“It's perfect”: North Sydney Bears legend praises WA joint venture

The joint venture with Western Australia is the perfect way to expand the iconic rugby league brand that is the North Sydney Bears, according to one of the club’s greatest ever players.

Gary Larson says he is “over the moon” with the iconic club’s partnership with Western Australia, set to be called the Western Bears, which is expected to be the NRL’s 18th franchise after they formally submit their bid before the August 14 deadline.

The move will see the Bears return to the NRL for the first time since 1999 and the man who played 233 games for North Sydney can’t wait to see it happen.

Larson credits one man, Greg Florimo, for keeping the club alive so it can return to its former glory.

“It’s exciting, I won’t beat around the bush, it’s long overdue. We’ve been fighting behind the scenes, well one particular person has been, ex-player and great man in Greg Florimo, he’s kept the club alive,” Larson said on SENQ Mornings.

“I’m over the moon. (For) the red and black and the Bears to be associated with Perth… I’m just glad the Bears have got the foot in the door again.

“Exposing the Bears to a whole new market to the already thousands of Bears fans that are out there, the new fans that will be associated with Perth, it’s something different to previous joint ventures.

“As long as you’ve got the right people in place and learn from the previous mistakes, it can work, especially when you see how much drive and positivity people have got around it."

The Queensland Maroons legend also said there were come things that had to return with the Bears, even though they would be based in Perth.

“The red and black is a no-brainer and obviously the Bear emblem… it sounds like we’ve kept the Bear,” he said.

“I love the name, the Western Bears, it sounds great it’s a perfect fit and also remembering what was there in the Western Reds.”

The Bears will be the next expansion team welcomed in the NRL with PNG expected to be next.