Burleigh Bears notch up 500 Intrust Super Cup games

Burleigh Bears will celebrate a massive 500 Intrust Super Cup games in Round 1 against Norths Devils on Sunday. 

Bears CEO Damian Driscoll said since the club's first game in 1997, they had fielded numerous star players and enjoyed plenty of success, including their three premiership wins; in 1999, 2004 and 2016. 

"I'm certainly proud of all of the achievements we've made as a club and as individuals," Driscoll said.

Shane O'Flanagan played the most games for the Bears, at 201, followed by current Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup assistant coach Ali Brown (160), Martin Griese (146), Ryan Gundry (139) and Robert Apanui (135). 

The most stand-out player for the club has been Reggie Cressbrook, who scored 964 points during his time; he crossed the try line 69 times, scoring the most amount of tries for the club alongside Trent Purdon. 

Current Intrust Super Cup star Jamal Fogarty is the club's fourth most prolific points scorer, having scored 442 points.

Rick Stone coached 209 Intrust Super Cup games for the club, with an impressive 70.8 per cent win rate; he is the second most capped Intrust Super Cup coach behind Wayne Treleaven, who coached 218. 

Current coach Jim Lenihan is not far behind, having coached 192 games. 

Lenihan said reaching 500 games was "a wonderful achievement for the club".

"And for everyone who has put their time and effort in from its inception right through to now," Lenihan said.

"Hopefully what we're currently doing now makes everyone proud of the club."

Lenihan said he looked forward to celebrating the milestone with players - past at present - when the Bears faced Ipswich Jets at Pizzey Park in Round 2.