This development has fast tracked the possible inclusion of an additional team in the national league and speculation amongst media, fans and key stakeholders is once again a buzz. The Bears can confirm that our Chairman and CEO met with Peter V’Landys, Chairman of the ARL Commission, regarding the Bears proposal for readmission in the NRL.
The North Sydney Bears are pleased to announce their 2024Winter Development Squads. Players are selected in consultation with club coaches and the Bears own recruitment officers. All player’s selected from within the district will be under the guidance of Bears representative coaches following a program set by Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Head Coach Pat Weisner.
The North Sydney Bears would like to dedicate our 2024 Indigenous Round, to be held on Sunday 26th May 2024, to those who resided on this land 6,000 years ago, land that is now North Sydney Oval. To those indigenous men, women, boys and girls who have proudly represented the Red and Black, to our local ancestors the Cammeraygal people and to the land on which we play, on this day we acknowledge them.
The stage is all set for the inaugural Beer Footy and Food Festival at North Sydney Oval with rugby league’s most loved characters combining at the iconic venue today, as tickets go on sale one week out from gates opening.
In an historic move, the North Sydney Bears have reached a partnership agreement to establish the Boston Bears for the 2024 USARL season. Previously known as the Boston Thirteens RL, the club will be rebranded as the Boston Bears and will compete in the newly combined USARL competition for the upcoming season beginning in June this year.
It was with great pleasure that Jason Taylor was unanimously voted in as the newest North Sydney Bears Life Member at the AGM on Tuesday 26th March 2024. JT played 147 games for the Bears between 1994 and 1999 as well as being selected on three occasions for the New South Wales and City Origin representative sides. In 1996 JT was awarded the Rothmans Medal for the Best and Fairest Player in the ARL competition.
Our current board ran unopposed at the Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 26th March 2024 at Norths in Cammeray. All seven directors were deemed eligible and therefore elected to comprise the club’s board for the next three years. Congratulations to the elected directors Daniel Dickson (Chairman), Peter McGrath (Vice Chair), Marty Lawson, Justin Owen, Billy Moore, Michael Chetner and Guy Gunasekera. The motion to appoint Tony Crawford as a Sponsor Director was also successful and we welcome Tony to the board also for the next three year. The director positions on the board are all voluntary and unpaid.
“Working in a part-time environment can be very challenging for all players and medical/performance staff managing injuries. This year we are really focusing on working with the players, so they understand how to best manage their injury in their daily lives including in their full-time jobs, alongside setting them up with specific gym and field-based rehab plans.” stated the teams Head Physiotherapist George Davis from Axis Athletic Performance Lab.
“Working in a part-time environment can be very challenging for all players and medical/performance staff managing injuries. This year we are really focusing on working with the players, so they understand how to best manage their injury in their daily lives including in their full-time jobs, alongside setting them up with specific gym and field-based rehab plans.” stated the teams Head Physiotherapist George Davis from Axis Athletic Performance Lab.
Following an update to members at this week’s AGM, the North Sydney Bears have now confirmed that the club will not be registering a team in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership in 2024. Over the last five years our senior women’s program has experienced immense growth including taking out the coveted award of Minor Premiers in both 2022 and 2023, making this a very difficult and disappointing decision for the club. The HNWP competition structure was changed this year by the NSWRL and in consultation with the NRL will run the season alongside the NRLW competition effectively as a feeder (reserve grade) and pathway program.
It’s hard to imagine that we are already closing in on the end of the 2024 Junior Representative season. This Saturday our junior reps teams are spread between Wollongong and Sydney Olympic Park. Our SG Ball and Harold Matthews teams take a trip down the coast to take on Illawarra Steelers at Collegians Sporting Complex and our Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cup squads will brave the Easter Show crowds to play the Newcastle Knights at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence. Last game of the season, go out with a bang Bears!
Although our Knock-On Effect NSW Cup has been able to bring home two solid wins from two games so far this season, the team has been battling numerous injuries. Our medical partner Axis Athletic Performance, who supports the team with physiotherapy, medical and strength & conditioning, updates on the players curent injuries and when they may be able to return to play.
Looking ahead to round 21, we are off to Belmore to take on the Canterbury Bulldogs for round 21. Head Coach Pat Weisner commented “The Bulldogs pushed us all the way 3 weeks ago and are in a battle to make the top 5, so this will be another tough one and we are preparing for another semi-final type game this weekend”. At this point in the season, all the games are big and important. The team have dug deep all year and will need to continue to play with that level of intensity, grit and heart over the next 6 rounds as we close out the regular season of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup. One more away game before we return to Bear Park on Sunday 4th August. Get around the team, show your support and let’s bring this season home in red & black style. Check out the team named to get the job done >>
“Another tough grinding win by the boys at a very tough venue to play at. Souths had their strongest 17 out in months and I thought they defended very well in a very physical game” stated Head Coach Pat Weisner. He continued “We made 10 errors in the first half which was unacceptable, but we turned it around and went 16 sets in a row without an error in the 2nd half to put the game away, despite a late scare in the last 4 mins”. Looking ahead to the big first verse second clash this Saturday in the nation’s capital when we take on the Canberra Raiders, Weisner commented “With the short turnaround this week we need to freshen up, manage our injuries and prepare ourselves for a huge game down there at Belconnen against a full-strength Raiders team”.
This Sunday we head over the bridge to take on the Bunnies in the final of the 2024 Mario Fenech Cup. Bears secured a win in game one and are keen to retain the Cup with another win this Sunday. In the advent of a loss, the winner is decided on aggregate points. The Rabbitohs will be hosting a fun footy arvo at Coogee Oval with a double header of Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup. Check out the team named to pull on the red & black jersey this Sunday >>
After three weeks on the road and a much-needed bye, the team returns to Bear Park this Sunday to take on the Canterbury Bulldogs. Taking on the dogs for the first time this season will be a big test for the boys but great to do it on our home soil. Sixteen rounds now completed and ten regular rounds remaining before the finals begin, the team are keen to continue to maintain a top 5 position on the ladder.
ROUND 15: BEARS v JETS
This Saturday we head into the first game of the 2024 Frank Hyde Shield, played for annually between the Bears and the Jets. The Jets are rampaging at the moment having won their last six games in a row with some very strong team defeats. This will be one big game and an important one for the Bears to retain their position in second place on the comp ladder. Get on down to Henson Park on Saturday afternoon to cheer the boys home for a win. The game will also be live streamed on the official NSWRL TV app. Check out the team named to get the job done >>
Our Knock-On Effect NSW Cup team remain in second place on the ladder after 13 rounds, although with equal points to top placed Canberra Raiders who has already had 2 bye rounds. This Sunday we go up against the Penrith Panthers, kicking off at 1.40pm at BlueBet Stadium. The game will be live streamed on the official NSWRL TV app. Check out the team named to get the job done >>
Our Knock-On Effect NSW Cup team are currently sitting in second place on the ladder after 12 rounds, although with equal points to both 1st and 3rd. The top 5 spots are hotly contested, and the second half of the season will bring some big moments that will influence the comp ladder. This Sunday we go up against the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, kicking off at 3pm at HE Laybutt Field. No live stream this weekend, come on out and cheer on the lads. Check out the team named to get the job done >>
This will quite possibly be the biggest game day that the Bears have seen at North Sydney Oval in decades, and we want to share this moment with all of our mighty red & black fans. Come on down, fill the hill and let’s send a message to everyone watching, the NRL, the media, the potential sponsors and the hundreds of thousands of hibernating Norths fans, that our club is ready for the topflight. Get your tickets now via the link below or on game day at the gate (if not sold out prior), wear the Bear and cheer on your team at the home of the Bears. 2024 Bears Members with select game day access, please check your inbox for your exclusive link to redeem your complimentary game day ticket.
This will quite possibly be the biggest game day that the Bears have seen at North Sydney Oval in decades, and we want to share this moment with all of our mighty red & black fans. Come on down, fill the hill and let’s send a message to everyone watching, the NRL, the media, the potential sponsors and the hundreds of thousands of hibernating Norths fans, that our club is ready for the topflight. Get your tickets now via the link below or on game day at the gate (if not sold out prior), wear the Bear and cheer on your team at the home of the Bears. 2024 Bears Members with select game day access, please check your inbox for your exclusive link to redeem your complimentary game day ticket.
Speaking with Head Coach, Pat Weisner, post-game he stated “Absolutely awful conditions meant that the game was always going to be low scoring, tight and down to a bounce of the ball or 50/50 decision. We defended very well again, and were never behind in the match. We spent the whole game protecting our lead, which we did successfully until the final play of the game”. Weisner went on to comment “Also very disappointed that we gave the Roosters so many opportunities in the last 15 mins due to our errors, but the weather had such a huge impact on this game that it’s difficult to take much out of it other than the point we got for the draw. We move on hoping for a dryer track this week.”. This Sunday we go again and head back to Bear Park for Mother’s Day as we take on the Parramatta Eels, kick off at 3pm. Pop it in the diary now and see you there! Check out the team named to pull on a red & black jersey this weekend >>
This Sunday we go again and return back to Bear Park to take on the second place Canberra Raiders for our ANZAC Round. Weisner has the team working hard at training this week and commented “We need to improve our defence this weekend and if we can do that, I’m confident we can cause an upset vs the Raiders”. Now it’s time for Bears fans, young and old, to come on out to North Sydney Oval to cheer the boys home to a win.
