North Sydney Bears
Encyclopedia
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales
. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League
following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on Sydney's Lower North Shore, and have played at North Sydney Oval
since 1910. There is currently a bid supporting a resurrection of the club in the NRL as the Central Coast Bears
, based in Gosford, New South Wales
.
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 premiership
s until they 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 returning, but this time in the NSWRL competition the second-tier rugby league competition, where they continue to play today.
North Sydney are currently in partnerships with the Rabbitohs
, taking the place of Souths reserve grade. Up until the end of season 2009, Souths were coached by the Bears' record-breaking top points scorer, Jason Taylor.
and were known as the Shoremen. 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. 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.
They were nearly dropped from the competition during World War I
because of 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. when an injury riddled North Sydney were beaten by Newtown 34–7.
The team became known as the North Sydney Bears during the 'fifties after accepting a sponsorship from the nearby Big Bear supermarket at Neutral Bay.
The 1952 season saw North Sydney reach the finals for the first time since 1943.
The Bears continued to make appearances in the finals during the next few decades, and produced arguably the greatest winger the game has ever seen in Ken Irvine
. Irvine still hold the record for most first grade tries for one club (171).
New South Wales representative Queenslander, Bruce Walker
, captained the Bears in the final of the 1976 Amco Cup
.
The nineties saw finals appearances and near misses in 1991, and 1993–1998. On 14 July 1994 the club was fined $87,000 for breaching the salary cap. That year they came within one match of the grand final.
North Sydney remained loyal to the Australian Rugby League
during the Super League war
of the mid 1990s. In the 1996 ARL season the Bears came within one match of the Grand Final.
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
. 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.
was born. The name Northern Eagles had little relevance to North Sydney with many people feeling the word Northern represented the Northern Beaches and not the word Norths or North used to describe North Sydney since 1908. The word Eagles reflected the Eagle or Sea Eagle of the Manly club and had nothing to do with the beloved Bear mascot of the North Sydney club. The originally mooted Northern Phoenix was dismissed by the dominant Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles faction. The team colours were larely based on the old Manly colours, another reason most Bears' fans refused to support the joint venture.
The joint venture club played out of North Power Stadium
(now Blue Tongue Central Coast Stadium) at Gosford
, a ground largely developed by the Bears and Brookvale Oval
, but poor on-field performances and factional fighting led to the collapse of the Northern Eagles
in 2002, after only three years. Bears fans' worst fears were realised when the Northern Eagles' licence then rightfully reverted to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
, leaving the foundation club out of the top flight of rugby league in Australia after more than 90 years.
. They have also been affiliated with the Warriors
and the Storm
in the past. In the 2007 NSWRL Premier League
the North Sydney Bears made the Grand Final facing off against Sydney rivals Parramatta
. They were beaten 15–20 by Weller Hauraki
, scoring a controversial try with just 10 seconds to go, on the '7th' tackle. The team is consisted of players from the South Sydney full time squad and North Sydney part time squad. North Sydney finished the 2008 season as NSW Cup minor premiers. In 2009 Bears lost to Balmain Tigers in extra time to miss out on the Grand Final 19-18. 2010 was a poor season for the Bears, who received the woopen spoon (Last Place), However this was turned around in the 2011 season with the Bears missing out on the Grand final by one game to Canterbury Bulldogs.
Cec Blinkhorn
Kerry Boustead
Brett Dallas
David Fairleigh
Mario Fenech
Greg Florimo
Bill Hamilton Ben Ikin
Ken Irvine
Peter Jackson
Les Kiss
Brian Williams
Gary Larson Denis "Dinny" Lutge
Don McKinnon
Billy Moore
Mark O'Meley
Jason Taylor Duncan Thompson
Dean Widders
Billy Wilson
New South Wales Mitchell Pearce
^
New Zealand Fred Ah Kuoi
Clayton Friend
Mark Graham
Daryl Halligan
Kieran Foran
^
^Did not play first grade for North Sydney, instead played junior representative rugby league for North Sydney after their fold from the NRL
^ Did not play first grade for Norths
Biggest Loss
Highest Points
Highest Score Conceded
Most Consecutive Wins
Most Consecutive Losses
Runners-Up: (1) 1943
Minor Premierships: (2) 1921, 1922
Finals Appearances: 1908, 1921, 1922, 1928, 1935, 1936, 1943, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1964, 1965, 1982, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Undefeated Season: 1921 (8 games: 7 wins 1 draw)
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
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
Midweek Cup [as Amco Cup]: Runners-Up: 1976
Channel 10 Challenge Cup: Winners: 1978
, Federal politician.
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on Sydney's Lower North Shore, and have played at North Sydney Oval
North Sydney Oval
-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
since 1910. There is currently a bid supporting a resurrection of the club in the NRL as the Central Coast Bears
Central Coast Bears
The Central Coast Bears are a proposed rugby league club on the Central Coast of Australia. There is a movement for a return to first-grade Rugby League for the once proud club, with the North Sydney Bears moving to Gosford and becoming the Central Coast Bears...
, based in Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
.
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
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
, and through the ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
and NRL premiership
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
s until they merged with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
to form the Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
for the 2000 season. The merged club lasted only until 2002 when it split again, with the Bears returning, but this time in the NSWRL competition the second-tier rugby league competition, where they continue to play today.
North Sydney are currently in partnerships with the Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, taking the place of Souths reserve grade. Up until the end of season 2009, Souths were coached by the Bears' record-breaking top points scorer, Jason Taylor.
History
North Sydney was formed as a foundation club of the newly arrived rugby league game in 1908New South Wales Rugby League season 1908
The 1908 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the inaugural season of Australia's first rugby league football club competition, which was based in Sydney, New South Wales...
and were known as the Shoremen. Like the other Sydney district clubs, Norths were largely born from players and officials from the local Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
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. Many good players such as Andy Morton, Jimmy Devereaux and Sid Deane
Sid Deane
Sid Deane was a foundation Australian rugby league player. He was a Centre for the Australia national team. He played in 5 Tests between 1908 and 1914. In 1914 he became the ninth Australian national captain and the first from the North Sydney Club....
were lost to English clubs in the years after making the semi-finals in the season of 1908.
They were nearly dropped from the competition during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
because of 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
Chris McKivat
Christopher Hobart McKivat was an Australian rugby union and rugby league player – a dual-code rugby international. He represented the Wallabies in over 20 Tests and tour matches from 1907 to 1909 and the Kangaroos in 5 Tests from 1910 to 1912...
. Unfortunately, these would be their last first grade premierships and their last grand final appearance was in 1943. when an injury riddled North Sydney were beaten by Newtown 34–7.
The team became known as the North Sydney Bears during the 'fifties after accepting a sponsorship from the nearby Big Bear supermarket at Neutral Bay.
The 1952 season saw North Sydney reach the finals for the first time since 1943.
The Bears continued to make appearances in the finals during the next few decades, and produced arguably the greatest winger the game has ever seen in Ken Irvine
Ken Irvine
Kenneth John Irvine was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216...
. Irvine still hold the record for most first grade tries for one club (171).
New South Wales representative Queenslander, Bruce Walker
Bruce Walker (rugby league)
Bruce Walker is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland State of Origin representative second-row or lock forward, he played club football in Brisbane with Eastern Suburbs before moving to Sydney to play with Norths and later...
, captained the Bears in the final of the 1976 Amco Cup
1976 Amco Cup
The 1976 Amco Cup was a rugby league football tournament featuring teams from around the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.-Preliminary round:Bold text-Round 1:-Round 2:-Quarter finals:-Semi finals:-Final:...
.
The nineties saw finals appearances and near misses in 1991, and 1993–1998. On 14 July 1994 the club was fined $87,000 for breaching the salary cap. That year they came within one match of the grand final.
North Sydney remained loyal to the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
during the Super League war
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
of the mid 1990s. In the 1996 ARL season the Bears came within one match of the Grand Final.
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
Central Coast, New South Wales
The Central Coast is an urban region in the Australian state of New South Wales, located on the coast north of Sydney and south of Lake Macquarie....
. 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
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
's peace deal was a criterion designed to reduce the number of teams in the NRL to fourteen.
Merger years
Due to their insolvency, the North Sydney club were not even considered for the NRL's inclusion criteria. After some deliberation and the rights of the members of the football club handed over to avoid an embarrassing 'NO' vote on the merger question, and the signing of most of the Bears younger brigade and few from the senior team, the name Northern EaglesNorthern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
was born. The name Northern Eagles had little relevance to North Sydney with many people feeling the word Northern represented the Northern Beaches and not the word Norths or North used to describe North Sydney since 1908. The word Eagles reflected the Eagle or Sea Eagle of the Manly club and had nothing to do with the beloved Bear mascot of the North Sydney club. The originally mooted Northern Phoenix was dismissed by the dominant Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles faction. The team colours were larely based on the old Manly colours, another reason most Bears' fans refused to support the joint venture.
The joint venture club played out of North Power Stadium
Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Stadium, named Bluetongue Stadium due to sponsorship, is a sports venue in Gosford, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The stadium is home to the Central Coast Mariners Football Club who compete in the A-League...
(now Blue Tongue Central Coast Stadium) at Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
, a ground largely developed by the Bears and Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team...
, but poor on-field performances and factional fighting led to the collapse of the Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
in 2002, after only three years. Bears fans' worst fears were realised when the Northern Eagles' licence then rightfully reverted to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, leaving the foundation club out of the top flight of rugby league in Australia after more than 90 years.
The New South Wales Cup
North Sydney currently play in the second-tier NSW Cup competition, serving as the reserve side for the South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. They have also been affiliated with the Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
and the Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in the past. In the 2007 NSWRL Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
the North Sydney Bears made the Grand Final facing off against Sydney rivals Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
. They were beaten 15–20 by Weller Hauraki
Weller Hauraki
Weller Hauraki is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He is a New Zealand Māori representative. Hauraki is a Second Rower...
, scoring a controversial try with just 10 seconds to go, on the '7th' tackle. The team is consisted of players from the South Sydney full time squad and North Sydney part time squad. North Sydney finished the 2008 season as NSW Cup minor premiers. In 2009 Bears lost to Balmain Tigers in extra time to miss out on the Grand Final 19-18. 2010 was a poor season for the Bears, who received the woopen spoon (Last Place), However this was turned around in the 2011 season with the Bears missing out on the Grand final by one game to Canterbury Bulldogs.
Team of the Century
On 26 August 2006 the club announced their "Team of the Century".| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| FB | Brian Carlson Brian Carlson Brian Carlson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a centre & utility back for the Australia national team. He played in 17 Tests and 6 World Cup games between 1952 and 1961, as captain on 2 occasions... |
| WG | Ken Irvine Ken Irvine Kenneth John Irvine was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216... |
| CE | Jimmy Devereux |
| CE | Greg Florimo Greg Florimo Greg Florimo is a retired Australian Rugby League player and administrator known for his lifelong association with the North Sydney Bears both as a player and a manager.... |
| WG | Harold Horder Harold Horder Harold Norman Horder was an Australian rugby league player a national and state representative player whose club career was with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears between 1912 and 1924... |
| FE | Tim Pickup Tim Pickup Timothy Alexander Pickup was an Australian Rugby League player for the North Sydney Bears, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and Australian national side in the 1970's... |
| HB | Duncan Thompson Duncan Thompson Duncan Fulton Thompson MBE was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and administrator... |
| PR | Gary Larson |
| HK | Ross Warner |
| PR | Billy Wilson |
| SR | David Fairleigh David Fairleigh David Fairleigh is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played the majority of his club football in Australia for the North Sydney Bears, winning 1994's... |
| SR | Mark Graham |
| LK | Peter Diversi Peter Diversi Peter Diversi was an Australian rugby league player for the North Sydney Bears and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, New South Wales and for the Australian national side.... |
| Bench | Sid Deane Sid Deane Sid Deane was a foundation Australian rugby league player. He was a Centre for the Australia national team. He played in 5 Tests between 1908 and 1914. In 1914 he became the ninth Australian national captain and the first from the North Sydney Club.... |
| Bench | Ken McCaffery Ken McCaffery Ken McCaffery is an Australian former rugby league footballer, commentator and administrator. He started playing first grade rugby league with Sydney's Easts club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1948. After three seasons with them he was persuaded to move to Toowoomba by... |
| Bench | Billy Moore Billy Moore (rugby league) Billy Moore is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. Usually playing at lock, he represented Queensland and Australia.... |
| Bench | John Gray John Gray (rugby league) John D. Gray is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative has played level for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Wigan, North Sydney Bears , and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, playing at , or /, i.e... |
| Coach | Chris McKivat Chris McKivat Christopher Hobart McKivat was an Australian rugby union and rugby league player – a dual-code rugby international. He represented the Wallabies in over 20 Tests and tour matches from 1907 to 1909 and the Kangaroos in 5 Tests from 1910 to 1912... |
Former Players of Note
Australia Martin BellaMartin Bella
Martin Bella is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A prop forward, he achieved national and state representation and played club football for various teams in Queensland, New South Wales and England. He is of Italian descent....
Cec Blinkhorn
Cec Blinkhorn
Cecil Blinkhorn was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1910s and 20s. He played in the NSWRFL premiership for the North Sydney and South Sydney clubs, and also represented New South Wales and Australia...
Kerry Boustead
Kerry Boustead
Kerry Boustead is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A talented representative winger for Queensland and Australia, at the time he was picked for the Australian national rugby league team he was the youngest ever player so selected...
Brett Dallas
Brett Dallas
Brett Dallas is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative winger, his club career included stints with both Canterbury and North Sydney in Australia's domestic competition, and the Wigan Warriors...
David Fairleigh
David Fairleigh
David Fairleigh is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played the majority of his club football in Australia for the North Sydney Bears, winning 1994's...
Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech is a Maltese-Australian rugby league personality. He is a former player of the game for New South Wales, and is a regular guest on The Footy Show. His favoured position was as Hooker, where he represented NSW. In his later career he became a Prop-forward...
Greg Florimo
Greg Florimo
Greg Florimo is a retired Australian Rugby League player and administrator known for his lifelong association with the North Sydney Bears both as a player and a manager....
Bill Hamilton Ben Ikin
Ben Ikin
Benjamin Ikin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former commentator for the Nine Network now employed by One HD...
Ken Irvine
Ken Irvine
Kenneth John Irvine was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216...
Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson (rugby league)
Peter Jackson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative back, he played club football in both Queensland and New South Wales as well as a season in England...
Les Kiss
Les Kiss
Les Kiss is an Australian former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League, former rugby league coach and current rugby union coach.- Playing career :...
Brian Williams
Brian Williams
Brian Douglas Williams is the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, the evening news program of the NBC television network, a position he assumed in 2004...
Gary Larson Denis "Dinny" Lutge
Denis Lutge
Denis "Dinny" Lutge was a pioneer Australian rugby league and rugby union player, a dual-code international...
Don McKinnon
Don McKinnon (rugby league)
Don McKinnon is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played for the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership as well as the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, and represented New South Wales and Australia...
Billy Moore
Billy Moore (rugby league)
Billy Moore is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. Usually playing at lock, he represented Queensland and Australia....
Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the European Super League team, Hull, and previously of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. He also previously played for the North Sydney Bears, the ill fated Northern Eagles and the Bulldogs...
Jason Taylor Duncan Thompson
Duncan Thompson
Duncan Fulton Thompson MBE was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and administrator...
Dean Widders
Dean Widders
Dean Richard Widders , an Indigenous Australian, is a former professional rugby league player.-Childhood:...
Billy Wilson
New South Wales Mitchell Pearce
Mitchell Pearce
Mitchell Pearce is an Australian rugby league footballer currently playing for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League...
^
New Zealand Fred Ah Kuoi
Fred Ah Kuoi
Fred "Freddie" Ah Kuoi is a former New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country.-Early years:...
Clayton Friend
Clayton Friend
Clayton Ivan Friend is a New Zealander former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who at representative level has played for New Zealand, and at club level for Carlisle , North Sydney Bears, and Whitehaven, playing at /, i.e...
Mark Graham
Mark Graham (rugby league)
Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.-Playing career:An Otahahu junior, Graham...
Daryl Halligan
Daryl Halligan
Daryl Halligan is a rugby league football commentator and former professional player. A New Zealand international winger, he was the pre-eminent goal-kicker of his era, retiring as the highest point scorer in Australian premiership history...
Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran is a New Zealand rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays as a five-eighth or half-back though he can also play centre...
^
^Did not play first grade for North Sydney, instead played junior representative rugby league for North Sydney after their fold from the NRL
Coaches
- Chris McKivatChris McKivatChristopher Hobart McKivat was an Australian rugby union and rugby league player – a dual-code rugby international. He represented the Wallabies in over 20 Tests and tour matches from 1907 to 1909 and the Kangaroos in 5 Tests from 1910 to 1912...
^ 1921–22 - Jimmy Devereux 1924
- Arthur Edwards 1933
- Frank BurgeFrank BurgeFrank 'Chunky' Burge was one of the greatest forwards in the history of rugby league in Australia. Later he was one of the game's finest coaches....
^ 1935 & 1945 - Laurie WardLaurie WardLaurie Ward was a rugby league player in the Australian New South Wales Rugby League competition in the 1930s, a state and national representative full-back....
1937 - Bob Williams^ 1939
- Arthur HallowayArthur HallowayArthur 'Pony' Halloway , was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer and coach. Born in Sydney, New South Wales he played for the Glebe Dirty Reds , Balmain Tigers and Eastern Suburbs , in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.He was a Half-back for the Australian national...
1940–1941 - Roy Thompson 1941
- Jack O'Reilly 1942
- Frank HydeFrank HydeFrank Hyde, MBE, OAM, was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and radio caller. A New South Wales representative three-quarter, Hyde played his club football in Sydney for NSWRFL Premiership clubs Newtown, Balmain and North Sydney...
1943–1944 & 1950 - Harry Forbes 1946
- Cliff PearceCliff PearceCliff Pearce was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1920s and '30s. His primary position was as a centre.He first played for Western Suburbs in 1929 where he played 65 games between 1929 and 1937, scoring nineteen tries and kicking six goals. During his time at Western Suburbs Pearce...
1947–1948 - Harry McKinnon 1949
- Laurie Doran, 1951
- Ross McKinnonRoss McKinnonRoss McKinnon was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the University, Eastern Suburbs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
^ 1952–53 & 1959 - Rex Harrison 1954–1955
- Bruce Ryan^ 1956
- Trevor AllanTrevor AllanTrevor Allan OAM was an Australian dual-code rugby international who captained Australia in rugby union before switching to rugby league with English club Leigh.-Rugby union club career:...
1957–1958 - Greg HawickGreg HawickGreg Hawick was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. A fine utility back for the champion South Sydney Rabbitohs teams of the 1950s and a representative player in the Australian national side, he was named at five-eighth in the Australian 1950s rugby league team of the...
1960–1985 - Bob Sullivan 1961–1962
- Fred GriffithsFred GriffithsFred Griffiths is a former rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s. He played club football in England for Wigan and in Australia for North Sydney, and also represented the South Africa national rugby league team....
1963–66 - Billy Wilson 1967
- Colin "Col" Greenwood 1968
- Roy Francis^ 1968–1970
- Merv HicksMerv HicksMervyn J. Hicks is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s. He played rugby union club football in Wales for the Cross Keys RFC, rugby league club football in Britain for Doncaster, Warrington, St...
1971–1972 - Noel KellyNoel Kelly (rugby league)Noel Kelly is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach, who played at club, state and national level. He has been named amongst the country's finest footballers of the 20th century...
^ 1973–76 - Bill Hamilton 1977–1978
- Tommy BishopTommy BishopTommy Bishop is an English former rugby league footballer and coach of the 1960s and 70s. He played for St. Helens in the English Rugby Football League Championship and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
^ 1979 - Ron WilleyRon WilleyRon Willey was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative for the Australian national side. Post-playing, Willey had a long and successful first grade and State representative coaching career.-Club career:...
^ 1980–82 - Greg HawickGreg HawickGreg Hawick was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. A fine utility back for the champion South Sydney Rabbitohs teams of the 1950s and a representative player in the Australian national side, he was named at five-eighth in the Australian 1950s rugby league team of the...
1982–1985 - Brian Norton 1985–86
- Frank StantonFrank Stanton (rugby league)Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles...
^ 1987–89 - Steve MartinSteve Martin (rugby league)Steve Martin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative player at both state and international levels and played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Balmain Tigers...
^ 1990–92 - Peter Louis^ 1993–99
- Keiran Dempsey^ 1999
^ Did not play first grade for Norths
Club Records
5 Biggest Wins- 62 points, 62–0 against North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
at North Sydney OvalNorth Sydney Oval-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
on 23 August 1998 - 54 points, 60–6 against North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
at North Sydney OvalNorth Sydney Oval-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
on 16 April 1995 - 52 points, 64–12 against Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football 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...
at North Sydney OvalNorth Sydney Oval-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
on 30 May 1999 - 52 points, 55–3 against PenrithPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
at North Sydney OvalNorth Sydney Oval-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
on, 16 July 1978 - 45 points, 45–0 against Cumberland at Wentworth ParkWentworth ParkWentworth Park is a multi-purpose sporting facility in the suburb of Glebe in New South Wales, Australia.that is used for various sports including rugby union, rugby league, soccer and greyhound racing. Wentworth Park is located 2 kilometres from the Sydney central business district...
on 25 July 1908
Biggest Loss
- 56 points, 3–59 against Glebe at Wentworth ParkWentworth ParkWentworth Park is a multi-purpose sporting facility in the suburb of Glebe in New South Wales, Australia.that is used for various sports including rugby union, rugby league, soccer and greyhound racing. Wentworth Park is located 2 kilometres from the Sydney central business district...
on 17 July 1915.
Highest Points
- 64 points, Norths defeated Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football 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...
64–12 at North Sydney OvalNorth Sydney Oval-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
on 30 May 1999.
Highest Score Conceded
- 60 points, Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
defeated Norths 60–6 at QSAC Stadium on 26 April 1998.
Most Consecutive Wins
- 9 matches, 24 July 1920 – 14 May 1921
- 9 matches, 13 June – 14 August 1994
Most Consecutive Losses
- 12 matches, 3 June – 26 August 1979
Club Honours
Premierships: (2) 1921, 1922Runners-Up: (1) 1943
Minor Premierships: (2) 1921, 1922
Finals Appearances: 1908, 1921, 1922, 1928, 1935, 1936, 1943, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1964, 1965, 1982, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Undefeated Season: 1921 (8 games: 7 wins 1 draw)
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
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
Midweek Cup [as Amco Cup]: Runners-Up: 1976
Channel 10 Challenge Cup: Winners: 1978
Australian Internationals
- George Ambrum 1972
- Martin BellaMartin BellaMartin Bella is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A prop forward, he achieved national and state representation and played club football for various teams in Queensland, New South Wales and England. He is of Italian descent....
1986–1989 - Tom Berecry 1911–1912
- Cec BlinkhornCec BlinkhornCecil Blinkhorn was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1910s and 20s. He played in the NSWRFL premiership for the North Sydney and South Sydney clubs, and also represented New South Wales and Australia...
1921–1922 - Albert Broomham 1909–1912
- Michael BuettnerMichael BuettnerMichael Buettner is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played club football for the North Sydney Bears, the ill fated Northern Eagles, Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers, as well as representative football for New South Wales and for the Australian national...
1996 - Brian CarlsonBrian CarlsonBrian Carlson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a centre & utility back for the Australia national team. He played in 17 Tests and 6 World Cup games between 1952 and 1961, as captain on 2 occasions...
1958–1961 - Tedda CourtneyTedda CourtneyEd "Tedda" Courtney was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer and Coach. He played club football for the North Sydney Bears, Western Suburbs Magpies and representative football for the New South Wales state and Australian national sides...
1910 - Arch CrippinArch CrippinArch Crippin was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1930s. A New South Wales interstate and Australian international representative winger, he played his whole club career with the North Sydney Bears.-Early life and club career:...
1936 - Brett DallasBrett DallasBrett Dallas is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative winger, his club career included stints with both Canterbury and North Sydney in Australia's domestic competition, and the Wigan Warriors...
1996 - Sid DeaneSid DeaneSid Deane was a foundation Australian rugby league player. He was a Centre for the Australia national team. He played in 5 Tests between 1908 and 1914. In 1914 he became the ninth Australian national captain and the first from the North Sydney Club....
1908–1914 - Jim DevereuxJim DevereuxJim Devereux was an Australian rugby league footballer of the earlier 20th Century. A New South Wales and Australian international representative three-quarter back, he played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership from its first season in 1908 for the North Sydney club.The son...
1908–1909 - Peter DiversiPeter DiversiPeter Diversi was an Australian rugby league player for the North Sydney Bears and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
1954–1955 - David FairleighDavid FairleighDavid Fairleigh is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played the majority of his club football in Australia for the North Sydney Bears, winning 1994's...
1994–1996 - Greg FlorimoGreg FlorimoGreg Florimo is a retired Australian Rugby League player and administrator known for his lifelong association with the North Sydney Bears both as a player and a manager....
1994–1995 - Nevyl Hand 1948–1949
- Harold HorderHarold HorderHarold Norman Horder was an Australian rugby league player a national and state representative player whose club career was with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears between 1912 and 1924...
1920–1922 - Ben IkinBen IkinBenjamin Ikin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former commentator for the Nine Network now employed by One HD...
1998 - Ken IrvineKen IrvineKenneth John Irvine was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216...
1959–1968 - Clarrie IvesClarrie IvesClarrie Ives was an Australian rugby league player for the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He also played for New South Wales and Australia. His position of choice was at prop-forward and his younger brother Bill Ives was also a rugby league player...
1921–1922 - Peter JacksonPeter Jackson (rugby league)Peter Jackson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative back, he played club football in both Queensland and New South Wales as well as a season in England...
1991–1992 - Les KissLes KissLes Kiss is an Australian former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League, former rugby league coach and current rugby union coach.- Playing career :...
1986 - Gary Larson 1995–1997
- Dinny Lutge 1908–1909
- Ken McCafferyKen McCafferyKen McCaffery is an Australian former rugby league footballer, commentator and administrator. He started playing first grade rugby league with Sydney's Easts club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1948. After three seasons with them he was persuaded to move to Toowoomba by...
1957 - Don McKinnonDon McKinnon (rugby league)Don McKinnon is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played for the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership as well as the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, and represented New South Wales and Australia...
1982 - Keith Middleton 1950
- Billy MooreBilly Moore (rugby league)Billy Moore is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. Usually playing at lock, he represented Queensland and Australia....
1995–1997 - Andy Morton 1908–1909
- Fred Nolan 1937–1938
- Herman PetersHerman PetersHerman Peters was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1920s. An international representative centre, he played his club football with North Sydney in the NSWRFL premiership....
1921–1922 - Tim PickupTim PickupTimothy Alexander Pickup was an Australian Rugby League player for the North Sydney Bears, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and Australian national side in the 1970's...
1972–1974 - Con SullivanCon SullivanCon Sullivan was a New Zealand international rugby league footballer of the early twentieth century who played for various Australasian representative sides.-Playing career:...
1910–1914 - Bob Sullivan 1954
- Duncan ThompsonDuncan ThompsonDuncan Fulton Thompson MBE was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and administrator...
1919–1922 - Roy Thompson 1937–1938
- Laurie WardLaurie WardLaurie Ward was a rugby league player in the Australian New South Wales Rugby League competition in the 1930s, a state and national representative full-back....
1937–1938 - Lloyd Weier 1965–1966
- Billy Wilson 1963
Supporters
North Sydney Bears supporters had traditionally been described as "long-suffering". One notable fan is Joe HockeyJoe Hockey
Joseph Benedict "Joe" Hockey , is an Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of North Sydney for the Liberal Party of Australia since 1996....
, Federal politician.