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.
Contents
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
Most points for club
Most tries for club