North Sydney announce training and
coaching appointments for 2006

Norths General Manager Greg Florimo has announced a new coaching and training line up for 2006. An even blend of both coaching and playing experience together with local knowledge will feature with an expanded support staff. "Next year plans to be huge. We have spent the past couple of seasons doing it pretty tough, however I think we have turned the corner and I expect that we will profit both on and off the park, having built some solid foundations" said Flo.

Josh White returns to the fold from The Bears Northern neighbours Manly, to take over the Premier League reigns from outgoing Coach Gary Freeman (Gary Freeman making the decision he was unable to fully commit to both his coaching and Foxtel duties). Josh, who played the bulk of his football career at Western Suburbs, is determined to make his mark by continuing the tremendous work done by Gary in 2005. Josh also had stints at Canterbury and Illawarra and was a Parramatta Junior.

Josh will be backed up by one of the Asquith Magpies most decorated players, with a total of 18 premiership trophies to his credit, Paul Pollard. The two times Kevin Moore Shield winner and current Asquith assistant Coach has been named the Bears assistant coach.

Jersey Flegg this year will benefit from one of the Penrith Panthers greatest first grade players Steve Carter. Steve Carter who played 424 games for Penrith from 1998 to 2001 has also played for Widnes Vikings before returning to his hometown of Wyong on the Central Coast. Steve has made an early appearance, assisting Coach Michael Pobjie in the Bears Jersey Flegg win against the Central Coast Rip in round 25 of the 2005 competition.

Dallas Weston former North Sydney First grader from the mid 90s who also played for Parramatta in the late 90s will be the Bears strength and conditioning coach for the 2006 season. Dallas was also the inaugural captain of Malta Rugby League Team that first played in 2004 against the British Defence Forces, Malta defeating them 78-0.

Michael Pobjie, Former Newtown and Balmian Tigers first grader, who played along side Gary Freeman in the 1989 Grand Final, will take the experience of the 2005 season on to his coaching of the Bears S.G. Ball team. While the innovation of a co-coaching team of Kevin Nichols (North Sydney District Junior Rugby League administrator) and Gary Armstrong (Willoughby District Junior Rugby League Football Club) will take on the important job of looking after the Bears Harold Mathews team. With an extensive junior recruitment campaign already under way, 2006 looks to be a bright year for the North Sydney District.

North Sydney will be conducting open trials on the weekend of October 8th and 9th. For details go to the registration page of the website -http://www.northsydneybears.com.au/Information/Registration.htm.

PHOTO: Steve Carter - one of Penrith's finest will coach North Sydney's Jersey Flegg team for 2006. Photo courtesy of BBC Sport.