BACK off, we’re the Gold Coast’s Bears.

That’s the message the ­Burleigh Bears are sending North Sydney as they protect their 80-year association with rugby league on the Coast.

News North Sydney is ­angling to buy the Gold Coast ­Titans franchise from the NRL and rebrand as the Bears with almost identical logos and ­colours to the rugby league club established on the Gold Coast in 1934 has Burleigh leaders determined to protect their identity.

North Sydney’s strong ­leagues club has registered several business names including Gold Coast Bears, Coastal Bears, North Coast Bears and Northern Bears, showing talk it is willing to buy the Titans is more than just the rumour many had heard over the past several months.

But Burleigh chief executive Damian Driscoll said his Bears were not willing to give up their identity without a fight, including possible legal action.

“We’re the only Bears on the Gold Coast,” Driscoll said.

“It’s fair to say we’d fight tooth and nail to be the only rugby league team on the Gold Coast … that carries that name.

“I hope we don’t get to that stage but they obviously have registered that name, I think the club would be pretty strong on (protecting its identity).

“There’s a fair bit of history in the club and it’s been around since 1934 and they’ve made their stand on the Gold Coast and are synonymous with rugby league on the Coast.”

Burleigh football club chairman Paul Khan said North Sydney should have ­approached Burleigh if they wanted to have a presence on the Gold Coast.

“If there was any substance to (talk of them buying the ­Titans) they’d want to at least talk to Burleigh Bears,” he said.

“We’re a brand established for 70 years and we’ve got a fairly large footprint on the Coast as far as rugby league goes. We’d have to be some sort of influence I’d think.”

The NRL has refused to ­reveal a price for the Titans.

The game’s 2014 annual ­report revealed it paid $7.3 million to acquire the Newcastle Knights, while the Titans shareholding was valued at about $11.25 million before they entered administration a year ago.

An NRL spokesman, who reiterated the league’s commitment to the Gold Coast, said the organisation wanted the best possible price for the Titans.

“We’re not going to enter into any speculation about figures,” he said.

“We’ll let market forces determine the value of the club.”