The North Sydney Bears' promise to engage with the "regional and rural heartland" should it re-join the NRL has been welcomed by those involved in the game in Dubbo.
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The Bears announced last month their official proposal to return to the NRL as the competition's 18th team.
The club has done away with its North Sydney title and has been rebranded simply as 'The Bears', largely due to the fact the club doesn't want to be locked into one geographical location.
As part of the Bears' proposed structure, the club would play four-to-six of its home games at North Sydney Oval while the other six-to-eight matches would be taken to regional destinations.
Dubbo was listed as one of the potential host venues, alongside Wagga, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, and the Central Coast.
"We are the North Sydney Bears and we will play a certain number of games at North Sydney Oval, between four and six, but we want to go to the great heartland of rugby league and that's the NSW country areas and we want to engage the bush," Bears great and former Australian representative Billy Moore told 2GB recently.
"We see the Bears, after 113 years, as a people's club and we want to go back to the bush."
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Another part of the Bears' proposal is the pledge to 'develop and initiate a clear program for country player pathways'.
Promoting the game in the region and working with juniors came as welcome news for former Bears player and current Dubbo District Junior Rugby League president Bernard Wilson.
"I think it would be great is they came back in," Wilson said.
"Any NRL game that is out here in the Dubbo region is a benefit for kids. They love seeing NRL stars run around and adults do as well.
"It increases interest in the game and promotes the growth of the game."
Wilson spent a number of years in Sydney with the Bears and played five first grade matches for the club.
After playing in front of the Bears faithful, he knows the passion for the club remains.
"The Bears supporters are loyal and rock-solid supporters," he said.
"There's plenty still out there who haven't moved on to another side because they couldn't imagine it.
"If they did bring the Bears back it would create massive interest in the game. I know they've been trying for long time and it would be wonderful to see them back in it but whether or not it happens, I'm not sure."
Anything that promotes rugby league in the bush is good and if the Bears are willing to do it, give them a ticket.
- Group 11 secretary Paul Loxley
With the women's game in the region booming through the success of league tag competitions and the Western Women's Rugby League competition, Wilson added it would be beneficial if NRLW matches also went to the bush.
Moore said the Bears' commitment was to the men's and women's games while he said time in bush wouldn't just focus on matches, as the club would be in host towns for days leading up to the game promoting everything from skills clinics to health and wellbeing seminars.
"We want to, and will, focus as much energy and effort and funding as required in the bush," he said.
The western area's connection with Penrith would impact any plan the Bears had of infiltrating this region but Moore added the move isn't being made to step on the toes of any current NRL club.
"We're not saying to stop cheering for the Roosters or whoever it may be," he said.
"What we want you to do is enjoy the game and enjoy us bringing the game to you and maybe the Bears will be your second team."
The North Sydney Bears are a foundation club and were formed in 1908.
The club won two premierships but was forced out of the NRL and while they were back briefly as part of the Northern Eagles merger, they have been the Roosters' feeder club in more recent times.
The Bears did appear in the bush only last year when they played in the Presidents Cup alongside Dubbo CYMS and the Western Rams.
"I'd love to see the Bears back," Group 11 secretary Paul Loxley added.
"If they're willing to take games to regional areas, I think it would be a good thing for them.
"If local councils chip in and pay they could make money and anything that promotes rugby league in the bush is good and if the Bears are willing to do it, give them a ticket."
The Bears proposed return to the NRL would come in the 2025 season at the earliest.
The Queensland-based Dolphins will join the competition in 2023.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
