By Steve Ricketts, Queensland Rugby League History Committee Chairman
The champion Wynnum-Manly team of 1984 was so strong the Queensland Rugby League made moves for a challenge match against Sydney Premiers, Canterbury-Bankstown.
QRL Chairman Ron McAuliffe confidently predicted Wynnum would win, with Queensland and Australian skipper, Wally Lewis steering the side around the park. It had already proved a stellar year for rugby league in Queensland with the Maroons winning the State of Origin series and their players dominating the Australian side which won all three Tests against the British Lions.
On top of this the Brisbane Representative side had won the National Panasonic Cup knock-out competition, defeating the Eastern Suburbs Roosters at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval.
Wynnum's team boasted Internationals Lewis, Gene Miles, Colin Scott and Greg Dowling and future international, Gary Coyne. Ian French and his brother Brett and Terry Butler had played Origin for Queensland; Brian Walsh, Tony Kajewski, Mark Zillman and Peter Dawes played for Brisbane and Warren Green represented Queensland Country. Second rower Mal Green was rated one of the biggest hitters in the code. The coach was Des Morris.
Wynnum's captain was hooker David Green who will be one of the guest speakers at the Family of League Foundation's Celebration of the BRL in the 1980s to be held at Souths Leagues Club, Davies Park on Friday, October 9. This follows on from last year's '70s lunch also conducted by Family of League, an event which attracted 340 former players, match and club officials as well as fans.
Once again the invitation goes out to anyone who loved their footy in the '80s to come along and relive that era when Norths kick-started the decade with a shock win over Souths Magpies, a match televised live into Sydney. Souths, coached by Bob McCarthy, won it in 1981 and the Magpies did it again with Wayne Bennett as coach in 1985.
New Zealand Test great Mark Graham played in that 1980 Norths' side (coached by another Kiwi, Graham Lowe) and Mark will be a guest speaker along with Souths' 1985 skipper Norm Carr.
Larry Brigginshaw skippered the Easts' side (coached by John Lang) which won the 1983 Premiership and he is also a guest speaker. Others on the panel of former players include Tony Currie (Wests and Redcliffe); Bryan Niebling (Valleys and Redcliffe) and Greg 'Hammer' Walker (Norths and Valleys).
The decade began with eight clubs and by 1989 there were two new outfits - Ipswich and Logan City. Allan Langer was Ipswich's halfback in 1986 and '87 and was a foundation Brisbane Bronco in 1988.
Brothers won the last Brisbane Premiership (1987) before the 'Sydney Rugby League' expanded to include the Broncos, Gold Coast and Newcastle with Brisbane clubs raided by the three newcomers. Captain of that Brothers' side (coached by Ross Strudwick) was Trevor Bailey, who is also a guest speaker on October 9.
Valleys won the 1988 and '89 titles, becoming the first club of the decade to win back-to-back premierships with former Queensland Origin halfback Ross 'Angry Ant' Henrick the coach on both occasions. Henrick was halfback for Norths when they won the 1980 Grand Final.
Wynnum, with Wally Lewis as captain-coach, defeated Brothers in the 1986 Grand Final. Wynnum also won the 1982 and '84 premierships with Morris as coach. The Challenge match against Canterbury never went ahead, perhaps robbing Queensland of another honour in that amazing 1984 season.
The October 9 Family of League lunch gets underway at 11.30 am. The price is $125 or $1,250 for a table of 10. This covers lunch (entree and main course) plus a two hour beverage package (beer, wine, champagne and soft drink).
For further information qldevents@familyofleague.org.au or call 07 33676002. Bookings essential - closes October 1.
