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NORTH SYDNEY BEARS - HAROLD MATT'S
Captain: TBACoach: Greg Michel
Last Season: 12th (3-5)
Why they will be competitive: If not for a couple of narrow defeats, North Sydney could have made the finals in 2025. Now, with a new coach and a revised strategy, the Bears are well positioned to take the next step.
“We won’t field the biggest side in the competition, but with the changes we’ve made off the field, we expect to be fit and play with high energy,” said coach Greg Michel, who has returned to North Sydney after a year at Balmain.
“Our recruitment has focused on attracting natural competitors in an effort to close the gap between our best and worst performances, and overall we are excited where the squad is at.
“North Sydney doesn’t have a big junior system to draw from, but there’s an exciting crop of around eight locals coming through that have impressed despite being a year-young for the age group.”
Key Fixtures: The Bears hit the road for the opening two rounds and will be eager to open their account in Melbourne against the Storm or in round two against bitter cross-town rivals, Manly, at Brookvale.
Max Tutt in action for the Knights in the Andrew Johns Cup last year. Picture: DC Sports Photography
Players to Watch: Norths have added punch upfront with the arrival of Max Tutt from Newcastle. The big prop played Andrew Johns Cup last season and has impressed in the trials.
Another from Newcastle, Morgan Carter is a running five-eighth with a rugby background who has taken up a scholarship at Knox Grammar. No stranger to league, the excitement machine has also starred in the NSW Koori under-16s.
Xavier Kahika-Cherrington and Zoram-Jhae Watene join from the renowned Queensland rugby league nursery, Marsden State High. Kahika-Cherrington is a controlling dummy-half who has a proven combination with Watene - an elusive ball runner capable of adding strike from fullback or in the halves.
Of the local boys, there’s big wraps on Khobe Tickner from the Asquith Magpies. Still a year young, the hardworking lock is one to keep an eye on.
Summer squad: Bailey Comerford, Billy Simons, Brayden Pearsall, Cash Souter, Charlie Barker, Chase Farrugia, Corey Abou-Touma, Dez Taleni, Dustin Hiscock, Eli Lowe, Ethan Cooper, Filimoto Ngalu, Flynn Comerford, Hank Souter, Jacob Van Tongeren, Jamie Thatcher, Jesse Franze, John Moussa, Jordell Harpas, Joziaiah Fakalangi, Khobe Tickner, Kuanell Fa’alupega-Sene, Lachlan Slapp, Lane Orley, Lucas Vawser, Mason Rawhiti, Matthew Axiak, Max Clifton, Max Tutt, Morgan Carter, Naite Sines-Wainwright, Preston Cunliffe, Qrisnan Silva, Rayne Fale, Sebastian Pei, Silas Smith, Talau Hala, Tom Watkins, Will Tartonne, Xavier Aholahi, Xavier Kahika-Cherrington, Xavier Toomalatai, Zoram-Jhae Watene
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