 1988 saw Larson playing mainly Reserve Grade for the Bears and he only played two games for the season, including his debut in the starting side playing second-row in the Bears 6-38 loss to league newcomers, the Newcastle Knights.Nicknamed "Sven Svennson" due to his Nordic appearance, Larson cemented his place in the Bears first grade forward pack in 1989, playing 22 games for the season.As a player, he became known for his reliability as a "workhorse" due to his staggering workload in matches.