BEARS WILL BE DOMINANT FORCE IN RUGBY LEAGUE, SAYS CENTRAL COAST NRL BID CHAIRMAN

13th May 2009 | North Shore Times | by Joshua Levi | Back to Central Coast Bears Page

The Bears will become the dominant rugby league force in northern Sydney.

In what seemed like a swipe at arch rivals Manly this week, Central Coast Bears bid chairman Perry Lopez said rugby league was “suffering” in northern Sydney.

“The Bears will offer fantastic opportunities to junior rugby players in the game in an area that is currently not being serviced,” Lopez said.

“We understand what the game needs, we understand what people want and we understand what the game has to offer in the area.”

The Bears bid team were due to approach the NRL with a formal proposal this month but have delayed that until after the 2009 season.

“That is when we will be ready and that is when the NRL would be ready to see us,” Lopez said.

The North Shore Times has obtained a copy of an investor document that states the bid team is aiming to enter the NSW Cup as the Central Coast Bears in 2011 and the NRL in 2013.

“We have had a sensational response from the business community to our proposal despite the current off-field problems that rugby league is facing,” Lopez said.

“People don’t want to read the sensational headlines, they just want to read about great players and great football.

“(Despite off-field dramas) The game is speaking for itself because it’s a fantastic product.”