BY SCOTT DILLON

As first reported by our own Curtis Woodward, the North Sydney Bears are set to become the NSW Cup feeder to fellow foundation club the Sydney Roosters.

The long term partnership between the Bears and South Sydney Rabbitohs has ended after the Bears went against South Sydney’s wishes and signed former Dally M Medal winner Todd Carney.

Souths threatened to cease the relationship with the Bears if they went ahead with the Carney deal.

It is understood Norths wanted out of the Souths marriage despite another year to run on the agreement. The Bears were paying the Rabbitohs an unconfirmed fee annually.

“The North Sydney Bears see it as a fantastic opportunity to have a player of Todd Carney’s ilk join the club,” Bears chairman Perry Lopez told Fairfax Media. 

I sent Greg Florimo a text message on Friday asking him about North Sydney hooking up with the Roosters. He wrote: "Hi Curtis sorry no comment at the moment". Been told by others it will go ahead. The clubs met last week #IntrustSuperPremiership #NRL

— Curtis Woodward (@woodward_curtis) May 20, 2018

“He will be donning a Bears jersey and playing in the Intrust Super Premiership from next weekend.”

The Bears frustrations had been brewing for some time and wanted more freedom to make club decisions.