The gestation of what would become the Sydney Bulls organisation began during a steamy February weekend back in 1997 when the first Lebanon Sevens team made their impressive debut in that year’s World Sevens tournament.

One of the team mangers was a successful Finance/Insurance businessman, Ray Dib. Dib, a former player himself, had long seen the well established and growing Lebanese and Arabic community of Sydney’s South-west as an untapped resource for the game of Rugby League.

Through a thriving ‘old mates’ network an impressive collection of mainly first generation Lebanese Australian footballers rallied behind the concept. Sponsors were successfully sought within a resourceful local community and Lebanese Cedars were suddenly a reality.

Coaching the Cedars in these formative times was veteran grade and Metro Cup mentor Steve ‘Gus’ Ghosn. To the surprise of some of football’s old guard, the Cedars under Ghosn immediately entered League Folklore. Somehow they had captured the imagination of a jaded Rugby League public who, during the height of the Superleague war were crying out for a good news, grass roots story.

Fast forward 18 months or so to the Cedars first tour of Europe. Ghosn and Dib’s business partner, David Francis, are gathered around a table in a small French bar exploring ways and means of keeping the nucleus of their Cedars team together. Francis, a self-proclaimed league ‘tragic’, suggests approaching the NSWRL with a proposal to join the Sydney Metropolitan Cup competition at the start of the 2000 season.

Considering the hurdles facing the emerging club, Phillip Street was seen in some league circles as more than a little indulgent for allowing the Bulls to participate. However along with Cabramatta, the NSWRL gave itself a double transfusion of new blood.

With Ray Dib at the helm and Steve Ghosn in the coaches chair it was now left to the persuasive powers of affable team manager David Francis to create a strong player roster and unique team spirit on what, at best, could be described as a shoe-string budget.

Cedars pioneer, in particular their multi skilled halfback Paul Khoury, Rabbe Chehade and respected Metro figure Tony Sakr was joined by several other Cedar identities such as giant forward Sami Chamoun and utility Marcel Nasser, personnel that gave the first year Bulls an unmistakeable Lebanese character.

The team was taking shape but experience at an elite level was still needed during the club’s initial building phase, particularly a captain to guide this new outfit on and off the field. For this duty Francis would successfully recruit former Canterbury, Western Suburbs and Perth based Reds forward Matt Fuller to lead the Bulls in their crucial debut year.

More seasoned muscle such as Matt’s brother Paul, ex-Souths hardheads Michael Francis and Darren Maroun, along with Rabbitoh Willie Grech, formed the nucleus of a willing pack that also contained little known Auckland dynamo and Wests trialist Paul Winterstein. Over the next few seasons, Grech and Winterstein would become two of the most respected players to have contested Metro Cup Rugby League. In fact Grech would lead the Bulls to consecutive premiership deciders in his first two seasons as club captain enjoying a well-earned place in the hearts of the Sydney Bulls loyal and growing support base.

While the first year Bulls struggled at times with form and discipline, the club’s Reserve Graders secured a memorable grand final win at Penrith Stadium that initial season. Steered superbly by on-field general Joe Rehame and containing future first grade regulars like Wally Abbas, George Katrib and Charlie Nohra, the Bulls ‘seconds’ would give the club its first sweet taste of success.

A premiership decider clinched by a Vaine Kino drop-goal on the bell. With that magic moment the Sydney Bulls had truly arrived.