Despite being crowned Minor Premiers, the North Sydney Bears were unable to convert in the NSW Cup Grand Final, falling to a 22-18 defeat against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Sunday afternoon at CommBank Stadium.
A brave grand final performance from the Bears that saw them leading with just five minutes to play wasn’t enough to prevent defeat at the death in a thrilling contest that contained seven tries and a total of 40 points scored.
The Bears opened the scoring in the fifth minute through winger Alfred Smalley but were pegged back just 10 minutes later when South Sydney prop Shaquai Mitchell muscled his way over underneath the uprights.
The electric Jesse Marschke restored North Sydney’s lead with a tricky solo effort after 25 minutes, but a response from Souths back rower Ethan O’Neill who grounded a grubber in the in-goal ensured the scores would be level at 12-apiece heading into the break.
It was the Rabbitohs who started the second half stronger, with Tom Carr finding the line in the 51st minute to give his side their largest lead of the game.
Bears back-rower Reuben Porter slid over in the 68th minute to hand his side a narrow 18-16 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, setting up an enthralling grandstand finish.
North Sydney hearts were broken with less than five minutes remaining when South Sydney winger Tyrone Munro latched onto a cut-out pass from Blake Taaffe to stroll over untouched in the corner, securing the victory for the Rabbitohs.
The grand final marks the end of the North Sydney Bears five-year stint as a Sydney Roosters' feeder club, rounding off a fruitful partnership with one of the Bears' best seasons as an NSW Cup side to date.
