Bears' Kiwi Fruition
By DAVID ROWLANDS
NORTH SHORE TIMES - 24/9/2004

Kiwi rugby league great Gary Freeman is expected to sign on as coach of the North Sydney Bears today, following the shock departure of Josh White to the old enemy, Manly-Warringah.

The impending arrival of the former New Zealand captain and professional journeyman high lights the most exciting week for the Bears since they were stripped of their NRL status.

The club is also set to announce that they have struck a deal with the NRL’s Melbourne Storm that will see them act as a feeder club.

The union will give the Bears access to Melbourne’s Sydney based players when they get relegated to the Premier League.

Brisbane Norths has been Melbourne’s Queensland-based feeder club since the Storm’s inception, in 1998.

The imminent deals with Freeman and Melbourne changed the mood around North Sydney that had darkened when Josh White, who was expected to replace Gary Larson as the Bears’ Premier League coach for 2005, was poached by Manly this week.

White will take over as coach of the Sea Eagles’ under-20s team and will be Des Hasler’s assistant first grade coach.

Norths management was reluctant to prevent White from having an opportunity to further his career at NRL level.

“Good luck to Josh, but he’s taken a punt by joining a club that doesn’t seem to have any respect or loyalty for anyone that’s not one of theirs,” Norths boss Greg Florimo said.

“Manly has poached one of ours again, but nothing they do surprises me any more.”

The Bears are most concerned that White will attempt to entice some of the Bears’ Jersey Flegg Cup team to Manly.

White coached Norths’ Flegg team to the finals and Florimo said that was the main reason he was pinched by Manly.

However, Florimo said the Melbourne deal strengthened the club’s position and would prove a sufficient enticement for young players.

“It’ll be a massive boost for the club for next year,” Florimo said.

“It’s a short-term fix but one that had to happen.”

Norths officials are also privately fuming over invitations sent by Manly to the Berowra junior club to trial with the Sea Eagles.
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