No Whiz Bang Holidays Here
By
DAVID ROWLANDS
NORTH SHORE
TIMES - 5/11/2004
New North Sydney Premier
League coach Gary “Whiz” Freeman wasn’t joking when he said that life
under his direction “wouldn’t be a holiday”.
The Freeman regime officially began on Wednesday night at Macquarie
University when the Bears held their first training session for the
2005 season, meaning that their preparations have even begun before
several NRL clubs.
Their demanding off-season schedule will even include Sunday mornings
at 7am.
“We want to be winners,” Norths general manager Greg Florimo said of
the arduous schedule, which will see them training six days a week over
summer.
While the players might grumble about it, Freeman’s arrival at the club
has clearly had a big impact. Florimo described the response to their
trials as “mind-blowing” and has no doubt that it has much to do with
the former Kiwi halfback’s presence.
Over 450 hopefuls turned up for the Bears’ first open day early last
month to try out for the four teams, from under 16s through to Premier
League. The youngest of those age groups attracted more than a third of
the total triallists.
The numbers were pruned to 40 for each side before further trials were
staged last weekend. Squads of 25 have now been chosen, which will
train over summer before pre-season practise matches begin in late
February. The NSWRL competitions will commence a month after that.
The Bears management has also been greatly heartened by the response to
last week’s rally at North Sydney Oval to discuss their current
financial plight after having their funding slashed in almost half by
their Leagues Club.
Football club membership has steadily increased in the past week, while
a number of sponsors have also expressed interest. The Bears are also
receiving ideas for fund-raising from fans via their website, as well
as messages of support from around the country as they fight for
survival.
“There’s plenty of ideas and enthusiasm floating around,” Florimo
reported. “It’s just a question of corralling it all and putting it in
the right direction.”
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