The Burleigh Bears are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Gold Coast, Australia. They compete in Queensland's top rugby league competition, the Queensland Cup.
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 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.
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.
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. 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)
Honours Queensland Cup Premierships: 5 1999, 2004, 2016, 2019, 2025 Runners Up: 2 2003, 2005 Minor Premiership: 2 2003, 2004, 2022, 2023, 2025
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
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
National Rugby League reserves affiliations List of rugby league clubs in Australia
References
External links Burleigh Bears Official Website QRL Profile