North Sydney Bears

Last updated

North Sydney Bears
Bears 2021 Logo.png
Club information
Full nameNorth Sydney District Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)The Bears
Norths
The Shoremen
The Mounties
Colours  Red
  Black
Founded7 February 1908;116 years ago (1908-02-07) (foundation club)
Exited1999;25 years ago (1999)
(Merged with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to form Northern Eagles, split in 2003)
Former details
Ground(s)
Competition NSW Cup
20223rd
North Sydney Bears home jersey 1908.svg
Team colours
Records
Premierships2 – 1921, 1922
Runners-up1 – 1943
Minor premierships 2 – 1921, 1922
Wooden spoons 7 – 1917, 1919, 1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1979
Most capped285Greg Florimo
Highest points scorer1274Jason Taylor

The North Sydney Bears is an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. The club competes in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 90 years in the premier rugby league competition in Australia. North Sydney is based on Sydney's Lower North Shore, and has played at North Sydney Oval since 1910. There have been on-going bids to resurrect the club in the NRL as either The Bears, based in Perth and Sydney, or as the Central Coast Bears, based at Gosford. [1]

Contents

The club was established in 1908, making it one of the original founding members of the New South Wales Rugby Football League, and one of Australia's first rugby league football clubs. North Sydney continued competing with some success in the first half of the 20th century in the NSWRL, and through the ARL and NRL premierships until the club merged with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to form the Northern Eagles for the 2000 season. The merged club lasted only until 2002 when it split again, with the Bears not returning to first grade and being represented in the NSWRL competition, the second-tier rugby league competition, where Norths continue to play today. The North Sydney club also field teams in the Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball competitions.

North Sydney was in a partnership with South Sydney serving as Souths' reserve grade side from 2007 until the agreement ended in 2018. In total, 247 players who had been affiliated with Souths played with Norths in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW. [2] Until the end of season 2009, Souths were coached by the Bears' record-breaking top points scorer, Jason Taylor. In September 2018, North Sydney announced that it had signed a five-year deal to become the Sydney Roosters feeder club and reserve grade side with Taylor returning to the club as head coach. [3] On the 17 May 2023, it was announced that North Sydney had signed a two-year partnership with NRL club Melbourne starting in 2024. [4]

History

North Sydney was formed as a foundation club of the newly arrived rugby league game in 1908 and were initially known as the Shoremen. The club was formed at the North Sydney School of Arts in Mount Street on 7 February 1908. Like the other Sydney district clubs, Norths were largely born from players and officials from the local Rugby Union club, Northern Suburbs Rugby Club. The club initially struggled to obtain access to North Sydney Oval, but council obstruction was removed and the Shoremen played their first real home game in 1910. [5] Many good players such as Andy Morton, Jimmy Devereaux and Sid Deane were lost to English clubs in the years after making the semi-finals in the season of 1908. [ citation needed ]

They were nearly dropped from the competition during World War I due to dwindling spectator numbers. Towards the end of the war Norths' fortunes improved, playing quality and spectators numbers increased, and they won 2 premierships in 1921–22 coached by Chris McKivat. Unfortunately, these would be their last first grade premierships, and their last grand final appearance was in 1943. [6] when an injury riddled North Sydney were beaten by Newtown 34–7. North Sydney's Captain-coach in the Grand Final of 1943 was the future doyen of rugby league broadcasters, Frank Hyde. Hyde, who was living in Lane Cove at the time, had been forced to switch from Balmain to Norths in 1941 due to the league's residency rules which stated that a player was required to live in their club's district. As Lane Cove was in North Sydney's district, the club protested to the NSWRFL and claimed Hyde from Balmain. [7]

The team became known as the North Sydney Bears during the 1950s after accepting a sponsorship from the nearby Big Bear supermarket at Neutral Bay. [8]

The 1952 season saw North Sydney reach the finals for the first time since 1943. Norths went on to make the finals again in 1953 and 1954, losing to Souths and St. George respectively. Norths then had to wait 10 years to make the finals again, this time against Balmain where they lost 11–9. The following year North Sydney came 2nd in the regular season, but were defeated 47–7 by St George, and then lost to South Sydney 14-9 the following week. [9] [10] [11]

During that time, North Sydney produced arguably the greatest winger the game has ever seen in Ken Irvine. Irvine held the record for most first grade tries for one club (171) and overall (212). New South Wales representative Queenslander, Bruce Walker, captained the Bears in the final of the 1976 Amco Cup.

It would be 17 years before North Sydney made the finals series again when they finished 3rd in the 1982 season. North Sydney were coached that year by the great Ron Willey. Norths were knocked out of the finals series that year in consecutive games, first losing to Manly and then to Eastern Suburbs. In 1986 North Sydney missed the finals. They were eliminated by Balmain in a playoff for 5th place. [12]

The nineties saw finals appearances and near misses in 1991 and 1994–1998. In that time Norths made the preliminary final 4 times but lost on each occasion. In 1991 North Sydney finished the regular season in 3rd place and defeated local rivals Manly in the first week of the finals. In the next match North Sydney had the chance to make their first grand final in 48 years if they could defeat Penrith in the semi-final. After being behind on the scoreboard 12–0, Norths fought their way back into the match to level the scores at 14–14. Normally a reliable goal kicker, Daryl Halligan missed 4 shots at goal and kicked only 1 from 5 including a penalty miss in the dying minutes. Penrith won the match 16–14 despite the fact that Norths scored more tries. North Sydney would have another chance the following week to make the grand final going up against defending premiers Canberra in the preliminary final. North Sydney went down 14–30 giving Penrith a rematch of the 1990 grand final against Canberra. [13]

On 14 July 1994, the club was fined $87,000 for breaching the salary cap. [14] That year they came within one match of the grand final but lost to Canberra. [15]

North Sydney remained loyal to the Australian Rugby League during the Super League war of the mid-1990s. In the 1996 ARL season Norths came within one match of the Grand Final but lost the game to the St George Dragons 29-12. [16]

The following year saw two separate national rugby league championships, and confirmation of the club's intention to move north to New South Wales' Central Coast. [17]

In the 1997 season North Sydney again made the preliminary final against Newcastle at the Sydney Football Stadium. The winner of the match was to play minor premiers Manly in The Grand final. With the score 12–8 in favour of Newcastle with less than 10 minutes to play Jason Taylor set up Michael Buettner for a try which made the score 12–12. Normally a very reliable kicker and one of the most accurate in the competition, Taylor had already missed two previous conversions in the match but if he was to kick this goal it could send North Sydney through to their first grade final since 1943. Taylor ended up missing the goal. With the scores locked at 12–12, Newcastle player Matthew Johns kicked a field goal with 2 minutes to play to make it 13–12. With only seconds remaining Norths frantically threw the ball around and lost it, the ball was swooped up by Newcastle's Owen Craigie and he raced away to score a try and won the game. [18] [19]

In 1998, Norths finished 5th on the table and qualified for the finals. Once again they were eliminated from the finals after losing both their matches in consecutive weeks, 25–12 against Parramatta and 23–2 the following week against Canterbury. [20]

By the start of the 1999 NRL season the future looked bright with plans for the move north well underway, but one unfortunate and apparently non-negotiable outcome of the Super League war's peace deal was a criterion designed to reduce the number of teams in the NRL to fourteen. [21] With the NRL deeming North Sydney Oval unfit for first grade rugby league at the end of 1998, North Sydney spent the majority of the 1999 NRL season on the road playing home matches at Parramatta Stadium, Stadium Australia and Lang Park whilst they awaited their new stadium on the Central Coast to be constructed but heavy rainfall delayed the ground being built. North Sydney were allowed to return to North Sydney Oval midway through the season where they played Balmain winning 64–12. North Sydney played their final game in the top grade at the oval in round 25 against Melbourne with Norths winning 24–20. [22] On 28 August 1999, Norths played their final game as a first grade side against the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville. Norths won the game 28–18. [23]

Northern Eagles

Due to having a debt of around $4 million largely because the Central Coast Stadium not being constructed in time, the North Sydney club was not considered under the NRL's inclusion criteria. [24]

The joint venture club played out of Brookvale Oval and Central Coast Stadium at Gosford, a ground successfully lobbied and built for the Bears. However, poor on-field performances and factional fighting led to the collapse of the Northern Eagles in 2002, after only three years. After this, the Northern Eagles' licence then reverted to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, leaving the foundation club out of the top flight of rugby league in Australia after more than 90 years. [25]

New South Wales Cup

North Sydney play in the second-tier NSW Cup competition, serving as the reserve side for the Sydney Roosters. They have also been affiliated with the New Zealand Warriors, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Melbourne Storm in the past. [26]

In the 2007 NSWRL Premier League the North Sydney club made the Grand Final facing off against Parramatta. They were beaten 20-15 by Weller Hauraki, scoring a controversial try with just 13 seconds to go, which many believed should not have been allowed due to a forward pass. [27] North Sydney finished the 2008 season as NSW Cup minor premiers and were eliminated in the finals in straight sets.

In 2009, North Sydney lost to Balmain Tigers in extra time to miss out on the Grand Final 19–18. 2010 was a poor season for Norths, who received the wooden spoon. However this was turned around in the 2011 season with the North Sydney side reaching the preliminary final and losing to eventual premiers the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Deon Apps and Curtis Johnston represented the Bears in the 2011 NSW Residents side with Johnston finishing up leading try scorer for the competition by the end of the regular season with 28 tries, Johnston would play 110 games with the North Sydney NSW Cup scoring 97 tries in 6 seasons.

2012 saw North Sydney make the semi-finals, missing out on the minor premiership by points differential to Canterbury-Bankstown. They lost their first semi final to Newcastle Knights but had a chance to remain in the running of the competition the week after only to give up a 24–6 lead to the Newtown Jets and lose in extra time 32-30 from a Daniel Mortimer 35-metre penalty goal.

Newtown went on to beat Balmain in the 2012 NSW Cup Grand Final. In 2013, the Bears recorded several large victories in the regular season and finished third. They defeated the Newcastle Knights 32–28 in the first week of the finals, and were then eliminated by minor premiers and eventual NSW Cup premiers the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the preliminary final, who recorded a convincing 38-6 win. This was the third consecutive season that the North Sydney side had been eliminated in the finals by the team which would eventually win the premiership. This was also Matt King's final game of Rugby League.

After three consecutive top four finishes, season 2014 was a horror year for North Sydney, who recorded only two wins throughout the entire season and finished with the wooden spoon, eight points below the second-last placed Manly Warringah. Season 2015 saw a strong improvement as Norths won nine games throughout the season and returned to the NSW Cup finals, only to be eliminated by Canterbury in Week One, and finished eighth.

In the 2016 NSW Cup North Sydney finished the season in 10th place and therefore missed the finals. [28]

In the 2017 season, Norths finished 6th on the ladder and qualified for the finals. On 3 September 2017, Norths played against Newcastle in the first elimination match and were defeated 40–18 ending their season. [29] On 19 September, it was announced that Ben Gardiner was leaving as coach of the club after two and a half years in charge. [30]

On 11 October 2017, Shane Millard was announced as new head coach by the club. [31] On 20 May 2018, it was revealed that North Sydney were in advanced negotiations to sign former NRL player Todd Carney. South Sydney who have a partnership with Norths were not happy with this decision and declared that there would be no NRL pathway for Carney and declared that they might withdraw their relationship with Norths as a result. North Sydney chairman Perry Lopez said of the deal "We are the North Sydney Bears, we’re not South Sydney," The decision is based on what’s best for our club. At the end of the day, if they don’t like the decision the Bears make, they can take it up with us. "If Souths don’t agree with what we’re doing and decide it’s not in our interest, we will look at the other avenues we have to ensure we have a competitive ISP side. At the end of the day, we are the North Sydney Bears and we’ll look to not just have a competitive side but a winning side. This decision comes on the back of that. Our club is a 1908 foundation club,". "We are here to win games and show our fans a product they can be proud of. We are super excited to have a player of Todd Carney’s calibre join the mighty North Sydney Bears".

On 21 May 2018, Carney officially signed with North Sydney, in reaction to the signing, General Manager of football at Souths Shane Richardson said "We've spoken to Norths about Todd Carney and it's our position that we will develop our young halves, as opposed to bringing in a player from outside the club in this instance," Richardson said. "'The 'Rabbitoh Way' is to build a culture that rewards young players for hard work, a culture that has respect for the club and its people, respects the members and sponsors that invest financially and emotionally into what we are doing here at South Sydney, and a culture of developing young players that want to play for South Sydney and that we see having a future NRL career". [32] [33] On 1 July 2018, Carney's move to North Sydney was blocked after Carney refused to pay a $15,000 release fee. The Northern Pride who Carney was contracted with demanded that Norths pay the fee which the club refused to do and hoped that a deal could be met between Carney's management team and The Queensland Cup side before the 30 June transfer window closed. Carney spoke to the media saying "I had that option with the Bears but Souths have blocked that, I'm sure something will come up". Carney's blocked move coincided with the departure of Souths contracted player Robbie Farah who spent the first 12 weeks playing for North Sydney. [34] [35]

On 25 August 2018, Norths lost their last game of the season against the New Zealand Warriors due to a last minute try scored by Chanel Harris-Tavita. Norths came into the game with an outside chance of making the finals but the loss ensured Norths finished outside the top 8 and with a bad point points differential meant they finished in second last place on the table. [36]

On 5 September 2018, North Sydney announced that they were ending their agreement with South Sydney Rabbitohs to act as their reserve grade side and had signed a 5 year deal to join the Sydney Roosters as their new feeder club team for the 2019 season. Former North Sydney player and the club's leading record point scorer Jason Taylor was named as new head coach. [37] At the end of the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW regular season, Norths finished third on the table and qualified for the finals. [38]

North Sydney would go on to lose both finals matches against South Sydney and Newtown. In the elimination final against Newtown, Norths lost 30-28 even though they scored more tries than the opposition. Norths player Drew Hutchison also had a bad match kicking two goals from six attempts including one from right in front to send the game into extra-time. [39]

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canterbury Cup NSW, Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield competitions were cancelled. North Sydney chose to join the temporary Presidents Cup competition which involved teams from country New South Wales and the Ron Massey Cup. North Sydney would eventually reach the preliminary final in the competition but were defeated by Glebe 26-6. [40] In the 2022 NSW Cup season, North Sydney finished third on the table and qualified for the finals. North Sydney would be eliminated from the finals in straight sets losing to Penrith and Canterbury. [41] On 8 November 2022, the Sydney Roosters announced that they would be ending their partnership deal with North Sydney at the end of the 2023 season. The Sydney Roosters revealed that they would be fielding their own team in the NSW Cup for 2023 and would still provide some contracted players to North Sydney as part of the agreement. [42] On 17 May 2023, North Sydney announced that they had agreed a two-year partnership with NRL club Melbourne starting in 2024. Throughout the two-year deal, Melbourne players will now be divided between three feeder clubs — the North Sydney side in the New South Wales Cup, as well as Queensland Cup sides Sunshine Coast Falcons and Brisbane Easts. [43] In the 2023 NSW Cup, North Sydney claimed their first minor premiership since 2008 with two games to spare in the regular season. [44] North Sydney would reach the 2023 NSW Cup grand final against South Sydney who they had lost against in the first week of the finals. In the grand final, North Sydney lead the match with only five minutes remaining before South Sydney scored a try to win 22-18. [45] In November 2023, Jason Taylor left his position as North Sydney head coach to take up a role as Canterbury's new assistant head coach. The club then announced Pat Weisner as his replacement. [46]

The Bears have won eight premierships in reserve grade, making them the fifth most successful club currently participating in the competition. They last won a premiership in 1993, defeating Newcastle in the grand final 5–4. The Bears have also been the only team to have participated in every season of reserve grade since the competition's inception in 1908. [47]

The Central Coast Bears

There was a movement for a return to first-grade Rugby League for the club, with the North Sydney Bears moving to Gosford (on the Central Coast, New South Wales) and becoming the Central Coast Bears. The Bears bid committee lobbied the NRL for inclusion as the next expansion team. They were headed up by Perry Lopez and Greg Florimo and had the corporate backing of a number of local Central Coast and some North Shore businesses. The proposed team would play 11 games in Gosford and one game at North Sydney Oval (obviously against Manly as part of a heritage or rivalry round). North Sydney legend David Fairleigh was proposed to become the inaugural coach. Prominent rugby league personalities who publicly backed the club include Phil Gould, Andrew Johns and Peter Sterling while support has also come from as high up as Federal Treasurer and North Sydney MP Joe Hockey. [48] [49]

Bears fan Alan McLoughlin, a Central Coast resident, set up a Facebook petition to bring the Bears to Gosford. [50]

The Central Coast Bears had 7,200 financial members with new members joining weekly. [51] They were aiming for 5,000 by March 2011, when the official bid was due to be handed in to the NRL but passed that mark in 2010. Mortgage House signed a three-year deal to sponsor the Central Coast Bears, also becoming a major jersey sponsor for the Bears. In November 2010, it was reported that Ken Sayer, CEO of Mortgage House, planned to underwrite the bid for $10 million to help ensure their financial equity was shored up when the bid was submitted. [52] Both major political parties showed support for the Central Coast Bears bid in 2010–2011, with Labor supporting the bid by granting $100,000 for the Bears, [53] and the Liberal party supporting the bid by promising to acquire land at Mt Penang, Central Coast, NSW to build a state-of-the-art Sports Centre of Excellence in the lead up to the 2011 New South Wales state election. [54]

With weekly membership drives and ongoing community involvement, the Central Coast Bears targeted entry into the NRL in 2015, [55] but this date passed without admission. In 2016, it was reported that there were moves for the Bears to buy the Gold Coast Titans franchise. [56] The General Manager of Norths and most capped player of the club Greg Florimo said at the time of North Sydney's first public interest in purchasing The Gold Coast licence as "the last chance". Florimo then went on to say "I don't see too many other options presenting themselves, The energy and finance that we put into the Central Coast bid really didn't come to fruition ... so we're going hard to the plate on this". [57]

Throughout 2017 there was much media speculation around North Sydney and their moves to purchase the struggling Gold Coast Titans licence when it went on sale by The NRL. North Sydney reportedly placed a $7 million bid to purchase The Gold Coast Licence and as part of the bid if they were to be successful was to rename the side The Gold Coast Bears and continue to play games at Robina plus taking two games to North Sydney Oval with one game being held against fierce rivals The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The Gold Coast colors would also change to Norths red and black with the logo being changed as well to fit the proposed new club. On 3 November 2017, it was revealed that Norths had failed in their bid to purchase The Gold Coast licence. On 14 December 2017, it was officially announced by The NRL that the consortium of Darryl Kelly and self made property tycoon Rebecca Frizelle had won the bid to purchase The Gold Coast Titans. [58] [59] [60]

On 22 February 2018, it was announced that North Sydney were in talks with a Western Australian consortium with the possibility of creating a franchise and to seek inclusion into The NRL. [61]

On 11 November 2018, new North Sydney CEO David Perry said he was aiming at seeing a North Sydney/Central Coast bid come to fruition when the current television deal ends at the end of 2023. Perry suggested that the NRL should look at creating a promotion/relegation system similar to other sports around the world. Perry went on to say "You need 12 and 12, so 24 key markets, and stricter criteria about those clubs around their funding model which means all of the 24 may not fit the top tier criteria, it may only be 16-18 franchises that make the cut, their catchment areas, their population, and their commercial growth, because currently I believe a lot of clubs haven’t been accountable as much as they should have. They’ve been too reliant on funding from the NRL and haven’t been measurable enough". [62] [63] [64]

On 9 August 2019, rugby league immortal Andrew Johns said that having a team on the Central Coast would be a "no-brainer". Johns went on to say "I think it’s a must, We keep talking about Perth, but it’s so far away I imagine the costs would be astronomical getting everyone over there and back. At the Central Coast they have a stadium up there and they have a huge junior base. There are so many players play up there, so you can get the best kids aspiring to play for the Central Coast". [65]

On 25 September 2019, Australian entrepreneur John Singleton spoke to former NRL player Matthew Johns about a team being placed on the Central Coast. Singleton said “We had the players and the lifestyle on the Central Coast once you get people up there they go: ‘wow, how good’s this’. I can live on the beach". Singleton then spoke about the Gold Coast Titans and how their bid beat Singleton's initial bid for a Central Coast team in 2006 saying “They had no money and no stadium, and we did have a stadium built for North Sydney. And was a year late, that’s all. And we had a $50 million bank guarantee, so we would have been strong. It made sense to relocate one of the Sydney teams to the Central Coast". [66]

The Bears

After the Northern Eagles went defunct, the North Sydney Bears have continued to field teams in several grades of the NSW rugby league competitions, and were behind the failed Central Coast Bears bid in the mid-2000's. But as recently as April 2021 the Bears have expressed their intent on eventually returning the brand to the NRL competition. [67] In 2018 they’d explored the possibility of establishing a Western Bears franchise based in Perth. [68]

On 27 October 2021, the Bears revealed their intention to return to the NRL, coinciding with a new logo. The proposed franchise, to be known simply as The Bears, [69] would split home matches between various regional centres including Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour and Central Coast, along with major cities Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin that are otherwise currently without NRL representation. They would allocate between four and six games at a potentially upgraded North Sydney Oval. [70] The Bears intend to retain their 113-year history and traditional black and red colours.

North Sydney Leagues Club

Rebranded as Norths, the North Sydney Leagues Club was established by the district's football club, the North Sydney Bears, in 1955 in a house in the Sydney suburb of Neutral Bay. In 1964, the club moved to new premises, its current location, in Abbott Street, Cammeray.

In the fifty years the new building has stood, a number of redesigns and refurbishments have taken place. In 2014 facilities comprised two dining areas, function rooms, a 530-seat auditorium, a fitness and wellness centre, indoor and outdoor lounge areas, a bottle shop, a TAB, two squash courts, a courtesy bus service, a members rewards program and a multi-level car park for 320 vehicles.[ citation needed ] Membership in 2016 stood at 21,500.[ citation needed ]

In 1996, Norths merged with the North Sydney Bowling Club, which was established in 1888 and is the second oldest club (by one day) in Australia. This Bowling Club was transformed and re-branded as The Greens North Sydney in November 2014. Norths also amalgamated with the Seagulls, a border club at Tweed Heads on the far north coast of New South Wales, the oldest provincial rugby league club in Australia. [71]

Darren Nicholls playing for the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Cup Darren Nicholls.jpg
Darren Nicholls playing for the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Cup

2023 squad

2023 North Sydney Bears Squad
First team squadCoaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


Team of the Century

On 26 August 2006 the club announced their "Team of the Century". [72]

PositionPlayer
FB Brian Carlson
WG Ken Irvine
CE Jim Devereux
CE Greg Florimo
WG Harold Horder
FE Tim Pickup
HB Duncan Thompson
PR Gary Larson
HK Ross Warner
PR Billy Wilson
SR David Fairleigh
SR Mark Graham
LK Peter Diversi
Bench Sid Deane
Bench Ken McCaffery
Bench Billy Moore
Bench John Gray
Coach Chris McKivat

Former players of note

Australia

Coaches

No.NameYearsGWLD %PremiershipsRunners-upMinor PremiershipsWooden spoons
1 Denis Lutge 1914–191528721025%
2 Chris McKivat^1921–192225204180% 1921, 1922 1921
3 Jimmy Devereux 1924–192520910145%
4 Tedda Courtney 193014211114%
5 Tom Wright 19311468043%
6 Arthur Edwards 19331458136%
7 Frank Burge^1935, 1945321714153%
8 Jim Craig 19361375154%
9 Laurie Ward 1937835054%
10 Bob Williams 1938–193928818229%
11 Arthur Halloway 1940–194128720125% 1941
12 Roy Thompson 194114310121% 1941
13 Jack O' Reilly 19421459036%
14 Frank Hyde 1943–1944, 1950491728435% 1943 1950
15 Harry Forbes 19461459036%
16 Cliff Pearce 1947–1948361221333% 1948
17 Harry McKinnon 194918512128%
18 Laurie Doran 195118513028% 1951
19 Ross McKinnon^1952–1953, 1959583225155%
20 Rex Harrison 1954–1955372015254%
21 Bruce Ryan^195618512128%
22 Trevor Allan 1957–1958361817150%
23 Greg Hawick 1960, 1985331221036%
24 Bob Sullivan 1961–1962361321236%
25 Fred Griffiths 1963–1966753932452%
26 Billy Wilson 196722813136%
27 Colin Greenwood 196822418018%
28 Roy Francis 1969–1970441725239%
29 Merv Hicks 1971–1972441230227%
30 Noel Kelly 1973–1976893352437%
31 Bill Hamilton 1977–1978451528233%
32 Tommy Bishop^19792222009% 1979
33 Ron Willey^1980–1982723139243%
34 John Hayes^1983–1984502226244%
35 Brian Norton 1985–1986341518144%
36 Frank Stanton^1987–1989682540337%
37 Steve Martin^1990–1992693532251%
38 Peter Louis^1993–19991619658760%
39 Kieran Dempsey^1999826025%

^ Did not play first grade for Norths

Club records

Club records

5 Biggest Wins

Biggest Loss

Highest Points

Highest Score Conceded

Most first grade appearances for the club

Most Tries for the club

Most Goals for the club

Most Points for the club

Most Points in a season

Most Consecutive Wins

Most Consecutive Losses

Undefeated Season:

Home and Away Attendances

Finals Attendance Record

Finals Appearances:

Club honours

Premierships: (2) 1921, 1922

Runners-Up: (1) 1943

Minor Premierships: (2) 1921, 1922

Midweek Cup [as Amco Cup]: Runners-up: 1976

Friendly/Youth honours

Reserve Grade Premierships: 1940, 1942, 1955, 1959, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993

Third Grade Premiership [and equivalent competitions]: 1937, 1945, 1946, 1959

President's Cup: 1918, 1933

H 'Jersey' Flegg Memorial Trophy: 1998

Lennox Cup: 1949

Sevens: Runners-Up: 1996, 1997

City Cup: Winners: 1920, 1922 Runners-Up 1913, 1959

League Cup: Runners-Up: 1919

State Championship: Runners-Up: 1945

Pre-season Competition: Runners-Up: 1964, 1966, 1977

Channel 10 Challenge Cup: Winners: 1978

Australian internationals

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales Rugby League</span> Governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) until 1984. From 1908 to 1994, the NSWRL ran Sydney's, then New South Wales', and eventually Australia's top-level rugby league club competition. The organisation is responsible for administering the New South Wales rugby league team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balmain Tigers</span> Australian rugby league football club

The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles. In 1999 they formed a joint venture club with the Western Suburbs Magpies club to form the Wests Tigers for competition in the National Rugby League (NRL). They no longer field any senior teams in the lower divisions. At the time of the joint venture only South Sydney Rabbitohs and the St George Dragons had won more titles than the Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Sydney Oval</span> Sports venue

North Sydney Oval is a multi-use sporting facility in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, owned and operated by North Sydney Council. First used as a cricket ground in 1867, it is also used for Australian rules football, rugby league, rugby union and soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Suburbs Magpies</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Sydney, NSW

The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia. The club, as a sole entity, departed the top-flight competition in 1999 after forming a 50–50 joint venture with Balmain Tigers to form the Wests Tigers. The club currently fields sides in the NSW State Cup, Ron Massey Cup (Opens), S.G. Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glebe Dirty Reds</span> Australian rugby league football club, based in Sydney NSW

The Glebe Dirty Reds are an Australian rugby league foundation club which played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League's Sydney premiership, the major competition for the sport in Sydney, from 1908 until their exit at the end of 1929. They were formed on 9 January 1908, with some sources suggesting that they may have been the first Sydney rugby league club to have been created. They were nicknamed and well known as the "Dirty Reds" due to the maroon colour of their playing jerseys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtown Jets</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Sydney, NSW

The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSW Cup competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season. The Jets' home ground is Henson Park, and their team colours are blue and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leichhardt Oval</span> Stadium in Lilyfield, New South Wales, Australia

Leichhardt Oval is a rugby league and soccer stadium in Lilyfield, New South Wales, Australia. It is currently one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers National Rugby League (NRL) team, along with Campbelltown Stadium and Western Sydney Stadium. Prior to its merger with the Western Suburbs Magpies, it was the longtime home of the Balmain Tigers, who used the ground from 1934–1994 and 1997–1999. It was named after Ludwig Leichhardt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSW Cup</span> Australian rugby league competition

The NSW Cup, currently known as the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales. The competition has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition, and is now the premier open age competition in the state. The New South Wales Cup, along with the Queensland Cup, acts as a feeder competition to the National Rugby League premiership. The competition is the oldest continuous rugby league competition in the Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Taylor (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer and coach

Jason Taylor is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a halfback in the 1990s and 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Florimo</span> Australian rugby league footballer & administrator

Greg Florimo is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and current rugby league administrator known for his lifelong association with the North Sydney Bears both as a player and CEO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. G. Ball Cup</span> Australian junior rugby competition

The S. G. Ball Cup is a junior rugby league football competition played predominantly in New South Wales, between teams made up of players aged under 19. Teams from Canberra and Melbourne also participate. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales teams from Perth and Auckland also participated. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. The competition includes both junior representative teams of NRL and NSW Cup clubs that do not field a team in the NRL competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabramatta Two Blues</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Cabramatta, NSW

Cabramatta Two Blues, colloquially known as Cabra, is an Australian rugby league football club that was originally formed in 1919 and then later completely formed as the Two Blues in 1939. They have always based from the Parramatta Junior Leagues, and their junior teams compete in the Parramatta District Junior Rugby League Association. They currently compete in the Sydney Shield and have previously competed in the Ron Massey Cup however both sides did not field a side for the 2022 season in either competition. They play out of the Cabramatta, New South Wales, Sports Ground Complex which can fit up to 5,000 spectators. The Two Blues have won numerous A-Grade Titles with their last Premiership received in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby league in New South Wales</span>

Rugby league in New South Wales is the most popular spectator sport in the state, with the attendance and television audiences exceeding that of the various other codes of football. There are over 400,000 active rugby league participants, with a further 1 million playing the sport in schools, placing the sport second only to Soccer for the most played sport in the state. There is more than 500 active clubs, ten of which are professional teams competing in the National Rugby League (NRL).

The Central Coast Roosters, formerly Central Coast Centurions, are an Australian rugby league football club based in the Central Coast region in New South Wales. They competed in the New South Wales Cup which they exited in 2011. The club still competes in the NSWRL Women's Premiership, S. G. Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup competitions.

The National Rugby League is the top level rugby league competition in Australia and New Zealand. It was formed in 1998 after the merger of the Australian Super League and the Australian Rugby League. Inaugurally containing 20 teams, rationalisation cut this number down to 14 by 2000, before the competition expanded back to 16 in 2007 and 17 in 2023. Debate regarding the expansion of the competition to 18 and even 20 teams is ongoing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Pritchard Mounties</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Mount Pritchard, NSW

The Mounties Rugby League Football Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Mount Pritchard, New South Wales formed in 1927. They currently play in the Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Olive (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

John Olive is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Newtown Jets in the Canterbury Cup NSW as a centre and wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Murphy (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Ed Murphy is an Australian professional rugby league footballer last played as a centre or winger for the Limoux Grizzlies in the Elite One Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sitiveni Moceidreke</span> Fiji international rugby league footballer

Sitiveni Moceidreke is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, fullback, scrum-half and stand-off for the London Broncos in the RFL Championship.

Vanessa Foliaki is a New Zealand-born Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women in the NRL Women's Premiership and the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.

References

  1. "NRL: Bears, North Sydney confirm bid to become NRL's next franchise, Dolphins".
  2. "South Sydney Rabbitohs North Sydney Bears Affiliated Players". www.ssralmanac.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017.
  3. "North Sydney Bears announce new alliance with the Sydney Roosters - North Sydney Bears". 5 September 2018.
  4. "North Sydney Bears and Melbourne Storm announce partnership starting in 2024". www.sportingnews.com. 17 May 2023.
  5. "Our long-lost Australian sports teams". Archived from the original on 12 September 2017.
  6. Headon, David (October 1999). "Up From the Ashes: The Phoenix of a Rugby League Literature" (PDF). Football Studies Volume 2, Issue 2. Football Studies Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  7. "Football, family and faith - a fortunate life - Obituaries - smh.com.au". www.smh.com.au. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017.
  8. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "North Sydney Bears - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017.
  9. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NSWRFL 1965 - North Sydney Bears - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017.
  10. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NSWRFL 1964 - North Sydney Bears - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017.
  11. "North may pay record bonus". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. 8 September 1952. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  12. "North Sydney Council - Heritage Leaflets". Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  13. "Eight horrific finals performances". Archived from the original on 1 August 2017.
  14. AAP (22 April 2010). "Melbourne Storm salary cap quotes". The Roar. Australia: The Roar Sports Opinion. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  15. "Top 10 Preliminary Final heartbreaks". 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017.
  16. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "ARL 1996 - Prelim Final - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017.
  17. Koslowski, Michael (25 September 1997). "Field of teams". The Sydney Morning Herald . Australia. p. 6. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  18. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "ARL 1997 - Prelim Final - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017.
  19. "The Greatest Goalkickers in NRL History • Rugby League Opinions". 12 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  20. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NRL 1998 - North Sydney Bears - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017.
  21. Walter, Brad (13 April 2016). "Why the demise of the North Sydney Bears has Sydney Roosters officials worried". Archived from the original on 17 May 2016 via The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. Perry, Sam (25 June 2022). "Is it time for the dream of North Sydney Bears' long-awaited return to finally become a reality?". The Guardian.
  23. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NRL 1999 - Round 26 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017.
  24. "Bears' Central Coast Stadium stake for sale". www.smh.com.au. 9 March 2005.
  25. "Are the North Sydney Bears about to buy the Manly Sea Eagles?". 8 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  26. "Maloney: Blues can inflict future pain on Maroons now - NRL". 8 July 2018.
  27. Eels brak Peacheys heart The Daily Telegraph[ dead link ]
  28. ScoresPro.com. "Australia - Intrust Super Premiership 2016 : Rugby League Standings by ScoresPro.com". www.scorespro.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
  29. "Dominant Knights Eliminate Depleted Bears". 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017.
  30. "Bears Farewell Coach Ben Gardiner". 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017.
  31. "Media Release - North Sydney Bears Announce Key Coaching Appointments - North Sydney Bears". 11 October 2017. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  32. Proszenko, Adrian (20 May 2018). "Norths and Souths set for split as defiant Bears sign Carney". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  33. "Todd Carney officially signs with North Sydney Bears against Rabbitohs' wishes". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 21 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  34. "Carney's Bears stint sunken by star's refusal to pay $15,000 fee". 30 June 2018.
  35. "South Sydney Rabbitohs sign Robbie Farah replacement in Matt McIlwrick | League | Sporting News". Archived from the original on 2 July 2018.
  36. "Warriors Break Bears Hearts With Last-Gasp Try - NSWRL". 25 August 2018.
  37. "Roosters and Bears Form New Partnership - NSWRL". 5 September 2018.
  38. "Star power on show for Canterbury Cup NSW Semi-Finals". NSWRL. 13 September 2019.
  39. "Canterbury Cup NSW Finals Week Two - reports, highlights, news". NSWRL. 14 September 2019.
  40. "2020 Presidents Cup". www.playrugbyleague.com.
  41. "Panther cubs kick off NSW Cup finals with remarkable win". www.nswrl.com.au. 3 September 2022.
  42. "'True pathway': Big NSW Cup change as Roosters cut ties with Bears in 18-year first". www.foxsports.com.au. 9 November 2022.
  43. "Storm's big NSW Cup move after striking up partnership with North Sydney Bears". www.foxsports.com.au. 17 May 2023.
  44. "Bears finish top of the tree in both men and women". www.nswrl.com.au. 16 August 2023.
  45. "Taaffe's statement as Souths end 40-year drought; veteran's captain's knock: Reserves Wrap". www.foxsports.com.au. 25 September 2023.
  46. "North Sydney Bears find replacement for Jason Taylor". www.zerotackle.com. 23 October 2023.
  47. "North Sydney Bears - NSWRL". Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  48. Bears get logo, now for an NRL jersey Archived 24 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Adrian Proszenko
  49. Proszenko, Adrian (7 February 2010). "Heavy Hitter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  50. Heighington can bear to wait if Central Coast get up Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Sydney Morning Herald.
  51. "NRL's 'talk to the hand' to Central Coast Bears bid team has left a rugby league heartland furious" . Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  52. Toohey, Barry (21 November 2010), "$10 million on table to get Central Coast Bears over the line". The Sunday Telegraph (Australia)
  53. "Keneally comes bearing gifts in not-so-unfriendly territory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.
  54. "O'Farrell to Reserve Land for Central Coast Bears". Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011.
  55. Home Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine . Central Coast Bears (18 February 2013).
  56. Meyn, Travis (24 February 2016). "Titans declare they 'aren't going anywhere' after moves by the Bears to take over the club". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  57. "Bears may be Titans' only chance: Florimo - Nine Wide World of Sports". wwos.nine.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018.
  58. "Dailytelegraph.com.au - Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". www.dailytelegraph.com.au.
  59. "Couriermail.com.au - Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". www.couriermail.com.au.
  60. "NRL finally announce sale of Gold Coast Titans to Kelly-Frizelle team". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018.
  61. Proszenko, Adrian (22 February 2018). "'Western Bears': North Sydney Bears back in hunt for NRL return after secret talks with WA group". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  62. "Exclusive: North Sydney Bears set to wake from NRL hibernation". Fox Sports. 11 November 2018.
  63. "Unnamed businessman set to bankroll Bears bid to enter NRL". Daily Telegraph.
  64. "NRL benches expansion talk until end of 2014". ABC News. 29 October 2012.
  65. "Immortal Andrew Johns has backed the Central Coast Bears bid as a 'no-brainer'". Fox Sports. 8 August 2019.
  66. "John Singleton believes Central Coast still prepared to accommodate a relocated NRL club". Sporting News. 14 August 2021.
  67. "North Sydney Bears refuse to give up on NRL return". www.smh.com.au. 10 April 2021.
  68. "'Western Bears': North Sydney Bears back in hunt for NRL return after secret talks with WA group". www.smh.com.au. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  69. "Bears' 'eye-catching' proposal revives club's NRL push". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023. (subscription required)
  70. Proszenko, Adrian (27 October 2021). "Bears reveal bold bid to come out of hibernation as NRL's 18th team". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  71. "norths History | www.norths.com.au". Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  72. "Ken Irvine". Era of the Biff. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2021.

Further reading