DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER
WEEK 46 2021
NOVEMBER 15
Former Wallaby hooker, Mark McBain rubbishes the time taken by the TMO (rugby union’s ‘Bunker’) to come to a decision. “All the fat blokes get a chance for a breather,” he says. Mark has a go at Australian forward, Will Skelton for being ‘out of condition’. Skelton played rugby league for Wentworthville, but League’s 10 metre shuttles were too much for his big frame. Former Queensland State of Origin rugby league hooker, Matt Ballin has joined the Broncos in a coaching and development role. Dual Rugby international, Karmichael Hunt is to coach Souths Logan’s Mal Meninga Cup (under-20) rugby league side. Hunt is a Souths’ product.
Learn of the passing of respected journalist, Brian ‘Bunger’ Johnston, at the age of 83. Brian covered sport, but in later life was a court reporter, and a fine one at that.
Marie and I celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary with a four course dinner at ‘Oh Boy Bok Choy’ at Stafford.
Australia win the T20 cricket World Cup in Dubai, with Mitch Marsh named man of the match following the eight-wicket triumph over New Zealand. David Warner is named Man of the Tournament.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
How times have changed. Former top rugby league coach, Don Oxenham recalls noted trainer, Chloe Furness putting hot towels on the bruised thigh of Test forward, Ken Day, back in the 1960s. When I played, in the 1970s, it was a hot shower and cold beer straight after the game.
Former Queensland opening batsman, Andrew Courtice says tireless University official, ‘WEP’ (William Edward Pender) Harris was such an honourable man, he wouldn’t even accept a free Coke for all the work he did for the club.
Learn of the passing of former ‘Courier-Mail’ photographer, Jim Fenwick, who had a particular flair for action shots from rugby league. (see Vale Jim Fenwick this website).
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
There is a tribute to Jim Fenwick in ‘The Courier-Mail’, as you would expect, and Radio 4BC’s Neil Breen also has nice words to say about the award winning photographer, mentioning his coverage of the Moura Mine Disaster of 1994.
Learn of the passing of former Courier-Mail turf section stalwart, Mark Mazzaglia, 63. Mark had been working with Ladbrokes in recent times.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18
The Men of League Foundation honour me with the Queensland Volunteer of the Year Award, one of the great thrills of my life. It is largely down to the work I have done as an MC at functions, and the articles I have written for the Foundation’s magazine. The award is named after inaugural Queensland Men of League boss, the late Steve Calder, and is presented by his son, Nathan. I receive warm congratulations from former Internationals, Greg Veivers and Allan Langer. Former Rugby League Week Editor, Tony ‘Durko’ Durkin; Brisbane Committee patron, Ron Atkins and former Test winger, John Ribot, are made Foundation Life Members. The Courier-Mail’s Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock interviews former Test skipper, Cameron Smith, on stage, at City Hall. Former Test cricketer, turned entertainer, Greg ‘Fat Cat’ Ritchie, does his comedy routine, and in the words of my late grandmother, his humour is ‘close to the bone’. Word has it that people at the top of the Foundation, and even those in the halls of power at the NRL itself, are not happy with Ritchie’s subject matter. I must confess, I laughed out loud, many times. I’m not sure what that makes me. Drinks afterwards at Pig ‘N Whistle with ‘Durko’ and his wife, Angie, and Valleys’ lads of the ilk of Bryan Niebling, Vic Wieland, Peter O’Callaghan, Dr Tom Dooley, Alan Beauchamp, Peter McWhirter and John Tapp. Peter O’Callaghan, a successful publican, reminds me about the night in the Rugby League Club at Lang Park when Wallaby prop, Chris ‘Buddha’ Handy was hit by a flying party pie. ‘Buddha’ had me look after his glasses while he and the ‘pie chucker’ went outside to settle their differences; The ‘pie chucker’ was a cowboy from Mount Isa, who could handle himself; ‘Buddha’ returned a few minutes later with a bloodied, but smiling face; The cowboy returned to the bar in a similar state.
Our Anglo Celtic cab driver did not know the way to City Hall. In the words of the late Peter Frilingos: ‘That’ll do me.’
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Marie and I fly from Brisbane to Townsville with our youngest son, Lliam and his two lads, Ethan and Connor. Security says I have loose wires in my laptop. At least they didn’t find loose wires in my head.
In Townsville, our female, shuttle bus driver is South African, and very entertaining. A passenger says the Americans wanted to knock down Castle Hill during World War II. We get the ferry to Magnetic Island for a family get-together, seeing as we all can’t be together at Christmas. Our eldest lad, Damien; his wife, Emma and daughters, Parker and Evan are already on the island, at the rental house at Arcadia, which we will all share. The house is ‘old school’, but spacious.
Tim Paine stands down as Australian cricket captain, after it is revealed he has sent explicit messages to a female co-worker.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Nippers are in action at Arcadia Surf Club’s Alma Bay branch on Magnetic Island. There is a beach footy event in Townsville, with players from both rugby codes going head-to-head. Antonio Winterstein is creamed by Richie Fa’oso and Neville Costigan. Other competitors include Brent Tate, Gavin Cooper and Lote Tuqiri.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Breakfast at Arcadia pub, and what do you know – we bump into Gavin Cooper, who is buying coffee. The barista is from Milan in Italy, but she doesn’t think Milan is such a great place. She loves Verona.
It’s ‘all go’ at Alma Bay, with surf life-saving, scuba diving, as well as a school group from Pimlico High, making it a busy beach scene. Marie and I and other family members get a cab to Picnic Bay for dinner at Sardinian restaurant, Mamma Roma. Our cab driver is from Marseilles in France and has been in Australia nine years – seven years on the island. Excellent pizzas at Mamma Roma. Lliam says he smells dope in restaurant complex toilets. We get bus back to Arcadia. A man and woman and their daughter make a mad dash to catch the bus. They all have had a jolly good time at the Picnic Bay pub. The daughter says ‘Mum’ at least 20 times, as she prattles on.
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