-------------------------------------------------------------------- Flo To Stay On
Sideline Of Bear Bid By JASON
AVEDISSIAN NORTH SHORE
TIMES - 2/1/2004
Greg
Florimo...assistant coach in the Bears' bid to return to the big league.
The North Sydney rugby league Bears are trying to get back into the big
time.
But club legend Greg Florimo will not
be tempted out of retirment to help them qualify for the World Sevens
next month.
Instead Flo will lend his support as
assistant coach to Fellow Kangaroo Gary Larson.
Florimo represented Italy against
Greece in a 13-a-side social match at Kogarah Oval two months ago,
sparking speculation he would come out of retirement for the Sevens.
“No way, I wouldn't survive,” Florimo
told the North Shore Times
when asked if he was playing.
"We are serious about this."
"We want to give it a shake and we want the best players out on the
park."
"We are very keen to get back on the
world stage by having a good tournament."
Florimo was last in the red and black
in a 1998 semi-final loss against the Bulldogs at Bears Park.
He Left Sydney with 285 first grade
games under his belt for Norths to play for Wigan in the English Super
League.
Florimo has maintained a high level of
fitness over the past four years playing touch football and Oz Tag.
In October former Bearss' club doctor
Sam Sorrenti approached Florimo about playing for Italy against Greece.
"I put my hand up for the Italian team three years ago in the Emerging
Nations tournament but that didn't work out because I broke my thumb,"
Florimo said.
"I was happy to play,"
"I scored a try and we won."
"There was unlimited interchange which helped."
"I wouldn't have played otherwise."
The sevens qualifying tournament will be playing at St Marys on January
21.
Two teams from the qualifying tournament's 12 will move into the main
draw and contest the World Sevens on the weekend of January 24-25.
Larson has included former South Sydney and Northern Eagles
goal-kicking winger Scott McLean in the Bears' 12-man squad.
The Bears will be matched against other foundation clubs Newtown, South
Sydney and Balmain. ------------------------------------------------------------------
