Greg Florimo - Happy 50th

[Fintan O'Laighin]

Flo is 50 today, born on Wednesday 17th May 1967.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Florimo

Greg Florimo (born 17 May 1967 in Sydney, New South Wales) is a former Australian Rugby League player and current rugby league administrator known for his lifelong association with the North Sydney Bears both as a player and CEO.

Florimo began playing as a senior in the North Sydney district for Willoughby at age seven before playing for McMahons Point, Crows Nest and North Sydney Brothers. He also played for the Lane Cove Rugby Club Juniors. 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 Super League for English clubs Wigan Warriors in 1999 and Halifax in 2000.

Greg Florimo kicked two field goals in his senior rugby league career. The first came in a 19-10 win for North Sydney over Cronulla-Sutherland in Round 11 of the 1991 season. The second came in the second test of the 1995 Trans-Tasman Test series against New Zealand at the Sydney Football Stadium in which Australia won 20-10 and wrapped up the series 2-0.

He was 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.

[The Tamworth Bear]

Happy Birthday Flo! I may be speaking through red and black goggles, but I don't think the game has seen such an ornament to what rugby league embodies than the Flo. His passion and drive for his beloved Bears is unquestionable. I dips my lid and charge my glass to the greatest Bear in my supporting life which commenced in 1970.