Shadow Finance Minister Joe Hockey has offered his support to the Central Coast Bears bid. 
Central Coast Bears Head of Football Operations David ‘Daisy’ Fairleigh met with Shadow Treasurer and Member for North Sydney Joe Hockey in Parliament House Canberra this week.
The former Kangaroo and Bears star travelled to Canberra to talk with the Liberal powerbroker, a life time fan of the Grizzlies, about the Central Coast Bears bid for a license to compete in the NRL for season 2013.
“We enjoyed a full and frank discussion and Joe has promised to sign up as a Foundation member of the Central Coast Bears and to assist with our membership drive on the North Shore and Central Coast. He has also agreed to be an ambassador for the club, which we are excited about," said Fairleigh.
“Joe is a long time supporter of the red & blacks and was a fixture under the famous Moreton Bay Figtree at Bear Park as a teenager. It’s great to have a community leader of his stature with us on this journey to the NRL in 2013."
The Member for North Sydney is excited the Bear’s brand is finally out of hibernation, and impressed with the club’s football and business plans.
“It’s very appealing as a lifetime supporter of the red & blacks and the Member for North Sydney to see the Bear’s brand back in the game," said Mr Hockey, who helped the Bears raise the finance for Bluetongue Stadium in the 1990s.
“The bid by the Bears appeals to its long-term supporter base on the North Shore, however with the expansion of the game critical to its long term sustainability, locating a team on the Central Coast is an absolute must.
“I have can’t wait to watch my team compete at rugby league’s highest level. The game is in my bones and I have missed the tribalism of games against the likes of Manly and Canterbury. 2013 can’t come fast enough," said Mr Hockey.