Adam Mogg was a premiership-winning player and coach for the Redcliffe Dolphins, receiving 106 caps for the Red and White in the Queensland Cup.
As a head coach, Mogg spent 101 games in charge of his beloved Dolphins, owning an impressive 67% win rate across his four seasons.
In the big leagues, Mogg played 105 games for the Parramatta Eels and Canberra Raiders respectively.
Though the pinnacle of his career was in 2006, when the prolific winger scored three tries in the 2006 State of Origin series helping to usher in eight consecutive Queensland series victories.
How did you first find yourself lining up in Dolphins’ colours?
I was born in Toowoomba and played for the Newtown Lions there, but I moved to the Sunshine Coast when I was 11 years old.
I had an offer from the North Queensland Cowboys to play in the Under 19 Super League, but the competition never got off the ground.
The Dolphins offered me a trial at the club, so I came down to play a few trial matches and ended up being offered a deal with them.
During your first season with the Dolphins, you won the 1997 premiership defeating the Easts Tigers — you must have fond memories of that.
Great memories! Anthony Singleton kicked the winning goal after the siren after we’d been down 16-6 with not long left to go. James Hinchey also scored two tries that day.
You played in four Queensland Cup Grand Finals in five years at the Dolphins winning two of them, do you have a favourite?
I will say 1997, coming back like that and winning is always special.
Who is your favourite ever Dolphin teammate?
I had some great times on and off the field with Mick Roberts, Russell Lahiff was one of my favourite defenders; at fullback I used to laugh when people ran at him.
He was probably the smallest front rower in the competition, but I used to think don’t run at him.
Why do the Redcliffe Dolphins remain so consistently successful, seemingly never having any periods of lull?
I remember Des Webb used to say at the first session in November we are here to win, I bet Bob Jones says it as well.
The football people understand excellence and demand it.
How did you initially sign with the Parramatta Eels?
The Eels offered me a match payment contract, and I drove down to Sydney.
I wasn’t too sure if I should go but the Dolphins said that if I didn’t go now, I never would. I was 24 years old.
I went down and just tried to learn as much as I could. I would knock on Brian Smith’s door and ask him to watch my games with me.
I was only playing reserve grade, and he must have thought who this guy is. Hayden Knowles was there, and he trained me and spent a lot of time with me making me faster.
Then the Raiders?
I loved the Raiders as a kid, just adored them. That era of football was what I grew up on, and playing for the Raiders was a dream.
They always played with such width; they were going from one side to the other with two passes and I loved that football.
To play for them was a big deal for me.
I played 96 games for the Raiders, and I would have loved to get to 100.
I got to play with Reuben Wiki and Jason Croker — that was a real highlight.
In 2006 Greg Inglis suffered a stress fracture in his lower back, leaving Queensland in need of a winger for Game 2 of the 2006 State of Origin series. At what point did you think you’d be the next man up?
When Don Furner came out on the field at training and said you’ve made the Queensland team, your flight is booked for tomorrow morning.
I made the Emerging camp earlier in the year, and I got a lot out of that. Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater were all there, and I got to see they weren’t too much different. I took a lot of confidence from that.
I spent about the next three hours on the phone, there was no social media, so I had to ring people and take calls to let everyone know.
Everything you did in those two games was built on effort. The tackle on Gasnier, the kick chases and your put downs.
That was my focus, and when you’re in a team with Lockyer, Thurston and Smith that’s what you need to do. Just don’t let anyone down and get those things right. You know Thurston is going to put it in the corner and you must be there to catch it.
Dr Phil Jauncey played a part in your Origin career, didn’t he?
His influence was a big turning point for me in understanding how I think and why I think the way I do. That was the key for me going on to play some of my best footy after I met Phil.
I found out that I was thinking way too much about rugby league when I was away from rugby league, so once I unlocked that key thing, I got a lot more confidence and was a lot more relaxed about my footy in that Origin series and that helped me to go on and develop.
Who gave you the most trouble in your playing days?
As a fullback I didn’t want to see too much of Matt Bowen, he was hard to get a hold of.
The taller guys like Justin Hodges and Brent Tate were alright to handle because I am tall, but Matt Bowen would jump around and step off both feet while ducking.
What was your take on Mal Meninga?
Being a Raiders fan, I loved Mal; I had met him a few times being at the Raiders.
I had some meetings with him to talk about playing centre.
To be coached by him in Origin was another level — you just couldn’t let him down no matter what.
