On Saturday night the team entered “The Fortress” of Brookvale Oval to take on our old foes, Manly Sea Eagles, for the first time in 9 years. The home team dominated the first half with Bears struggling to attack with only 40% ball possession and allowing 3 converted tries to go through. Losing our fullback Jake Toby only 9 minutes into the game to a vicious head high tackle that saw him hospitalised, requiring surgery and the Sea Eagle player sinbinned, did not help the team settle into the game. Jesse Marschke broke the Bears drought with a line break that saw him charge for the corner, nearly tripped up but finding the white line. The sideline conversion was waved away. At the half time mark the team was down 18 – 4 and a huge task loomed.

Remaining positive and focused on making tackles and set completion, the team began to change the tide from the kickoff. As the NRL crowd coming to watch Sea Eagles v Broncos began to build, Bears began the fight back and, although nail-biting, it was clinical. Only a few minutes after the second half kickoff, Bears swiftly attack with Marschke moving a quick ball to Coby Thomas who backs himself and barges over the line. Another missed conversion saw the score creep up by four points. Less than five minutes later the fast attacking line is on again as Bears sweep the ball towards the hill side. Israel Ogden breaks the defensive line, offloading to Tui Katoa who adds the four points. The opposition team is starting worry about the creeping Bear attack and points to the posts when awarded a penalty from a dangerous tackle at the 51-minute mark. We now have an eight-point differential, and the Bears need to score twice to take the lead. With twenty-five minutes on the clock, Sea Eagles drop the ball and Israel Ogden quickly scoops it up to ground under the posts. Matt Stimson converts from in front and the score edges closer at 20 – 18. With 9 minutes remaining, the Bears trail by two points, having denied the Sea Eagles any second half tries through intense and thorough defence. With Bears momentum building, Jayden Yates makes a break, dummies to find the gap and scores under the posts. Trey Brown converts to hand the hard-fought win to the good guys in front of a strong crowd at 4 Pines Park. Final score Bears 24 – Sea Eagles 20.