NRL 2024: Fox Sports, Channel 9 join push for North Sydney Bears comeback, expansion plans

Foxtel and Channel 9 are backing Peter Vlandy’s plan to bring back the North Sydney Bears, with the comeback push gains momentum as part of expansion plans for an 18th team.

Rugby league television heavyweights Foxtel and Channel 9 are backing Peter V’landys’ plan to bring back the North Sydney Bears.

“It’s a good idea and I’d back it,” said Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany, who two years ago provided an extra $15 million a year in funding to back the Dolphins as the competition’s 17th team

Channel 9 is equally keen about reinventing the club that vanished as an NRL franchise and everyone’s second team when the Northern Eagles folded back in 2002.

“The Bears hold a special place in the hearts of rugby league fans and as the NRL develop their plans for expansion, it would be great if that heritage brand found a new home. We would support it,” said a Channel 9 spokesman

The comeback is gaining momentum after V’landys revealed his hopes to bring the Bears back as part of expansion plans for an 18th team.

Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany is backing a push for the North Sydney Bears to return to the NRL. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Support from the two TV networks is crucial. It is the broadcasters who, in the end, will fund expansion; with the Bears likely to amalgamate with PNG or Perth.

Delany spoke in detail about his own family’s attachment to Norths and even compared the resurrection of the Bears brand to South Sydney’s triumphant return in 1999.

“Norths would bring back a lot of people,” he said. “People like me who have an affection through their parents.

“My dad went to his grave still talking about Norths and the Bears. Him and his mates were always talking about them.

“They hated it when the Bears ran out of puff and were merged (with Northern Eagles) then went out of the competition altogether.

“Everyone loved them because they were underdogs.”

Bring Back the Bears. Art by Boo Bailey.

Delany likened the Bears’ situation to the Rabbitohs, the great old club that returned in 2002 and rebuilt themselves into a league powerhouse.

“It’s a bit like when Souths were dropped,” Delany said. “At the time no one was turning up to their games and their brand was a little bit stale.

“But it was about the spirit of being a Bunny. The current owners then parlayed that into a tribe and a way of life not bound by geography.

“You can rekindle this whole thing (with the Bears) and bring fans and audience back to rugby league as Souths did, provided you can find a set of fans waiting to be awakened as was done with the Dolphins and the Western Sydney Wanderers.”

Delany likened the Bears’ situation to the Rabbitohs, the great old club that returned in 2002 and rebuilt themselves into a league powerhouse. Picture: Virginia Young

Delany is being realistic in stipulating the Bears can’t do it on their own.

“We can’t have another Sydney team,” he said, “I love the romance of North Sydney Oval. It’s a lovely atmosphere but not a modern stadium.

“It’s a tribal brand to rekindle with another team. Maybe it’s Perth with a couple of games in Sydney. It’s a good idea and I’d back it. I’m talking as a businessman who understands brands and sport.

“If you can find something people still reminisce and talk about and then reinvent it around a new team, it will work.”

Having Norths back in an amalgamation with an 18th team would provide an extra game each weekend for the TV networks.

Foxtel put in an extra $15 million a year when the Dolphins were added as the 17th team because of the potential ratings increase, which did eventuate.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Fox Sports, Channel 9 join push for North Sydney Bears comeback, expansion plans