Bears Forever: The tale of the North Sydney Bears

[@JanHeys]

Still hurts all these years later.

[@BulkerPasha]

I thought that I had recovered from those finals losses in the 90s but they’re still raw. Thanks for some tough memories. Bears Forever.

[@michaelbradshaw9110]

Sometimes hard to watch....bear till I die......never give up on them....

[@WarwickGank]

Will u follow them now that they’re going to Perth?!

[@ivandevega2902]

loved the bears since I was kid, Still my team

[@tigerwarsaw99]

Didnt realise how islander dominated NRL is now until you watch old games. Anyway hope to see the Bears back soon.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

This is why I don’t understand why Bears were eventually kicked out & vanished. Now in NSWRL competition, they’re doing well again. My wish is to see them reinstated

[@RugbyLeagueHistory]

North Sydney in the mid 1990s had already made plans to relocate to Central Coast and with the Super League War that accelerated things. In 1998, the NRL told North Sydney that NSO was not up to standard so they spent most of 1999 as a travelling team whilst waiting for the new ground at Gosford to be built. There was a lot of delays building the stadium and at the same time the NRL brought out their criteria for the 14 team competition in 2000. North Sydney basically went broke waiting for the new stadium to be built and that is when the North Sydney board agreed against the fans wishes to merge with Manly who also failed the criteria. Not long after that the stadium was completed. If the stadium had been built earlier, North Sydney would of been celebrating over 20 year up there now and Manly would be a NSW Cup team like Newtown.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

@@RugbyLeagueHistory I agree what happened to the Bears was pure setup and agenda driven. Manly benefits from merger by getting millions of dollars. Then they pissed the merger away to stand alone, because that was the entire motive from the beginning. Bears were expected to fall for this stupidity and then Brad Fittler a sellout of Penrith area for the Chickens (Roosters) wanted Bears to re-establish the merger with Sea Eagles, sorry no 2nd dip. Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns his brother included & all the other hypocrites can go fly a kite. Bears will make their NRL return for two reasons. North Sydney picked the perfect mascot the Bear. The Bear is in hibernation. 2nd Bears were removed because of circumstances you mentioned earlier and it was all done by design. Newtown Jets should be re-established as Adelaide team. Then most of our foundation clubs will be back in NRL. Those Super league leftovers in NRL have now realised why AFL is far more successful and it’s because the retained foundation VFL clubs in relocating them, such as Sydney Swans (STH Melbourne) & Brisbane Lions (Fitzroy). Those clubs when playing away games in Victoria have retained their Victorian supporters.

[@johnanthonycafe2993]

90’s Norths should have won a premiership-as talented as they were they just didn’t go that extra bit when it really mattered.

[@timjirgenson]

Damn shame they’re gone

[@colinmackenzie6277]

But now the Dolphins in the NRL....WHY NOT THE BEARS???? Our Junior Squad is 💪 STRONG

[@NapoleonBonapartepdrquay]

Yeh, so why did they 'suddenly vanish' ? Why don't you tell us that story?

[@RugbyLeagueHistory]

If you watch some of my videos on North Sydney, I explain what happened.

[@absoluteb22]

A corrupt boys club ran the game!

[@isaiahcoe6532]

"Only made them stronger" wtf happened to his accent

[@swinkfilms]

Hah, I never noticed that before! “Stron-gah” 😂

[@isaiahcoe6532]

@@swinkfilms 😂 should have added, great vid as well by the way. Bring back the bears 🐻