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raskolnikov

raskolnikov

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Veteran 10k Posts 30k Posts Wordler Werewolf Player Essendon Player Sponsor 2021 - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Archie Perkins Essendon Player Sponsor 2020 - Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti, Shaun McKernan Essendon Player Sponsor 2019 - Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti, Shaun McKernan
Apr 1, 2002
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Cap Coast
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I thought I would start a thread for the incoming expansion team. I was a mad Norths fan growing up and though I adopted the Bulldogs as my team when the Bears were expelled (**** Manly) really haven't followed the NRL closely since. This has me excited though.

I just hope that they have a strong North Sydney vibe coming through and not just a token acknowledgment like the Brisbane Lions and Fitzroy. A couple of games at North Sydney Oval every year would be awesome.

Who knows? We may even break our premiership drought which has lasted since 1922. St. Kilda has nothing on us.
 
I've always had a soft spot for the North Sydney Bears, I had a great Uncle who was a lifelong Bears supporter and was not only old enough to remember their only two Premierships in 1921 and 1922, but he was also able to attend the 1922 GF. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1995, but continued to fight on for a number of years because Norths had a strong team and he was hopeful of seeing them reach another Grand Final. Unfortunately, Preliminary Final appearences in 1996 and 1997 was a s close as they got. He passed away in 1999, and I think it was only a few weeks after it was announced that Norths would merge with the hated Manly.

It would great to see the Bears back and hopefully they bring back their "traditional" jersey, it was one of the most unique looking jerseys with unusual stripes/square pattern at the top.

1724237597563.png

And let's be honest, it's one of the few times Red and Black has looked good together. At least in Australian sport. :)
 
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Teagueeee15 said:
Is it going to be the same club as the one that last played NRL in 1999 (similar to how the Cleveland Browns came back as the same club in the NFL after an absence when the old club moved to Baltimore) or are they just using the Bears name?
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That's my worry. Hopefully there will still be an obvious North Sydney link. A few games at North Sydney Oval, wearing the retro jumper some games. I will be disappointed if they are the Bears in name only.
 
DEVO said:
I've always had a soft spot for the North Sydney Bears, I had a great Unkle who was a lifelong Bears supporter and was not only old enough to remember their only two Premierships in 1921 and 1922, but he was also able to attend the 1922 GF. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1995, but continued to fight on for a number of years because Norths had a strong team and he was hopeful of seeing them reach another Grand Final. Unfortunately, Preliminary Final appearences in 1996 and 1997 was a s close as they got. He passed away in 1999, and I think it was only a few weeks after it was announced that Norths would merge with the hated Manly.

It would great to see the Bears back and hopefully they bring back their "traditional" jersey, it was one of the most unique looking jerseys with unusual stripes/square pattern at the top.

View attachment 2086807

And let's be honest, it's one of the few times Red and Black has looked good together. At least in Australian sport. :)
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I had that jumper in the picture. Lost it somehow in one of my many moves.

We made quite a few prelims in the 90s. 91, 94, 95, 96, 97. Just couldn't get to the big one. 96 was devastating for me. The Bears and the Bombers both lost their prelims. And I went to both games because the Bears game was at the Sydney Football Stadium followed by the Bombers game at the SCG. The Bears were warm favourites for their prelim too. Soul crushing. The Bears colours were what made me become an Essendon fan. Best sporting colours in the country!
 
I was going to say the world but that would mean I would have to be an Atlanta Falcons fan. Eeeww.
 
raskolnikov said:
I was going to say the world but that would mean I would have to be an Atlanta Falcons fan. Eeeww.
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September 4 2004 - My 33rd birthday and Essendon's last finals victory. At least the Falcons have won a final in the last 20 years. In fact, they have won 4. Should be 5. :( :(

I wonder if I'll reach my 73rd before Essendon win their next. ;)
 
DEVO said:
September 4 2004 - My 33rd birthday and Essendon's last finals victory. At least the Falcons have won a final in the last 20 years. In fact, they have won 4. Should be 5. :( :(

I wonder if I'll reach my 73rd before Essendon win their next. ;)
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The way North are going it will be your 73rd before they do. ;)
 
raskolnikov said:
The way North are going it will be your 73rd before they do. ;)
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I'm confident we'll win a final before Essendon, we don't have Brad Scott for a coach anymore which is a big positive we have going for us.

Anyway, back to the Bears, when are we expecting an announcement that they will be the 18th team?
 
2 eazy said:
Is there an appetite for rugby league team in Perth?
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Yes, but I hate the fact that they brought an extinct team with them to sure up the bid.
 

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2 eazy said:
Is there an appetite for rugby league team in Perth?
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I hope so. If not hopefully the team would revert to just being the North Sydney Bears again.
 
I am strongly considering swapping to the Bears.

North Sydney were the first team I loved as a kid but changed to Newcastle when they were kicked out of the comp.

I haven't been up to see Newcastle play in years now and have felt the emotional pull to the club waning for some time. The Bears coming back seems like perfect timing.
 
raskolnikov said:
I thought I would start a thread for the incoming expansion team. I was a mad Norths fan growing up and though I adopted the Bulldogs as my team when the Bears were expelled (**** Manly) really haven't followed the NRL closely since. This has me excited though.

I just hope that they have a strong North Sydney vibe coming through and not just a token acknowledgment like the Brisbane Lions and Fitzroy. A couple of games at North Sydney Oval every year would be awesome.

Who knows? We may even break our premiership drought which has lasted since 1922. St. Kilda has nothing on us.
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Do you think original Bears fans like yourself would settle for one game at North Sydney Oval?

With Magic Round taking a home match every second season and two games at NSO, it would leave only 9/10 games in Perth. Seems silly taking a team to WA where the distance/travel could be the greatest advantage, only to dilute it by a quarter.
 
2 eazy said:
Is there an appetite for rugby league team in Perth?
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Technically no, but that is the wrong question.
The question is whether there are sufficient expats to support an NRL team.
There are lots of issues with that.

IMO The Bears are a very poor fit. Nobody knows/cares about the history of the Bears except a handful of Sydney-siders.
IMO Cronulla would have been the best choice being a ready made NRL side with a small supporter base that could have been built on. Even the colours and name (sharks) would have been more endearing to seaside loving Perth.
 
RedV3x said:
Technically no, but that is the wrong question.
The question is whether there are sufficient expats to support an NRL team.
There are lots of issues with that.

IMO The Bears are a very poor fit. Nobody knows/cares about the history of the Bears except a handful of Sydney-siders.
IMO Cronulla would have been the best choice being a ready made NRL side with a small supporter base that could have been built on. Even the colours and name (sharks) would have been more endearing to seaside loving Perth.
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There is no chance nrl will relocate a team. Don't think name of the team will have any bearing on the success of Perth team. Nrl does get decent crowds at games in Perth so could carve out a niche
 
Jatz said:
The PNG thing is absurd for so many reasons.

Not least because we’ll finally not have a bye and then within a season, be stuck with one again.
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They will have 20 teams soon either another nz team or SA or Queensland. I get long term strategy PNG has population of 18 million and are mad about rugby league
 
2 eazy said:
There is no chance nrl will relocate a team.
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Well the bears are a relocation, but that certainly is going to change now.

2 eazy said:
Don't think name of the team will have any bearing on the success of Perth team
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The actual team will have a bearing on the acceptance in Perth.

2 eazy said:
. Nrl does get decent crowds at games in Perth so could carve out a niche
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The NRL has had decent crowds for a number of reasons - expats, curiosity etc.
The question is whether that equates to regular and consistent crowds.
 
2 eazy said:
They will have 20 teams soon either another nz team or SA or Queensland.
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it depends on what model you want for NRL.

2 eazy said:
I get long term strategy PNG has population of 18 million and are mad about rugby league
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it's not about population. it's about safety and costs.
 

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