Western bears

[HunchoRooster]

Do they keep the Bears history as a continual entity? I.e. do they keep the handful of premierships they won 100 years ago?

The wording seems to suggest they will be the same club. Similar to an American franchise re-locating, which is far more common over there.

[bondi.boy]

Sorry BB, cannot, will not an unable to agree.
So Perth travel east for half their games, and you are happy them giving up one or two home games to be played in Sydney?
So is this North Sydney by stealth or a W. Oz side ?
Another Sydney side, whoo whoo, lets go and dance with the fairies.

It's a merger if you like, a guarantee that the Western Bears will be viable on and off the field from day one.
Perth is AFL to the core.
Melb Storm's feeder club is the Bears Sydney.
Not sure how that affects things.

St Seorge-Illawarra works well.
Fans in Illawarra kept in the NRL family.
Wests Tigers....same.

It's the best way, in these financially troubled and ultra competitive times.

[milanja]

So it's a nod to the Western Reds and North Sydney Bears. Western Bears to join the NRL in 2027

Apparently PNG will be announced as the 19th team next year and will join the NRL in 2028.

It will be interesting to see what the competition will look like when 18 teams then 19 teams and even 20 teams.

Either 18 teams 2 conferences of 9 teams—25 games (225 games overall)—play teams in the other conference once and teams in your conference twice. or 24 games play each other once and 7 teams twice.- 216 games overall

19 teams - 24 games play each other once and 6 teams twice. - 224 games overall

I have read though that NRL coaches and the RLPA want the season shortened—if a 20-team comp—19 games (190 games overall ).

Currently it's 24 games (204 games overall).

Need a 20th team so they can have 2 conferences with 2 divisions of 5 teams in each.Be able to sell this to US investors who are more than familiar with such comp setups: NFL and MLB. Additional sponsors too for the 2 conferences and divisions, naming rights, etc., plus the overall main sponsor of the NRL 23 games (230 games overall).

The AFL has 18 teams, and no conferences. Not sure why the NRL would need a conference system.

it would be sad if Easts/Souths, Parra/Dogs/penrith could never meet in a grand final again.

nobody cares who wins a conference final match if you don’t win the main trophy.

[King Salvo]

Do they keep the Bears history as a continual entity? I.e. do they keep the handful of premierships they won 100 years ago?

The wording seems to suggest they will be the same club. Similar to an American franchise re-locating, which is far more common over there.

Be a new team the same as Dragons/Steelers and Tigers/Magpies are—they don't have their previous premierships as single entities added to their premiership totals. Souths was a different case.

I assume the colours will be red and black - I wonder if they will use the current team song -Johnny Comes Marching Home - American Civil War tune (1861-1865) - The Mighty Bears are Marching on - Hurrah Hurrah - Souths use Battle Hymn Of The Republic/ Formerly John Brown's Body - New Lyrics were written by Julia Ward Howe - a Union song from the same war.

[Rooster1908]

It's a merger if you like, a guarantee that the Western Bears will be viable on and off the field from day one.
Perth is AFL to the core.
Melb Storm's feeder club is the Bears Sydney.
Not sure how that affects things.

St Seorge-Illawarra works well.
Fans in Illawarra kept in the NRL family.
Wests Tigers....same.

It's the best way, in these financially troubled and ultra competitive times.

Hahaha , ask the Wests supporters and the Illawarra supporters if the believe it worked.

[King Salvo]

The AFL has 18 teams, and no conferences. Not sure why the NRL would need a conference system.

it would be sad if Easts/Souths, Parra/Dogs/penrith could never meet in a grand final again.

nobody cares who wins a conference final match if you don’t win the main trophy.

You can have cross over conference finals series plus even a Wild Card play off if a 10 team finals series - top 2 in each division qualify for finals - 3rd place teams in each division and each conference play off the final two places. - There was a 10 team finals series in 1998.

The conference and divisions will ensure teams play the same teams the same number of times in each division - instead of play teams once and some twice - the annual easy and hard draw complaints.

If they want to really sell the game to the US market they need a comp set up that they will understand.

Before 1997 teams would only play the other teams in their league in MLB - American or National League - Now they have interleague games

[milanja]

You can have cross over conference finals series plus even a Wild Card play off if a 10 team finals series - top 2 in each division qualify for finals - 3rd place teams in each division and each conference play off the final two places. - There was a 10 team finals series in 1998.

The conference and divisions will ensure teams play the same teams the same number of times in each division - instead of play teams once and some twice - the annual easy and hard draw complaints.

If they want to really sell the game to the US market they need a comp set up that they will understand.

Before 1997 teams would only play the other teams in their league in MLB - American or National League - Now they have interleague games

For it to work, a cross conference would be essential.
It’s tragic that the bulls/pistons never got to play each other in the big dance.

[HunchoRooster]

Be a new team the same as Dragons/Steelers and Tigers/Magpies are—they don't have their previous premierships as single entities added to their premiership totals. Souths was a different case.

I assume the colours will be red and black - I wonder if they will use the current team song -Johnny Comes Marching Home - American Civil War tune (1861-1865) - The Mighty Bears are Marching on - Hurrah Hurrah - Souths use Battle Hymn Of The Republic/ Formerly John Brown's Body - New Lyrics were written by Julia Ward Howe - a Union song from the same war.

Is it a formal merge with the Western Reds then?

[King Salvo]

Is it a formal merge with the Western Reds then?

I assume so as they are calling it a Joint Venture - like St George/Illawarra and Balmain/Western Suburbs were.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Be a new team the same as Dragons/Steelers and Tigers/Magpies are—they don't have their previous premierships as single entities added to their premiership totals. Souths was a different case.

I assume the colours will be red and black - I wonder if they will use the current team song -Johnny Comes Marching Home - American Civil War tune (1861-1865) - The Mighty Bears are Marching on - Hurrah Hurrah - Souths use Battle Hymn Of The Republic/ Formerly John Brown's Body - New Lyrics were written by Julia Ward Howe - a Union song from the same war.

This is the Bears best anthem, and one of the best of the lot. STAND ASIDE, here come the Mighty Bears.

[Headless Chook]

Do they keep the Bears history as a continual entity? I.e. do they keep the handful of premierships they won 100 years ago?

The wording seems to suggest they will be the same club. Similar to an American franchise re-locating, which is far more common over there.

Handful?? Wasn't it only two?

[bondi.boy]

Hahaha , ask the Wests supporters and the Illawarra supporters if the believe it worked.

Better than nothing though, where you're not able to exist alone.

[bondi.boy]

Back in the day, when the axe was being wielded, we nearly became Sydney City Saints.
Remember?

Dr Google knows all.

Uncle Nick and Board would've been beside themselves with worry...as to what to do.

Is why it's imperative that we stay financially strong, on-field strong, and membership-strong into the future.

Uncle Nick has taught the Club to "fish", feed itself forever, rather than just be given money.
Why Easts Group was born, real estate, clubs etc purchased, and other investments made.

[King Salvo]

Better than nothing though, where you're not able to exist alone.

It's strange when you think about it - Norths won two comps in 1921 and 1922 but none after that - Bit unlucky in the 1990's when they had some very good sides that made prelim finals

[King Salvo]

Back in the day, when the axe was being wielded, we nearly became Sydney City Saints.
Remember?

Dr Google knows all.

Uncle Nick and Board would've been beside themselves with worry...as to what to do.

Is why it's imperative that we stay financially strong, on-field strong, and membership-strong into the future.

Uncle Nick has taught the Club to "fish", feed itself forever, rather than just be given money.
Why Easts Group was born, real estate, clubs etc purchased, and other investments made.

That's why the real King Salvo went to Souths for as he didn't want to play for a hybrid club. i.e Roosters and Dragons proposed merger

The Roosters almost become a hybrid club in a Tri-JV with Souths and Balmain - Nick Politis said okay but the Easts Board will be in charge and the team will play in the Roosters Kit.