Bears essential for bush footy
Dolphins ace in awe of Indigenous legends
The NRL chief executive who navigated his club to three successive premierships has revealed a detailed plan for North Sydney to become the Country Bears – a move he claims could help rescue bush footy and provide the club with one million fans.
Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher has proposed the Bears becoming the NRL’s regional side rather than linking with the Pacific, Perth or PNG bid franchises.
“Why wouldn’t you call them the Country Bears?” Fletcher said. “The NRL would be looking after two issues at once.
“They would be expanding the comp, which they want to do with the Bears, and also looking after country football.
“There are some very big businesses in towns like Dubbo, Tamworth and Wagga. You could play the majority of games at the big regional centres.
“It would also be a great shot in the arm for country rugby league and give the Bears a bigger supporter base all over the state. There are companies and councils in the bush that would guarantee their funding.
“I just think it would be marvellous, it makes sense and would be a lovely thing for country football.
“You hear all the country people saying the game is dying and how they have lost teams in their comps.
“You could have a game or two games a year in Tamworth, Bathurst, Wagga, Mudgee, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour on the condition that those councils and big businesses were part of the funding.
“It would be a sellout game at every one of them. The Bears have 200,000 fans. If you do this and call them the Country Bears, then you might have a million fans.”
Fletcher said country kids would aspire to play with the Bears and be able to remain living in the bush.
“You could have a $1m player playing in Dubbo,” he said.
Australian Kangaroos star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was pinching himself when he realised he was going to train under North Queensland legend Matt Bowen with the Indigenous All Stars team.
Both players were born in Cairns, began their NRL careers with the Cowboys and have represented Queensland and Australia.
Bowen is one of Indigenous All Stars head coach Ronald Griffiths’ assistants alongside Dave Elliott.
Tabuai-Fidow is still only 22 years old but has become one of the most recognisable players in the NRL due to his incredible speed and ability to float around the field as if he were running on air.
The Queensland Maroon has a knack for scoring great tries, but the same could be said about Bowen, who still holds the Cowboys’ try-scoring record with 130 tries in 270 games.
Tabuai-Fidow said he was awe-struck at meeting his hero.
“I looked up to him growing up so just to be in the camp with him is pretty surreal,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“Watching him growing up, he was one of my idols and just to be around him in camp and pick his brain and learn from him is pretty cool.”
“The Hammer” has Samoan and Torres Strait Islander heritage and Friday’s clash shapes as his second All Stars appearance. He said it was a special feeling to be selected for the match.
“To be in these camps, you do learn about your culture and you learn about the other boys’ cultures as well,” TabuaiFidow said.
“Being a proud Indigenous man from up north in the Torres Strait, it’s a very proud moment for myself. I’m doing it for my family and I know they’ll be proud of me.
“My mum’s from the Torres Strait from an island called Saibai in the top western part of the Strait and my dad’s Samoan, so I’ve got a pretty good mix there.
“Having kids look up to me is pretty surreal but I just enjoy it every day.”
As well as learning from his childhood idol, the Dolphins fullback said he would relish the chance to play with and learn from Latrell Mitchell.
“Latrell is a big one and I haven’t played with him yet so I’m excited to get through this week with him and to train and pick his brain as well,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“He’s a fullback as well, his ball-playing skills are pretty good and just the way he competes, I want to see how he goes in training and how he prepares himself for this week.
“It’s obviously a big game for both cultures. We just want to get out there and have fun – the city will be buzzing.”
The NRL All Stars kick off on Friday at 3.30pm with a mixed touch football game, followed by the women at 4.50pm and the men at 7.10pm.
Tickets for NRL All Stars on Friday, February 16 are available from nrl.com/tickets