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]
 | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Burleigh Heads Rugby League Football Club Ltd. |
| Nickname(s) | The Bears |
| Colours | Maroon White |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Website | burleighbearsrlfc.com |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
|
| CEO | Damian Driscoll |
| Coach | Luke Burt |
| Captain | Sami Sauiluma |
| Competition | Queensland Cup |
| 2024 season | 7th |
 Current season | |
| Records | |
| Premierships (2nd grade) | 4 (1999, 2004, 2016, 2019) |
| Runners-up (2nd grade) | 3 (2003, 2005, 2023) |
| 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 capped | 201 – Shane O'Flanagan |
| Highest try scorer | 69 – Reggie Cressbrook |
| Highest points scorer | 964 – 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 three times (2003, 2004 and 2023). 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 Brisbane Broncos.
History
editFormed 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 had an affiliation with the Titans between 2007 and 2023. 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
editQueensland Cup
edit- 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)
Honours
editQueensland Cup
edit- Premierships: 4
- Runners Up: 2
- Minor Premiership: 2
Records
editMost games for club
- 201, Shane O'Flanagan
- 160, Ali Brown
- 146, Martin Griese
- 139, Ryan Gundry
- 135, Robert Apanui
Most points for club
- 964, Reggie Cressbrook
- 761, Nick Parfitt
- 660, Jamal Fogarty
- 486, Greg Bourke
- 462, Josh Rogers
- 276, Trent Purdon
Most tries for club
- 70, Kurtis Rowe
- 69, Reggie Cressbrook
- 69, Trent Purdon
- 66, Aseri Laing
- 61, Nick Shaw
- 59, Aaron Douglas
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Naming Rights".
- ^ "Burleigh Bears News".
- ^ "League".
- ^ "A 15-year journey leads Stone back to Bears". 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Burleigh Bears and Tweed Seagulls to continue as Gold Coast Titans feeder clubs - QRL". 5 December 2019.