The Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League and the broader rugby league community is mourning the passing of their Life Member and long-term secretary Phil Hall.
Phil has often been referred to as the ‘doyen’ of secondary school rugby league with an association going back to the early 1970s when he was a teacher at Mackay State High School.
Phil (pictured alongside Darren Lockyer) was also involved in senior rugby league in Mackay as secretary of the Carltons club before moving back to Brisbane.
Originally from South Johnstone in North Queensland, Phil brought his laid back and humble manner to his work as a Manual Arts teacher having completed his trade after he left school.
Phil recognised the value of sport, not only to students, but to young teachers as a way to build better relationships in and out of the classroom.
Phil was involved in schools’ rugby league in all its forms from the local school competitions up to regional, state, national and international level.
He was highly regarded for his integrity, dry humour and wisdom across a generation of rugby league schoolteachers in Queensland with many still involved to this day.
Phil also took on the responsibility of managing the schools statewide competition supported by the NRL, including the Langer Trophy which is the premier schools competition in South East Queensland. The state final is named the Phil Hall Cup in his honour.
Phil presented the trophy three weeks ago to Wavell before enjoying watching them win the National Schoolboys Cup on TV as he was too unwell to attend.
Phil also worked and assisted the Broncos in numerous activities in recruitment and development and was well known in QRL circles where he had been involved in the famous QRL camps in the 1990s and early 2000s.
A Life Member of the Queensland SSRL, Queensland School Sport and the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League, Phil will be deeply missed at schoolboy football in the future.
Phil was 83 and had been through a period of illness. He had many friends outside rugby league in boxing and greyhound racing as well as in education.
Condolences are passed on to his wife Flo, his son Adrian and daughter Rochelle and their families.
Rest in peace Phil Hall.
- Tribute supplied by Matt O'Hanlon
