner to build a 300 million dollar stadium for them, great stadium, pity no one goes there!

 

[The Who]

Let's get rid of the Gold Coast altogether, been nothing but a basket case for thirty years, if the NRL was really serious about this they should immediately transfer the license to a second team in Brisbane

No, keep them and add two more teams in Brisbane. Then run a separate division for the Queensland teams, NZ and Melbourne. Let Nein televise these matches for Qld, NZ and Victorian viewers.
Then we'd have a NSW-ACT-based division. We can have the finals based on the leading teams from each division.

 

[Clay]

No, keep them and add two more teams in Brisbane. Then run a separate division for the Queensland teams, NZ and Melbourne. Let Nein televise these matches for Qld, NZ and Victorian viewers.
Then we'd have a NSW-ACT-based division. We can have the finals based on the leading teams from each division.

Play each side once and your conference teams twice

 

[Shoe1]

The AFL also got it right in maintaining the red and white of South Melbourne, having 'SMFC' emblazoned on the back of the shirt to maintain that historical link, and looking after the traditional Melbourne based fans, Paul Roos famous remark after a GF win, "this is for the bloods".

Instead the NRL consigned almost 100 years of history to Tempe Tip (if that still exists as well)

Newtown was consigned to the Tempe tip. Norths were consigned to the tip that used to be near the incinerator off willoughby rd

 

[Tomay]

The next great NRL leader to take over from Grant will have the brilliant vision to promise us a global competition to rival the NFL. Bring on the Beijing Bears!

 

[manly al]

I know that there were mitigating and difficult circumstances and they had much sympathy at the time but if the North Sydney Bears were not able to establish themselves or be embraced at Gosford and the central coast , they would have even less prospects at the Gold Coast, and regardless of any merit in their bid proposal . Also agree with Peter . C that the N R L would also not really prefer to endorse this option. Brand and identity issues would seem the least of the problems also . The increased N R L club grants to 13 mil dollars should assist the struggling clubs next year . There has been an almost ten year presence for the Titans now and i am sure that they would not be partial or keen on an ex Sydney club"s virtual takeover outcome and would prefer a different ownership arrangement .