The North Sydney Bears have emerged from an enforced 26-year hibernation in what is the best news story of the year.
Joining the likes of the return of the Rabbitohs and the emergence of the Dolphins, the Bears are back in 2027.
The Perth Bears will unite the traditional foundation club supporters with new and existing fans from W.A. in what promises to be a powerhouse partnership. Well, when they get a coach and players.
The Bears have not played NRL since last century. Here are my memories of the Red and Black (and sometimes White).
North Sydney started as the Shoremen in 1908 before changing names to the Bears due to sponsorship from the Big Bear supermarket in 1959.
In their existence they won back to back premierships in 1921 and 22 with their last grand final appearance in 1943.
That is an entire generation that never saw the Bears play in a Grand Final.
Their best chances were in the 1990s. The Bears were a powerful team but failed to progress past the GF qualify on four occasions. The pressure of expectation was too much for ever reliable goal kickers Daryl Halligan and Jason Taylor who missed heaps in the preliminary finals.
I remember in 1996, the Bears decided to rest their flying winger Brett Dallas in the preliminary final against St.George Dragons so he would be fresh for the GF against Manly.
That was all the motivation the Dragons forwards needed for that match.
FYI. Brett Dallas went from a grandstand spectator to taking the field in the second half, but, to no avail losing to the Dragons 29-12.
Things would only get worse for the Bears. The Super League truce put pressure and a biased criteria to support some teams over others. The Bears were already in financial strain and looking to relocate to the Central Coast. The State Government had already approved the stadium at Gosford but bad weather caused delays, and it was all too little too late.
Which was a shame as they had the world at their feet if the Club pulled this off. Instead, the failed Northern Eagles merger was the final death knell for the foundation club who became the feeder club for the likes of the Roosters, Warriors, Rabbitohs and Storm in the NSW Cup.
Do you have any memories of the Bears you’d like share? Log in and leave your comments below.
-Rob
The Creator
