Unbeaten all season, the Bears were never in serious trouble after fullback Richard Clegg crossed for a soft try after just three minutes.

When five-eighth Abel Carney converted from the sideline it appeared all the Bears were on song.

While the Bulldogs hit back to equalise at 6-all after five-eighth DJ Smith shimmied his way through the Bears defence to set up captain Trent Hilton for a marvellous try, it was almost all the Bulldogs could produce in a lopsided first half.

The Bears added four more tries to blow it out to 30-6 after Shane Wadwell had scored twice in a dominant display.

DJ Smith got up off the deck after a brutal Bear tackle to score a fine individual try just a few seconds before halftime and give the Bulldogs a little hope but Brock Wadwell’s backhand flick to big Bill Jeffery enabled the prop to slide over just after halftime and restart the Bears parade.

Brock Wadwell added two more as he tantalised the Bulldogs with a man of the match performance, Shaun Ferguson dived over for a deserving try and then big centre Brad Marshall raced 60m down the western touchline to score under the posts with three minutes left to complete a big day for the Bears.

In between, Smith created a try for Ollie Neader, filling in on the wing, but that was it for the Bulldogs.

They were outgunned in every department by a fitter and faster side.

Gunnedah  coach Shane Rampling admitted “they were too good”.

“They got the bounce of the ball but we handed over too much possession,” he said.

“We competed in patches but weren’t good enough on the day. 

“A few calls didn’t go our way but we can’t blame the refs for the scoreline.

“Our boys were out on their feet at the end.

“It just wasn’t our day.”

North coach Brad McManus was “over the moon”.

“These blokes just worked so hard for that all year,” McManus said.

“To go through undefeated topped it all off.

“I thought we started worse than the major semi but once we settled down we were right.

“And I had no doubt about this team – they are a great bunch of blokes with great character.”

McManus had won first grade premierships as a player with Warialda (1999), Mayfield (2000) and West Tamworth (2001) but “this was my first as a first grade coach”.

“I won a resverve grade premiership with Norths three years ago but this is my first as coach.”

Adding the Clayton Cup to the win just made it even better for the Bears coach.