Burleigh Bears

The Burleigh Bears are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Gold Coast, Australia.[1] They compete in Queensland's top rugby league competition, the Queensland Cup.[2]

Burleigh Bears
Club information
Full nameBurleigh Heads Rugby League Football Club Ltd.
Nickname(s)The Bears
Colours  Maroon
  White
Founded1934 (1934)
Websiteburleighbearsrlfc.com
Current details
Ground(s)
CEODamian Driscoll
CoachLuke Burt
CaptainSami Sauiluma
CompetitionQueensland Cup
2022 season1st
Current season
Records
Premierships (2nd grade)4 (1999, 2004, 2016, 2019)
Runners-up (2nd grade)2 (2003, 2005)
Minor premierships (2nd grade)4 (2003, 2004, 2022, 2023)
Wooden spoons (2nd grade)0
Premierships (3rd grade)2 (2006, 2015)
Runners-up (3rd grade)4 (2004, 2005, 2010, 2014)
Most capped201 – Shane O'Flanagan
Highest try scorer69 – Reggie Cressbrook
Highest points scorer964 – Reggie Cressbrook

Since their admission to the competition in 1997, the club has appeared in six Grand Finals, winning four (1999, 2004, 2016 and 2019) and won the minor premiership twice (2003 and 2004). The team's leagues club and home ground, Pizzey Park, are located in the Gold Coast suburb of Miami. They currently serve as one of the feeder clubs for the Gold Coast Titans.

History

Formed in 1934 by Bob Singh, originally based out of Rudd Park in Burleigh, the Bears relocated to Currumbin in 1959 after a nine-year cessation. In 1971, they relocated, this time to their current home, Pizzey Park, in Burleigh's neighbouring suburb of Miami.[3]

Originally, the Bears competed in the Gold Coast Group 18 competition, before they were admitted to the state's top competition, the Queensland Cup, in 1997. Rick Stone, coached the Bears for 13 seasons, leading them to two premierships, in 1999 and 2004, before returning to the club in 2020 after his predecessor, Jim Lenihan, was promoted to assistant coach of the Gold Coast Titans.[4]

The Bears have had an affiliation with the Titans since 2007. The Bears briefly became a feeder side to the Brisbane Broncos in 2008, before aligning back to the Titans in 2009. On 6 December 2019, it was revealed the Bears had extended their affiliation agreement with the Titans until the end of the 2022 season.[5] For the 2024 season and beyond, the Bears will return to being a feeder team of the Broncos.

Results

Queensland Cup
  • 1997 – 4th
  • 1998 – 8th
  • 1999 – 3rd (Premiers)
  • 2000 — 4th
  • 2001 – 2nd
  • 2002 – 4th
  • 2003 – 1st (runners-up)
  • 2004 – 1st (Premiers)
  • 2005 – 3rd (runners-up)
  • 2006 – 6th
  • 2007 – 7th
  • 2008 – 6th
  • 2009 – 7th
  • 2010 – 7th
  • 2011 – 7th
  • 2012 – 9th
  • 2013 – 11th
  • 2014 – 7th
  • 2015 – 9th
  • 2016 – 2nd (Premiers)
  • 2017 – 10th
  • 2018 – 2nd
  • 2019 – 3rd (Premiers)

Players
Easts Tigers versus Burleigh Bears at Langlands Park, Brisbane Australia. 20 April 2014.

Honours

Queensland Cup
  • Premierships: 4
1999, 2004, 2016, 2019
  • Runners Up: 2
2003, 2005
  • Minor Premiership: 2
2003, 2004

Records

Most games for club

  • 201, Shane O'Flanagan
  • 160, Ali Brown
  • 146, Martin Griese
  • 139, Ryan Gundry
  • 135, Robert Apanui

Most points for club

Most tries for club

See also

References
  1. "Naming Rights".
  2. "Burleigh Bears News".
  3. "League".
  4. "A 15-year journey leads Stone back to Bears". 26 November 2019.
  5. "Burleigh Bears and Tweed Seagulls to continue as Gold Coast Titans feeder clubs - QRL". 5 December 2019.
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