With a standing ovation William “Billy” Moore was unanimously voted in as the newest North Sydney Bears Life Member at the AGM on Tuesday 26th March 2026.
Dedication by Greg Florimo
It is my honour and pleasure to nominate Billy Moore for Life membership of the North Sydney District rugby League Football Club in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the club, the game of rugby league, and the wider community.
Billy came to the Bears in 1989 and played mostly reserve grade that year, studying for a science degree alongside his footy commitments. He featured in a handful of 1st grade games off the bench and had 2 starting matches. 1989 was not our best year, and as Billy once put it ‘you almost got dropped to first grade’. He went on to play in the winning reserve grade GF that year, a rare accomplishment for any Bears player.
In 1990 the Bears started with a new board, a new coach and a fresh roster, with young guns Fairleigh, Conlon, Soden, Martin, Hall, Alexander, Thompson and one Billy Moore all graduating from that premiership winning team into first grade under Steve Martin. Along with imports Jackson, Fenech, Blake and Halligan, we had a new team and a new winning culture.
Even as a young buck Billy was asserting himself in the team. No one trained harder, he hated to be beaten in anything on or off the field. There was no doubt that he was here to win, and his energy was and is infectious. I instantly took to him as a valued teammate, and over time a valued friend.
1991 saw our first semi final win since beating the Dragons in 1952, defeating Manly at the SFS. We won 1 and lost 2 semis to Penrith and Canberra that year, an extremely tough campaign, and I think it was after that season, after the mad Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday debriefing sessions, that I knew Billy was a Bear forever. And I consolidated that fact with him with many beers over the next 9 years.
Although there was one moment, allegedly, during that period when Billy was coveting a QLD jersey, given that he is a queenslander, he was tempted to Manly by the then QLD origin coach, Graham Lowe. Thankfully, the bears were able to add another title to his business card and retain him, I think he was the Junior district development and recruitment manager at the time, and ultimately going on to make his first appearance with the Maroons in 1992.
I encountered Billy on the Origin stage in 1995, where we went head to head over 3 games. The banter in the North Sydney dressing rooms over this 6 week period was gold, we had Fairleigh, Seers and myself for NSW and Moore, Larson and Hearn for QLD, so the stakes were high. NSW were specials to win with Johns, Fittler, Harragon, Menzies against a team of self named Nevilles nobodies, given the ARL had ruled that Super League players were ineligible to play. Qld, went on to win the series 3-0, but it was game 2 at MCG that we saw the fruits of Billy’s boxing training come to fruition, with a 3 minute sparring session against David Barnhill outside of the field of play. The main blue had started and finished in field and still Billy and Barhill went at it, throwing haymakers with none landing. We all stopped and just stared at what looked like a drunken bar fight. Media at the time put the fight down to. The fight was a result of the ongoing conflicts between the Australian Rugby League and Super League, which led to the ineligibility of Super League-aligned players for the State of Origin selection. But that was incorrect. it was down to 1 word – Queenslander. A word that has become synonymous with Bill Moore. On that night, at the very first scrum, out it came. Our instructions were to ‘nip it in the bud’ if we heard it and so it was on. Probably not the way Billy tells the story, but bloody good fun. And fun it was with Bill. As much as we worked hard, we had fun along the way.
You will hear Bill talk about his passion and love for the Bears, which is easy for anyone to say. I will admit that on the passion scale, Billy blows it up. But it is all genuine, all real, no bullshit. His efforts on the field were testament to that, giving 100% every minute of every game. But it his recent efforts doing the hard yards for the club off the field, relentlessly pushing for re-inclusion, asking the tough questions and going into bat for us at every opportunity. To have a Billy Moore, an educated, articulate, media savvy, not to be messed with voice representing our club, was a massive assist in bringing the Perth Bears to reality.
Billy Moore is one of the most iconic figures to have represented North Sydney. 211 games for this great club, 17 SOO and 3 tests for Australia. A powerful and uncompromising forward, he is known for his leadership, work ethic, and passion. His performances consistently demonstrated toughness and commitment, helping elevate the club to multiple finals campaigns during a competitive era of rugby league. Billy Moore’s legacy at North Sydney extends far beyond statistics. He embodies the heart, pride, and tradition of the Bears. His leadership combined with his enduring connection to the club, has left an indelible mark on our history. His continued advocacy for rugby league values, his service to the community, and his unwavering association with the North Sydney Bears make him a most deserving candidate for Life Membership.
In recognition of his exceptional service, leadership, and lasting contribution both on and off the field, I strongly recommend that Billy Moore, born 7th May 1971 in Tenterfield NSW, be awarded Life Membership of the North Sydney District Rugby League Football Club.
