North Sydney Bears v Parramatta Eels, 22 August 1982 

I watched this game on TV as a kid 35 years ago, and the only thing I could remember was Ray Price screaming "get the other one!" (at 27.45) asking the trainer for new headgear. What I noticed from watching this game in 2017 was: how much they threw the ball around compared to today; I would hate to be tackling Eric Grothe at top speed; it was great to see North Sydney Oval packed for a game of rugby league and, looking at the surface I could see how it got it's nickname "Concrete Park."

Parramatta 25 [Eric Grothe 2, Ray Price 2, Steve Ella tries; Mick Cronin 5 goals] defeated North Sydney 5 [Don McKinnon try; Larry Kelly goal]. David Howitt, North Sydney actually had played finals in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1964 and 1965 during this period. They played in the major semi of 1965 before the great Dragon combination thrashed them 47-7, but could only once win more matches than they lost between 1966 and 1981, and indeed did not qualify for the finals in any grade during that period. Under experienced coach Ron Willey the Bears became tough to beat at “Bear Park” in 1982 but could not match one of the best club teams in modern rugby league history - at the time probably the best since the record-breaking St. George combination noted above. Parramatta's high point was when they won 33 to nil against Easts on Sydney's wettest rugby match day since at least the 1950s in that year's preliminary final - my most wanted historic rugby league game of all.

i was the ball boy for first grade 1980-1987 , a great blast from the past. Where did you get these from?

Apparently Ray Price doesnt speak to Parramatta officials

i attended this game, i was only 19.....

I remember also sitting inside the fence in front of the hill. Crowd just under 17,000. This game was the only home loss of the year for Norths. Certainly missed John Gray and Steve Mayoh too among others. (Burns?) Norths depth was lacking when they lossed a top player like John Gray. At least the greedy protected species (manly)were put in their place by Parramatta that year and the following.

It's an absolute disgrace that North Sydney Bears are not in the NRL today. If it hadn't been for Rupert Murdoch & his News Corporation interfering in the 1990s & the stupid Super League war, North Sydney Bears would still be playing in the NRL. Did the NRL really think that the merger between North Sydney & Manly was going to be a success? Yeah right!!.

Played at Concrete Park.

Hope the North Sydney Bears, Balmain , Wests and Newtown return to the comp. Doubt it very much though.

Thanks for the upload, David!!! Real shame the Bears aren't in the comp. I hope they return one day. Go Parra!!!

I was 3 months old when this game was played. 😅

That pitch! 😊😊

Who was the groundsman/greenkeeper? Great footage to watch but damn that surface looks hard.