North Sydney was a foundation club of the New South Wales Rugby Football League, formed in 1908. As such, the history of the game in North Sydney is intertwined with the social history of the local area.
Before adopting the name ‘The Bears’, as part of a sponsorship deal with the Big Bear Supermarket in 1959, North Sydney’s players were called ‘The Shoremen’ – referencing the north shore and its working waterfront.
September 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of North Sydney’s second victory at the NSW Rugby League Premiership (1921 and 1922). Unfortunately, Norths have yet to top the first-grade table again.
Key players during the 1921-1922 glory years included legendary winger Harold Horder, alongside teammates Cecil Blinkhorn, Herman Peters, and Duncan Thompson. Their talents, skilfully directed by coach Chris McKivat, led the team to victory following a disastrous 1919 season.
The disruption caused by the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge probably contributed to the team’s decline in the 1920s. Over 500 houses were demolished and many of North Sydney’s working-class waterfront neighbourhoods were swept away. This blow was followed soon after by the Great Depression. It took nearly 10 years for ‘The Shoremen’ to regain their form.
Norths enjoyed success in the 1930s and 1940s, but the prize of another premiership eluded them. A crowd of more than 60,000 watched the 1943 grand final, when North Sydney were defeated by Newtown. The formation of the Manly-Warringah team in 1947 seriously eroded North Sydney’s territory for recruiting new players, and the years following were the worst in the club’s history. Club legend Ken Irvine defected to Manly in 1971. This combined with the ill-fated Northern Eagles venture engendered an anti-Manly sentiment that endures to this day.
North Sydney played their final NRL game in 1999 – but Norths fans and players are renowned for their loyalty. With a rebranded franchise known simply as ‘The Bears’, the club is currently exploring partnership options – with Perth among others – in a bid to secure the 18th NRL licence. Amid much speculation, the club has confirmed that it intends to honour its proud heritage and traditional black and red colours. The loyal fan-base is cautiously optimistic.