The famous Bears name, logo and colors "may be set for a return" to the National Rugby League, "even if the foundation club's bid for a team on the Central Coast is again rejected," according to Walter & Masters of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. While CEO Greg Florimo "insists the former North Sydney-based club remains focused on securing a licence for a Central Coast team, the priority has always been to have the Bears playing again in the NRL after being expelled" at the end of the '99 season. With doubts over the financial viability of the Gold Coast Titans, "there is support within the NRL for the team to become the Gold Coast Bears but Florimo said that was not currently being considered." However, Florimo said that "any option that ensured the return of the Bears to the NRL would be considered" if its 18-year bid for a team on the Central Coast "failed to come to fruition." Florimo: "We've obviously put in [a] lot of time, money and effort, built a lot of goodwill and a lot of support for the inclusion of a Central Coast team into the competition and that is where we sit at the moment. We're hopeful that the NRL is going to give us some direction on expansion and where we sit in the whole debate but obviously the No.1 intention for us is to keep the Bears brand alive." The "only hope of a franchise on the Central Coast being given the green light" is if the NRL decides to "create an extra game to increase the value of the pay-TV broadcast rights" after selling four free-to-air games to Nine from '18, although a second Brisbane side and another team in New Zealand or Perth "would be more likely options." However, some within the NRL believe the Bears "could provide a solution to their problems with the Titans," while also giving the game a greater presence north of Sydney Harbor as Manly is "the only club between the CBD and Newcastle, including the Central Coast (SMH, 10/27).
