North Sydney Bears legend and Queensland State of Origin icon Billy Moore says the day the Bears return to the NRL will be “one of the greatest days” of his life.
Moore, who played 211 games for North Sydney between 1989-99, is currently on the board of the club which is pushing for a return to the top level for the first time in more than 25 years.
The man behind the iconic ‘Queenslander’ war cry in Origin confirmed the Bears had talks with the Perth NRL bid in order to team up to be one of the expansion teams in the coming years as the ARL Commission look to continue to grow the game.
“(Talks) started quite a long time ago, a couple of years ago, we tested the waters because it was something, we’re a member-based organization and it’s my due diligence role to talk to every potential opportunity for the Bears to come back into the game,” he said on Mornings with Ben Davis on SENQ.
“I’ve had conversations with a lot of different consortiums in a lot of different areas, obviously the Perth area is at the forefront of where the game is looking.
“We spoke to PNG and they said ‘thanks but no thanks, we don’t want your brand, your history and we don’t need your money’ and I understand that.
“But the Perth opportunity definitely sits there and while negotiations have taken place over a long period of time, it will go to another level obviously. “They need another team in place by 2028.”
Moore said along with their 200,000 fans and great members, the Bears would bring talent to their game through their great pathways.
He also said if the Bears came back, no matter which form they returned in, it would be a day he would remember forever.
“I’m a very passionate man as you can tell… it would be one of the greatest days of my life,” he said.
“I find right now as a 53-year-old I’ve ticked a lot of boxes but this would be the last great box for me to tick, without a doubt. To be part of this organization and a committee that is able to get our brand back into the game, the legacy that’s attached to it, the past, present and can’t wait to have future members of this great club, it would be beyond words.
“You’ll know when it happens, Billy doesn’t play his cards too close to the chest when it comes to things like this.”
PNG are widely favoured to be the 18th team to come into the NRL in the coming years.