Ben Stevanovic has swapped one northern suburbs club for another as he continues a path towards the NRL.
For the last two years, Stevanovic played for the North Sydney Bears.
The half clocked 48 games across the two seasons as the Bears took two minor premierships to narrow grand final losses.
This Saturday, Stevanovic will make his debut for Brisbane’s northern suburbs team when the Norths Devils begin their Hostplus Cup season against Western Clydesdales in Toowoomba.
Stevanovic, 25, was a game away from playing against the Devils last season. The Bears lost a NSW Cup grand final that would have put them into a State Championship showdown with the Devils on NRL grand final day.
By that time, Stevanovic was considering a move north with the lure of a pre-season with the Dolphins NRL squad and a chance to play under Devils coach Rohan Smith.
He hopes the move will propel him towards an NRL debut to match his father Nick who played for Western Suburbs Magpies in 1989.
The summer at the Dolphins was Stevanovic’s second NRL pre-season – he completed a summer with Wests Tigers in 2022 – and he featured in an NRL trial match against the Cowboys in Cairns last month.
“The pre-season was awesome at the Dolphins, and it’s helped me with fitness and strength,” Stevanovic said.
“Moving here was a good chance to play for Norths because I knew they were a good club, and I had the chance to play for Ro.
“My coach (at North Sydney) had played for Ro in England and told me that he could take my game to the next level because he does things that not many coaches don’t do.
“He was right and I’m just looking forward to playing his style of footy which is an exciting style.”
Stevanovic began playing rugby league as a junior with the Leichhardt Wanderers, which was also his father’s junior club, before moving into the Balmain junior representative system.
After schooling at Holy Cross College, Ryde, Stevanovic completed a double degree in business and commerce that led him into the financial industry.
He now juggles work with his Devils training sessions as he develops combinations with teammates.
Those combinations will get their first serious test on Saturday and Stevanovic is looking forward to the challenge.
He was named in the halves with 2024 Devils premiership back Jordan Lipp in a squad that is set to feature multiple club debutants.
“I just can’t wait to get out there and play for Norths,” he said.
“I know there is a lot of history at the club and the standards are high so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.”
