2019 Year in Review: Burleigh Bears
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Burleigh Bears had had a stellar 2019 under coach Jim Lenihan.
The team sat in the top three from Round 6 and their never-give-up style saw them beat minor premiers Sunshine Coast Falcons to get to the grand final and take out the competition with a win over Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
With the 2019 Intrust Super Cup season having drawn to a close, we take a look back through the year that was for all 14 clubs to see what went right, what went wrong, and what the clubs may focus on heading into the 2020 season.
The 2019 Year in Review series continues with the Bears.
The season by the numbers
Final position on the ladder
3rd
Regular season
- Won: 17
- Drawn: 0
- Lost: 6
Home and away record
- Home: 9-2
- Away: 8-4
Scoring
- Scored: 663
- Conceded: 304
- For and against: 359
Players in focus
Standout player
Jamal Fogarty was an absolute star. The talented halfback scored 218 points, including 95 goals - the second most in both categories in the Intrust Super Cup behind the Falcons' Todd Murphy. He had the most kicks with 238 and the most 40/20 kicks with five. The 25-year-old also had 22 try assists - the second most in the competition behind Wynnum Manly's Sam Scarlett. Fogarty's talent and consistency saw him win the Petero Civoniceva Medal for the best player in the competition and take out the Bears' Player of the Year.
Tries: 7
Goals: 95
Try assists: 22
Tackles: 546
Tackle efficiency: 88 per cent
Average run metres: 82.7 metres
Best of 2019: Burleigh Bears
Notable player achievements and milestones
- Jamal Fogarty - Petero Civoniceva Medal, Bears Player of the Year, Bears Top Points Scorer
- Troy Leo - Bears Top Try Scorer
- Luke Page - PNG Kumuls honours & 150 Intrust Super Cup games
- Kurtis Rowe - Duncan Hall Medal winner for best player in the Intrust Super Cup grand final
- Sami Sauiluma - Bears Players' Player
- Sam Coster - Bears Coach's Award
- Api Noema-Matenga - Bears Rookie of the Year
- Dylan Phythian -
- Jesse Arthars - XXXX Queensland Residents selection (did not play), NRL debut Gold Coast Titans and signed with Brisbane Broncos for 2020
- Tanah Boyd - Queensland Under 20 selection, signed with Gold Coast Titans
- Pat Politoni - Most tackles for the Bears with 806
Key factor to season result
Never-give-up style
The Bears had a stellar 2019 under coach Jim Lenihan, who has moved on to the Gold Coast Titans. The team sat in the top three from Round 6 and their never-give-up style saw them beat minor premiers Sunshine Coast to get to the grand final and take out the competition with a win over Wynnum Manly.
Looking ahead to 2020
The Bears will be looking to keep their winning momentum going in 2020 under new coach Rick Stone. The two-time Intrust Super Cup premiership-winning coach is no stranger to the Bears, having previously coached over 200 games at the club from 1995 to 2005. In that time he led the club to premierships in 1999 and 2004. The Bears had a talented pool of players this year and if they keep them and continue to foster their younger talent, 2020 is looking bright.
