FLASHBACK: November 1992

NOVEMBER 1992

Brisbane Rugby League’s 1975 Rothmans’ Gold Medal winning forward, Steve Calder was appointed the Broncos’ first ever defence coach, with the club striving to retain the Premiership they won in 1992.

Broncos’ head coach, Wayne Bennett said defence was the area where the club could improve the most, following their breakthrough ’92 season, in which they won their first premiership by defeating St George 28-8 in the Grand Final.

“I was keen to see Steve remain on the coaching staff, and his job will be to co-ordinate defensive work in the club,” Bennett said.

Calder grew up at Narromine in Western New South Wales, and it was there that he fell in love with the game of rugby league, watching the local side train and play, as well as listening to John O’Reilly call the Sydney Match of the Day on ABC Radio.

“I just loved footy. I had no other dreams,” he told me in 2014. “I would even write notes about the best players, or the players I thought were the best, from the radio broadcast.”

Calder joined the Broncos’ coaching staff in 1990, after being overlooked for the Illawarra Steelers’ first grade post, despite being told he had the job. Instead the Steelers appointed former Test forward, Ron Hilditch.

When Broncos’ director, Paul ‘Porky’ Morgan travelled to Wollongong for a public speaking engagement, he read in the Illawarra Mercury that Calder was without a job. Morgan asked Calder if he was interested in returning to Brisbane, to be part of Bennett’s coaching team. Chris Anderson had offered Calder the reserve grade coaching job at Canterbury-Bankstown, but Calder chose Brisbane.

Bill Gardner moved up from under-21s to replace Calder as reserve grade coach, with former Brisbane Brothers’ forward, Glenn Bailey appointed under-21 coach for 1993.

The Broncos also announced that Ipswich Grammar School teacher, Peter Wilson would join Englishman, Kelvin Giles and another IGS teacher, Steve Nance on the Broncos’ strength and conditioning staff. Wilson is a brother of former Wallaby, David Wilson.

Former Nudgee College rugby union and athletics star, Bob Conway was cut by the Broncos, but Bennett said the door would be left open for him in 1994. Bennett advised Conway to have 12 months away from the game, because of head injuries he had suffered.

“The decision to let him go was dictated by my conscience,” Bennett said. “I was concerned about his health.”

Conway said he had been cleared by a neurosurgeon to play, but conceded it was likely he would have a break from the game, despite offers from Brisbane Souths League and Union clubs, and Redcliffe Rugby League.

He said if he had his time over again, he would not have jumped straight into league, after five years of union at Boondall’s Nudgee College.

“Physically, I wasn’t ready for league,” Conway said. “For a start, I played five eighth in union, and the physical contact was virtually non-existent. In league, they put me straight in at lock.”

Conway made his First Grade debut for the Broncos in 1990, and was an inter-change player for the preliminary final against Canberra. He played another six first grade games in 1991. In a round 8 match against St George in 1992, he was knocked out, and remained unconscious for 10 minutes. Several weeks later, at training, Bennett noticed Conway was two or three seconds behind everyone else in reaction drills.

“I was about to get up him for fooling around, but I realised there was something wrong,” Bennett said. “I’ve never been so scared in my life. I told him to finish training and to get himself to a doctor.”

During his time on the sideline, Conway completed a bachelor of business course, majoring in marketing.

In other news of the time, Queensland State of Origin forward, Dan Stains was appointed captain of Cronulla Sharks, beating Andrew Ettingshausen for the job. Cronulla football manager, Brian Canavan said the club wanted ‘ET’ to focus on football, and not to have to worry about leadership. Canavan said Wynnum-Manly’s Craig Greenhill had impressed coach, Arthur Beetson in trials, but a transfer fee stood in the way of the young forward getting a contract.

Former Broncos and Penrith utility player, Brook Kennedy signed with Brisbane Norths for 1993 BRL season. His former Broncos’ teammate, Grant Rix had been appointed Norths’ coach. Another signing was under-21 Broncos’ centre, Grant Benson, a Rockhampton product, who had represented Queensland Schoolboys.

Brisbane Easts signed former Bronco, Peter Sinclair, who made a comeback in 1992 to captain-coach Nerang, in the Gold Coast competition.

Redcliffe Leagues Club – $67,000 in the red 12 months earlier – announced a profit of $509,000 for the 12 months to September 30. The club had taken delivery of its first batch of poker machines in February, 1992.

Redcliffe Football Club confirmed the signing of two Broncos – former Australian Schoolboys’ representatives, David Simpson and Grant Cleal.

Wests Panthers signed Queensland Residents’ winger, Gerard Kerr and second rower, Steele Retchless from Valleys, along with Norths’ second rower Bob ‘Bertie’ Campbell.

Footnote: Steve Calder, the inaugural Queensland Manager of the Men of League Foundation, died on October 29, 2015.

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