North Sydney Bears
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| Full name | North Sydney Bears |
| Colours | Red, White and Black |
| Entered 1st grade | 1908 (foundation club) |
| Departed 1st grade | 1999 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | NSWRL/ARL, NRL, NSWRL Premier League |
| 1999 | 14th of 17 |
| Premierships | 2 - 1921, 1922 |
| Runners-up | 1 -1943 |
| Minor premiers | 2 - 1921, 1922 |
| Wooden spoons | 9 - 1915, 1917, 1919, 1932, 1940, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1979 |
| Biggest win | 62 - 0 vs. North Queensland, August 23, 1998 |
| Worst defeat | 3 - 59 vs. Glebe, July 17, 1915 |
The North Sydney Bears were a former club in the New South Wales Rugby League, the predecessor of the National Rugby League (NRL) as the premier Australian rugby league competition. The club was founded in 1908 and was one of the foundation members in the then New South Wales Rugby League competition. The club departed the top-flight competition in 1999 after a merger with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to form the Northern Eagles. The Bears now compete in the second-tier NSWRL Premier League.
The Bears were traditionally based in Sydney north shore, and have played in North Sydney Oval. Their team colours were red, white and black.
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[edit] History
North Sydney was formed as a foundation club of the newly arrived rugby league game in 1908 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. The North Shore of Sydney is seen to be more of an upper-class than the remainder and the dominating code was the amateur rugby union which, with the foundation of the club, saw a struggle for rights over North Sydney Oval with the local union club. The early days of the club were shaky as many good players such as Denis "Dinny" Lutge, Jimmy Devereaux and Sid Deane were lost to English clubs and in the 1909 season ended up at second last.
They were nearly dropped from the competition during WWI because of dwindling spectator numbers. Towards the end of the war, Norths had started a steady incline in their playing quality and numbers of spectators had increased and won 2 premierships in 1921-1922. Unfortunately, these would be their last premierships and their last grand final appearance was in 1943 when they were flogged by Newtown 34-7. This disappointing state of play continued well through the rest of the century despite a brief revival in the mid to late 1990s until it finally ended when the club was in debt to the tune of $4 million, sparking a joint venture with Manly to form the Northern Eagles which was opposed by many Bears fans.
[edit] Merger Years
After some deliberation, and the signing of most of the Bears younger brigade, the name Northern Eagles was born. The joint venture club played out of North Power Stadium (now Blue Tongue Central Coast Stadium) at Gosford, and Brookvale Oval, but poor on-field performances quickly 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 reverted to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, leaving North Sydney out of the NRL competition.
[edit] NSWRL Premier League
North Sydney currently play in the second-tier NSWRL Premier League competition. There is a movement among Bears' fans for a return to first-grade Rugby League, with the North Sydney Bears relocating to Gosford (on the Central Coast, New South Wales) and becoming the Central Coast Bears. It is widely believed that a team in this part of New South Wales would be highly successful, while others believe the NRL should prioritise other areas of Australia and New Zealand for expansion teams.
[edit] Former Players of Note
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