The Bears are one of the parties attempting to buy the Titans in a revolutionary move that would bring one home game back to North Sydney Oval each season. A consortium of business people is providing the financial backing that will finally provide the stability missing during rugby league's various incarnations on the Gold Coast.

The Bears have been tight-lipped about their plans out of respect to the bid process, although chairman Perry Lopez granted a rare interview to outline their vision for the Gold Coast.

"We offer in an innovative model that would end the cycle of failure on the Gold Coast for sporting teams," Lopez said.

"We offer the fans of the Gold Coast a chance to build a stable, sustainable NRL club.

"We want to work in partnership with the existing Gold Coast management group.

"The Bears would bring to the table a network of 230,000 fans. We can drive another 10,000 members and a group of sponsors committed to driving the success of the franchise."

Under the proposal, the team would be rebadged as the Gold Coast Bears in a move that would allow disenfranchised North Sydney fans to reconnect with the game.

"Let's be clear, this is a Gold Coast team," Lopez said.

"We would play one game at North Sydney Oval and the remainder at Cbus Stadium. That would give North Sydney Bears fans a chance to revisit North Sydney Oval in a heritage match against Manly in what would be an iconic match for that round. The massive hype and lead up to that would be something the game has not seen for a long time.

"It's a great story for Bears fans, but it's an even greater story for anyone who wants to see league thrive on the Gold Coast for many years to come.

"It brings new life to a key rugby league market that has been allowed to decline over the years.

"There are 230,000 additional fans that would give this franchise a national presence. With that comes greater revenue and corporate opportunities, which will help us to attract and keep the best players on the Gold Coast.

"That sense of history, pride and community would build on the great work that's been done already in the region with one of the game's great national clubs.

"It's a new model, something the game has not seen before."

Big money offer: Ash Taylor. Photo: AAP

Titanic offer for Taylor

The Gold Coast have tabled Ash Taylor a seven-figure-a-season offer that would make him one of the highest-paid players in the NRL.

The Titans are hopeful of retaining Taylor before he goes on the open market on November 1, when Brisbane would become one of his suitors. The Gold Coast believe Taylor is the man they can build the club around and have offered him a long-term deal. The club will appoint a coach before it is sold off and it is likely the promising half-back will wait to see who takes over from Neil Henry before making a call.

Anderson not interested in Dogs role

Chris Anderson has revealed he has no interest in returning to Canterbury as the club attempts to recapture its famed culture following Des Hasler's sacking.

League luminary Matthew Johns urged the Bulldogs to appoint Anderson to oversee the football department in a role similar to that of Phil Gould at Penrith. However, Anderson - a life member who has enjoyed premiership success at Belmore as a coach and player - torpedoed the idea.

"No mate, I'm not interested. I'm enjoying life," Anderson said.

"You don't need the angst that goes with it. If I was in a better place, I'd think about it, but I don't think so.

"It's nice that Matty still thinks of me now and then, that he still remembers me and tries to dig me up out of the grave."

There has been scuttlebutt that Anderson, who runs a labour hire company, could run as part of a rebel ticket seeking to oust Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib. However, the two-time premiership-winning coach said that was not the case.

Hoppa may hold the key

Will Hopoate could hold the key to whether Canterbury will need to provide Des Hasler with a payout over his termination.

The Bulldogs were the beneficiaries when Parramatta had a similar contractual dispute with Hopoate as the parties argued over whether the commitment the club made regarding a contract extension was a binding one. Hopoate sought $1.83 million in damages from the Eels and the matter was scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court before the parties settled.

That case is eerily similar to the Hasler scenario. The Bulldogs announced a contract extension in April, although Canterbury chairman Ray Dib is now claiming the heads of agreement signed is "non-binding".

In the Hasler case, it is understood that under the agreement, any payout is capped at a figure just shy of $1 million. The Hopoate case is a precedent that suggests that the family club will likely have to cough up the amount.

Willie return to Rabbitohs?

South Sydney could throw Willie Peters a lifeline after he was sacked for fighting with fellow Manly staffer Dan Ferris.

Peters' career is at the crossroads after police were called to break up the stoush outside the Orient Hotel during post-season celebrations. The former half-back has previously played and coached at the Rabbitohs and we've been told he met with Souths officials about the prospect of a role under new coach Anthony Siebold. While it won't be as an assistant, there could be a development coaching gig at his former club.

Sterlo exclusive to Nine

Peter Sterling has ended months of speculation about his future at Fox Sports by signing a new and exclusive deal with Channel Nine.

The Parramatta legend has been with Nine for 25 years and network execs have trumpeted the deal as a coup. The relationship appears a better fit than that with Fox, where there was some tension behind the scenes with some of the pay-TV provider's personalities, including Matthew Johns. Sterling remains one of the best in the business when it comes to commentary and analysis.

Benji on the air

Channel Seven has signed up Benji Marshall to be part of the network's coverage of the Rugby League World Cup.

Marshall will join a line-up of commentators and personalities that includes Andrew Moore, Dan Ginnane, Jim Wilson, Laurie Daley, Brett Kimmorley, Ryan Girdler and Andrew Ryan.

Marshall, a former New Zealand international, will be able to provide a unique insight given his own World Cup heroics in the shock win over the Aussies in the 2008 final.

Several Sydney-based sponsors have approached Marshall following news he will be switching from Brisbane to his former club Wests Tigers for next year.

What about Potter?

Dean Pay is the short-priced favourite to take over from Des Hasler at Canterbury, but he and Jim Dymock aren't the only options should the Bulldogs decide to appoint one of their own.

Newcastle assistant Mick Potter won a premiership with the Bulldogs as a player, is a two-time Dally M medallist and also boasts experience as a head coach at NRL level with Wests Tigers.

There is a feeling Des Hasler wasn't a good fit at Belmore because he didn't understand the club's "DNA", which is why the board will probably opt for Pay. However, Potter, who is overseeing Fiji's Rugby League World Cup campaign, is another who ticks the box.

Pay and Dymock have both been guaranteed interviews for the job.

Fans still love the Eels

They have gone more than three decades without a premiership, but Parramatta have emerged as the best-supported club in Sydney.

The Eels boast 457,000 supporters, according to Roy Morgan research, ahead of St George Illawarra with 441,000 fans and Wests Tigers with 403,000. The Broncos are the only club to top the seven-figure mark with 1.02 million, ahead of Melbourne and North Queensland. The Warriors, despite having all of New Zealand to themselves, are last with just 162,000 fans. The Panthers are only just above them with 186,000 followers, a surprising result given they are a heartland Sydney club.

"The Brisbane Broncos with 1.02 million supporters are again Australia's most widely supported NRL club - a position the Broncos have held unchallenged since the NRL commenced operations in 1998 following the Super League split," said Gary Morgan, the executive chairman of Roy Morgan research.

Flano did the right thing

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan needs to be commended for apologising and taking full responsibility for his refereeing rant following the loss to North Queensland.

The premiership-winning mentor was out of line with his comments immediately after the match and said as much in a letter he penned to Sharks members.

"I wanted to set the record straight and put a bit of closure to our season," Flanagan said.

"I always write a letter at the end of the year to our members but I thought I needed to put a different focus on it this year and get it out a bit earlier."

No.1 fan: Sam Thaiday. Photo: AAP

Yep, league's a funny old game

Plenty of eyebrows were raised when Wayne Bennett gave big Sam Thaiday a few stints at dummy half. But rather than coveting the Brisbane No.9 jersey, Slammin Sam has put Darius Boyd on notice that he is the No.1 full-back at Red Hill.

The headline you don't want to read

"Macklemore muted in latest grand final entertainment clanger"

The NRL must be applauded for snaring Macklemore, a genuine international superstar, in what will be his only Australian performance. What could possibly go wrong? Let's hope that, unlike Billy Idol, he is plugged in and on fire for the GF.

Class act: Des Hasler at work at St. Pius X College in Chatswood in 1984. Photo: John O'Gready/Fairfax Media

From the vault

Des Hasler has always been a hard taskmaster, as these kiddies found out during his stint as a teacher. Hasler is on the lookout for a new job after Canterbury punted him and refused to pay him out. The courts may well decide whether the Bulldogs acted legally in doing so.