FLASHBACK: June 1940

IN a remarkable reversal of form Queensland defeated New South Wales 19-16 in the return inter-state rugby league match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Maroons had been beaten 52-11 in the first match in Sydney and were given little chance of squaring the ledger.

But Queensland’s forwards, fired up by coach, Herb Steinohrt,  took it to the Blues from the opening whistle and referee, Bishop had quite a task containing their ‘zeal’, as one Sydney journalist described the visiting pack’s tactics.

Best of the Qld forwards were Eddie ‘Babe’ Collins (two tries), Les Heidke and Jack Little, while debutant centre, Eric Bowe (a Barcaldine product) and Les Ridegwell were outstanding in the backs.

Henry ‘Tarzan’ Porter was the Blues best forward.

It’s just as well Qld was able to avenge their big loss in the first game because the knives were out.

“It is beyond comprehension that Queensland, with a set of players who had been selected and trained so carefully, and who largely comprised the side which twice beat NSW in Brisbane in 1939, should collapse in such a manner as to suffer inglorious defeat,” wrote L H Kearney. “Where Qld failed was in the lack of tackling determination.”

Winger, Merv Denton scored three tries for NSW and was well supported by centre, Alan Quinlivan, a warrant officer in the AIF.

Queensland’s 19 man squad travelled to Sydney from Brisbane by the ‘Kyogle Mail Train’.