NRL expansion: Panthers CEO believes regional Bears team can solve two major issues

Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher believes the NRL can solve two of rugby league’s most pressing issues by reviving North Sydney Bears in regional NSW. See Fletcher’s six-point plan.

The NRL chief executive who navigated his club to three successive premierships has revealed a detailed plan for North Sydney to become the Country Bears - a move he claims could help rescue bush footy and provide the club with one million fans.

Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher has proposed the Bears becoming the NRL’s regional side rather than linking with the Pacific, Perth or PNG bid franchises.

Fletcher’s proposal was immediately supported by influential country mayor, Mid-Western Regional Council’s Des Kennedy.

Fletcher believes the Country Bears could:

• Play games in Tamworth, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Mudgee, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour

• Give the Bears around one million fans

• Help save bush footy

• Secure funding from regional councils and large country businesses

• Spread the Bears brand and fan base across the entire state

• Allow country kids to play NRL but remain living in the bush.

“Why wouldn’t you call them the Country Bears? The NRL would be looking after two issues at once – they would be expanding the comp, which they want to do with the Bears, and also looking after country football,” Fletcher said.

“There are some very big businesses in towns like Dubbo, Tamworth and Wagga. You could play the majority of games at the big regional centres.

“It would also be a great shot in the arm for country rugby league and would give Bears a bigger supporter base all over the state. There are companies and councils in the bush that would guarantee their funding.

“I just think it would be marvellous, it makes sense and would be a lovely thing for country football.

“You hear all the country people saying the game is dying and how they have lost teams in their comps.

Brian Fletcher wants the Bears back in regional NSW.

“You could have a game or two games a year in Tamworth, Bathurst, Wagga, Mudgee, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour on the condition that those councils and big businesses were part of the funding.

“It would be a sellout game at every one of them. The Bears have 200,000 fans. If you do this and call them the Country Bears then you might have a million fans.”

Fletcher said country kids would aspire to play with the Bears and be able to remain living in the bush.

“Another bonus would be that a country footballer has the chance to stay in the bush and play. You could have a $1m player playing in Dubbo,” Fletcher said. “They could be based in North Sydney or maybe the central part of NSW.

“Your reserve grade team might be the Wagga or Tamworth team, for instance. You get into that side and then you’re a chance of being picked up for first grade.”

Mudgee-based Kennedy was an instant fan of Fletcher’s plan.

“It’s a great idea,” Kennedy said. “It would rejuvenate bush football. Bush footy isn’t broken but it’s bent, let me tell you.

“Every regional kid in NSW would become a Bears’ fan if they were the Country Bears. Don’t forget, about a third of all registered NRL players come from the bush.

“There’s no surfboards or Pacific Ocean out here so the kids play rugby league. It would give kids in the bush aspirations to play for the Country Bears.”

Kennedy said the Bears would be invited to play games at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium.

“We’ve got the best oval in the bush,” he said. “We would welcome them more than ever.”

Fletcher added: “Travel arrangements these days are that good, anyway. The Bears supporters I’ve spoken to would rather this (plan) than anything else they’ve heard. There are Bears supporters everywhere.”

Originally published as NRL expansion: Panthers CEO believes regional Bears team can solve two major issues