Greg Florimo
Encyclopedia
Greg Florimo is a retired Australian Rugby League
player and administrator known for his lifelong association with the North Sydney Bears
both as a player and a manager.
Florimo began playing as a junior in the North Sydney district for Willoughby
at age seven before playing for McMahons Point, Crows Nest
and North Sydney Brothers. He played 285 first-grade games for the Bears
over 13 seasons, starting his career in the centres before moving to 5/8. He made his debut for the Bears in 1986 and retired in 1998. In first grade he scored 73 tries, 3 goals and 1 field goal. He famously called the North Sydney fans onto Bear Park
in 1997 after the game when Norths defeated traditional rivals Manly by 41 points.
For NSW he played four State of Origin
games between 1988 and 1995. He played four Tests for Australia between 1994 and 1995. He played in the British Super League for Wigan Warriors
in 1999 and Halifax
in 2000.
He was the only one of only two players ever to score a 10/10 performance in a match by Rugby League Week
. In August 2006 Florimo was named at centre in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century. He is the brother-in-law of former Norths
player Gary Larson
.
Currently Florimo is the Bears
CEO, and is advocating a return for the club to return to the NRL. Florimo's son, Jay, is currently a member of the Wests Tigers
squad in the National Youth Competition
(Toyota cup).
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player and administrator known for his lifelong association with the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
both as a player and a manager.
Florimo began playing as a junior in the North Sydney district for Willoughby
Willoughby
-Australia:*Willoughby, New South Wales, suburb of Sydney*City of Willoughby, local government area of New South Wales*Electoral district of Willoughby, in New South Wales*Cape Willoughby, on Kangaroo Island, South Australia-England:*Willoughby, Warwickshire...
at age seven before playing for McMahons Point, Crows Nest
Crows Nest, New South Wales
Crows Nest is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Crows Nest is located 5 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council.-History:...
and North Sydney Brothers. He played 285 first-grade games for the Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
over 13 seasons, starting his career in the centres before moving to 5/8. He made his debut for the Bears in 1986 and retired in 1998. In first grade he scored 73 tries, 3 goals and 1 field goal. He famously called the North Sydney fans onto Bear Park
North Sydney Oval
-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
in 1997 after the game when Norths defeated traditional rivals Manly by 41 points.
For NSW he played four State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
games between 1988 and 1995. He played four Tests for Australia between 1994 and 1995. He played in the British Super League for Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in 1999 and Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
in 2000.
He was the only one of only two players ever to score a 10/10 performance in a match by Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
. In August 2006 Florimo was named at centre in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century. He is the brother-in-law of former Norths
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
player Gary Larson
Gary Larson (rugby league footballer)
Gary Larson is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin and played his club football with the North Sydney Bears and finished his career with a brief stint at the Parramatta Eels...
.
Currently Florimo is the Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
CEO, and is advocating a return for the club to return to the NRL. Florimo's son, Jay, is currently a member of the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
squad in the National Youth Competition
National Youth Competition
The National Youth Competition is the official development competition for the Australian National Rugby League. It commenced in 2008. The competition consists of teams from the 16 clubs that presently participate in the NRL competition, fielding squads made up of players between the ages of 17...
(Toyota cup).