A season worth celebrating, a team worth recognising and a night to remember.
On a beautiful spring evening, players, coaches, staff, sponsors and partners came together to celebrate a season that gave the Bears plenty to be proud of. It was an opportunity to reflect on the journey and recognise the people who made the 2026 season so special. A season defined by determination, resilience and grit. It was also a particularly significant evening for the club, with the inaugural ‘Greg Florimo Medal’ presented for the very first time.
The celebrations began at King Street Wharf in Barangaroo, where the stunning MV Bella Vista was ready to set sail for the evening. With sparkly dresses, sleek tailored suits and plenty of excitement in the air, our guests stepped aboard and settled in for a night of celebration. With drinks flowing, photographs being taken and plenty of stories from the season being shared, the atmosphere quickly filled with excitement. As the buffet opened and guests took their seats, attention soon turned towards the stage and the formalities ahead.
Guiding everyone through the evening was North Sydney Bears Football Operations Manager and emcee, Daniel Hutton, who kept the night moving while giving each moment the recognition it deserved.
Daniel welcomed the room before inviting Deputy Chairman Peter McGrath to the stage. Peter took the opportunity to thank the people who continue to make the Bears what they are, our sponsors, players and coaching staff, before looking ahead to what the future holds for both the North Sydney and Perth Bears in 2027.
The evening then provided an opportunity to recognise the players who had reached incredible milestones in the famous red and black. NSWRL CEO David Trodden and Bears Head Coach Leon Latulipe took to the stage to present these awards.
Leon also took the opportunity to acknowledge the people who had shared the journey with him. He thanked his players, coaching staff and the club for a wonderful season before highlighting an achievement that deserves enormous recognition, reaching 50 games for the Bears and 100 games at NSW Cup level.
Five players reached the 50 game milestone for the Bears in 2026, a significant achievement that deserves plenty of recognition. Congratulations to Matt Stimson, Phil Makatoa, Jayden Yates, Coby Thomas and Jake Toby on reaching the milestone. Pulling on the Bears jersey for the first time is a proud moment, but reaching 50 appearances reflects the dedication, commitment and consistency required to build a lasting career at the club.
The achievements continued throughout the season, with three players reaching 100 NSW Cup games. Playing NSW Cup is an achievement in itself, with fewer than 0.5% of players making it to this level. To then reach 100 NSW Cup games represents years of hard work, consistency and dedication to the game. Congratulations to Phil Makatoa, Tui Katoa and Matt Stimson on reaching this milestone, an outstanding achievement that places them among a select group of players to have reached this level.
Following a quick Q&A with the milestone players, it was time for the first round of major awards.
Congratulations to the following winners on your well deserved awards:
Coaches Award: Matthew French
Coaches Commitment Award: Josh Finau
CIP Corporate Interior Projects Players’ Player: Phillip Makatoa
Jason Taylor Medallion: Kieran Hayman
Ken Irvine Medallion: Abiarthur Toi Tuilaepa
Each award represented something different, but together they told the story of what this group valued throughout the season, hard work, commitment, leadership, consistency and an unwavering dedication to the team.
There was then a short break in the formalities, with the dessert buffet opening and guests enjoying custom Bears donuts and fresh fruit. It was a chance for everyone to grab a drink, head outside onto the boat and catch up before the second half of the awards began.
As the formalities resumed, Club Captain Coby Thomas reflected on the 2026 season, speaking about the challenges the group faced and, most importantly, the strong bond that developed between the players throughout the year. His honest words highlighted that the season was about more than the final result, with the connection and support within the group making it such a memorable year.
Wellbeing, Education and Community Manager Greg Florimo then turned the focus to the work happening beyond the field, recognising Mary’s House Services, the Captain’s Pledge and the Community Partners Round. He also acknowledged the club’s leadership group and the important role they played throughout the year. Greg then took a moment to recognise three people who have become an important part of the Bears family, interns Billy and Brock and work experience student Ollie. Throughout the season, they became familiar faces around the club, contributing across merchandise, membership, team training, event coordination and home game day operations at North Sydney Oval. Thank you again, Billy, Brock and Ollie, for everything you have contributed to the Bears this season!
Daniel announced the highly coveted 2026 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Member & Fan Voted Player of the Year Award. Hundreds of votes poured in throughout the voting period, with the lead constantly changing. In the end, it came down to just four votes. Taking out the award was the player affectionately known by Bears fans as “The Ice Man” , Kieran Hayman. A well-deserved recognition from the Bears community, who showed their support throughout the season.
The Club Person of the Year was next, an award that recognises someone who has gone above and beyond for the mighty red and black. This year, that person was Mary Finkelsen. Despite facing personal challenges throughout the season, Mary continued to give everything she had to the club. Whether it was merchandise, membership, game days or events, she consistently stepped up, put in the work and found another way to help. Congratulations, Mary!
And then came the moment that gave the evening its own piece of history.
The final award of the night was the inaugural Greg Florimo Medal, a new honour that will now become part of the Bears’ history for years to come. With Greg invited to the stage to present the medal himself, it was a fitting moment to mark the beginning of a new tradition at the club. Jake Toby was named the inaugural recipient of the Greg Florimo Medal following an outstanding 2026 season, becoming the first player to have his name etched into the history of this new club honour. Congratulations Jake!
With the formalities complete, there was nothing left to do but celebrate!
The rest of the evening was spent surrounded by teammates, coaches, staff, sponsors and partners, sharing plenty of laughs, reflecting on the season and enjoying the final moments of a year that gave everyone plenty to be proud of.
While the 2026 season may have ended sooner than the Bears had hoped, the story of this group is about far more than how it finished. It was a season built on perseverance and defined by the people who continued to show up, push forward and stand by one another through every challenge.
The 2026 season is officially in the books, but the journey doesn’t end here. With the off-season now underway, the Bears can look ahead to what promises to be an exciting 2027!
