0°C | Saturday October 11, 2025 
It’s been a busy off season for the North Sydney Bears as they look to build off their success on and off the field in 2022.
Both of the clubs top squads performed well last year with the men’s NSW Cup making it to week 2 of the finals while the women’s NSW Premiership side took out the minor premiership also falling short in the finals.
The club also debuted in the Under 18s women’s Tarsha Gale Cup and had high numbers of local juniors selected in their Harold Matthews and Jersey Flegg junior representative competitions.
It was announced late last year that the Norths’ feeder arrangements with the NRL Sydney Roosters would end next season.
The Bears have increased their contracted players by 60% as the club prepares to go it alone.
Off the field the club reported a total of 15,000 fans total attended their home games with their membership base growing by 133%, reaching over 500% growth in the last 5 years.
The Bears also had promising developments in their bid to rejoin the NRL after they secured $15m in partner pledges as well as entering early talks with Western Australia on a combined
bid for the 18th license.
With the women’s premiership already underway we caught up with head coach Rob Capizzi. Rob played his junior footy with Souths but in 2018 he became an assistant for the Bears inaugural NSW Women’s Premiership season before stepping up into the head coaching role the following season.
Looking forward to the season ahead Rob said the squad is focusing heavily on defence. “We worked really hard in the preseason on driving our defence hard. We were probably the best defensive team in the comp. You will always win comps based on your defence.”
Last season ended with the minor premiership but with a early exit from the finals.
“We looked like a good footy team. There were aspects where we had errors, but that’s footy. I really enjoyed watching the girls play footy, they played a good brand and were really tough,” Capizzi told the Sun in reflection about last year.
He believes player retention has been crucial in the effort to continue last season’s moment: “The players who have remained with us are really going to make the difference this year.”
Capizzi highlighted young front rower Kalosipani Hopoate as one to watch this season. “She impressed us all with what she was doing last year but I feel like she is going to take it to the next level this season.” Kalosipani comes from a long line of Rugby League talent with father John as well as brothers Will and Albert all having played NRL.
At only age 19, she has also represented Tonga internationally.
Also returning is New Zealand international and Sydney Rooster NRLW star Raecene Mcgregor.
Cassey Tohi-Hiku will also be back for the Bears with Capizzi planning a switch to fullback for the NRLW talent.
As for the new talent coming to the club, transfers mainly focussed on bolstering the squads forward pack. Sydney Roosters NRLW and NSW Blues front rower Sarah Togatuki has joined the club and is hoping to provide veteran leadership.
“I just want to lead, especially for the younger generations… I want to share my experience with the girls. I know what it was like not having the knowledge or the coaching around to learn from. I really want to play my best footy and I feel like I haven’t yet, so I’m keen to do it for the Bears,” Togatuki said.
Norths have also added sisters Fatafehi and Filmina Hanisi to their roster from Wests. Fatafehi has played NRLW for the Dragons and represented NSW in the U19’s state of origin. Older sister Filomina also has NRLW experience with Parramatta, where she also represented NSW.
Capizzi says defence will still be a top focus for the squad this year but also wants to improve the team’s ability to play the full 80 minutes.
“If we look back on what we did not so well in key games last year it was losing concentration for little periods of the game. I think if we can hold our concentration, it will be difficult to beat our girls,” he said.
The season kicked off on February 4th on the right foot for the Bears, topping Newcastle 30-20 thanks to a double from Jakiya Whitfeld.
Bears fans will have to wait until the weekend of the 15th and 16th April to see their sides at North Sydney Oval. Both top squads will take on South Sydney with the women on Saturday and the men on Sunday.