NRL pour cold water on North Sydney Bear’s bid to buy Gold Coast Titans

NORTH Sydney’s $7 million bid to buy the Titans is set to be torpedoed with the NRL outlining their preference for a fully-fledged club on the Gold Coast.

NORTH Sydney’s $7 million bid to buy the Titans is set to be torpedoed with the NRL outlining their preference for a fully-fledged club on the Gold Coast.

But Norths’ ambitious push to return to the big league has received the backing of Bears and Queensland great Gary Larson, who urged the NRL to accept their multi-million dollar proposal.

The Norths consortium, who have yet to table a formal offer to the NRL, will ramp-up plans to buy the Titans over the next 48 hours.

BEARS HUNT TITANS’ LICENCE

WHY NRL SHOULD BRING BACK THE BEARS

Ben Ikin in action in the Bears’ heyday. Photo: Gregg/Porteous

As revealed by The Courier-Mail last month, the Titans will be put up for sale this year, with at least two consortia expressing interest in claiming the licence from the NRL.

The Bears are one potential buyer, while former owner Darryl Kelly, now a Titans director, is prepared to reinvest as part of a posse of Gold Coast-based businessmen.

Bears officials have spent the past two years eyeing off the Titans licence, but it is understood they are rank outsiders to trump a Kelly-led consortium.

The NRL is committed to the Titans brand on the Gold Coast and are determined to cultivate the type of community support that drives the other club they currently own, the Newcastle Knights.

Relocating Gold Coast games to the NSW Central Coast and North Sydney Oval would seriously erode the Titans’ footprint.

The NRL is prepared to explore Norths’ offer but reiterated their commitment to the code on the Gold Coast.

“We will consider any bid put forward but we have always said our preference is to have a club based at and playing out of the Gold Coast,” an NRL spokesman said.

“Naturally the NRL will consider any bids put forward and that is expected to happen later in the year.

“Our main consideration will be what is in the best interests of the game going forward — rather than in the past.”

Former Norths back-rower Larson urged the Titans to jump into bed with the Bears.

The veteran of 24 Origin matches for Queensland believes the Gold Coast can attract a wider fan base by playing home games at Gosford and North Sydney Oval.

Former Maroons player Gary Larson says the Bears should roar again. Photo: Darren England.

“I am speaking from the heart I guess, but I would love to see the Bears back in the NRL,” Larson said.

“The NRL will eventually offload it, whoever has the money to buy the licence ... it should be first in best dressed as far as I’m concerned.

“Ultimately, the NRL is keen for a team on the Gold Coast, so I don’t see the licence going south on a permanent basis.

“But if it means they share home games between the Gold Coast and Central Coast, I’m all for it.

“If the Bears have the funds, it can only help the Gold Coast and they would pick up a generation of fans on the Central Coast.

“Rugby league on the Gold Coast has to work. We can’t take a team away from that region.”