North Sydney Bears tipped for return

The North Sydney Bears could be set for a shock return to the NRL via the Gold Coast Titans.

North Sydney were a foundation club formed in 1908 but were forced to merge with Manly to form the Northern Eagles in 2000. The Northern Eagles disbanded in 2002 with the NRL license returning to Manly.

Since then the Bears have operated purely as an NSW Cup team and as a feeder club for different NRL sides. For nearly two decades there has been a movement to set up the Central Coast Bears on NSW’s Central Coast.

But now the Bears may return to the top flight through a takeover of the Gold Coast Titans.

According to reports in Rugby League Week, North Sydney is interested in buying out the Titans and renaming the club the Gold Coast Bears.

The Titans have struggled on and off the field in recent seasons and are now owned by the NRL. They went into voluntary administration last year.

The Bears have a presence near the Gold Coast in place as they own the profitable Seagulls Leagues Club at Tweed Heads on the NSW-Queensland state border.