NRL matches in Coffs Harbour could be a more regular occurrence if the plans of a foundation club come to fruition.

The North Sydney Bears have launched a bid to become the 18th team in the NRL competition, possibly by 2025.

The new club will be known as the Bears, and plans to play most of their home games in regional NSW in locations such as Coffs Harbour, as well as the Central Coast, Dubbo, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.

The Bears will still play between four to six games each season at their spiritual home of North Sydney Oval.

The Bears bid to re-enter the competition follows the Brisbane-based Dolphins successful bid to become the 17th NRL team in 2023.

Coffs Harbour hosted its first NRL premiership match this year when the Cronulla Sharks beat the Gold Coast Titans 38-10 at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium in May.

Coffs Harbour had previously hosted a City vs Country representative match as well as NRL trial matches.

North Sydney Bears chairman Daniel Dickson explained the reason why the club would play home games in regional areas such as Coffs Harbour.

“We’re going to take some games on the road to the regional areas, the reason being is the NRL and the 16 teams don’t want another team in the Sydney basin,” he said.

“We know we can handle it there and I also think it would be great for regional NSW to engage with us, we have a lot of fans out there and we need to take them on the journey.”

The North Sydney Bears played their last NRL game in 1999, before their ill-fated merger with the Manly Sea Eagles.

 

By Aiden BURGESS