Wally Lewis on the cover of David Middleton’s 1988 Yearbook
Broncos’ Test centre, Gene Miles knew the fledgling club was capable of beating 1987 Premiers, Manly-Warringah, but not in his wildest dreams did he think the final score-line would read 44-10, when the two sides met in Round 1 of the 1988 New South Wales Rugby League Winfield Cup season.
Miles was the first Bronco top grader to handle a ball in anger in a premiership game, steaming onto the ball from the kick-off at Lang Park, and giving the Sea Eagles nightmares for the full 80 minutes, with magic passes and brutal defence.
The Broncos began the match with a touch of farce – at least for the times – with tiny halfback, Allan Langer packing down at lock, after taking a nasty head bump chasing one of his own kicks. Langer played most of the match with double vision!
The first pressure from the Broncos came from a bomb, and from the second bomb – put up by replacement halfback, Craig Grauf – second rower, Brett Le Man scored the first-ever premiership try for the Broncos.
Lock, Terry Matterson – who got the players’ player award – kicked the first of his eight goals and the Broncos led 6-0 after seven minutes. Wally Lewis scored the first of his two tries in the 32nd minute, when Langer sucked in the defence from dummy half, giving his perfectly positioned skipper an easy passage to the line.
Manly fullback, Dale Shearer scored a quick thinking try just before halftime, but Brisbane ran away with things in the second 40 minutes. When winger, Joe Kilroy scored the Broncos’ final try, the crowd started to chant ‘We want 50″, something which had been a catch cry of Wynnum-Manly, in their glory days in 1980s BRL premiership.
Broncos’ hooker, Greg Conescu proved he had no time for sentiment, by out-raking his ‘boss’, Paul Vautin, 9-5 in the scrums, including one against the feed. Vautin was the sales manager of the chemical company which employed Conescu at the time.
“I thought ‘Fatty’ did pretty well, considering his inexperience,” Conescu said.
Manly coach, Bob Fulton said the Sea Eagles were the architects of their own demise, because of poor ball security. “If a team is able to put pressure on him (Lewis) and his team, it will be a different story,” Fulton said.
Brisbane coach, Wayne Bennett praised the spirit typified by second rower, Billy Noke, who played all 80 minutes in reserve grade and 43 minutes as the replacement for Test forward, Bryan Niebling in the firsts. Manly won the reserve grade 26-16, with former Brisbane Norths’ prop, Mark Pocock scoring a solo 30-metre try for the victors.
Keith Gee, a shock choice in the Broncos’ first-grade starting side, ahead of Noke, said the game was faster than he was used to in the Gold Coast competition, where he played for Beaudesert, in 1987.
“The Sydney players are more gifted individuals, but they don’t hurt any more than country blokes,” Gee said.
The 17,451 attendance disappointed Broncos’ Chairman, Barry Maranta, but he was pleased with the way the fans got behind the team.
‘The Courier-Mail’ sent three league writers to the match – yours truly; Paul Malone and Jack Craig. I had only joined the paper three weeks earlier, after the closure of Brisbane’s afternoon paper, the ‘Telegraph’.
I don’t think any of us in the press box saw Manly prop, Don McKinnon having a sly pee, while Matterson took a shot at goal. It was one of the big talking points of the game after his act was picked up by the television cameras. It was all very embarrassing for McKinnon, a police officer.
The night before the game, I had driven to West Tweed Heads to cover the Gold Coast Giants’ NSWRL debut – against Canterbury-Bankstown, at Seagulls’ Stadium. Canterbury won 21-10, with Toowoomba product, Sandy Campbell scoring two tries, both from perfectly timed long passes, one by Terry Lamb and the other from David ‘Cement’ Gillespie.
Gold Coast led 10-4 at halftime, with halfback, Mike Eden and Queensland State of Origin stalwart, Chris Close scoring tries, while Eden kicked a goal.
The competition’s other newcomers, the Newcastle Knights, never looked like winning in their 28-4 loss to Parramatta, with their only points coming from two penalty goals by former Toowoomba Clydesdales’ five-eighth, Robbie Tew. The Knights were greeted by a record crowd at Newcastle Sports Centre – 26,340. There had been crowds of around 20,000 for local club grand finals and matches against touring international sides.
Canberra and Illawarra, admitted to the competition in 1982, slugged it out at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan, with 1987 Grand Finalists, Canberra proving far too strong. The Raiders won 28-8, with Laure Daley, Craig Bellamy, Steve Jackson and Ashley Gilbert scoring tries, while former Brisbane Souths’ Magpie, Gary Belcher landed six goals. Belcher was in outstanding form in open play.
The 1988 season had begun with St George pulling off a stunning 24-14 win over favourites, Eastern Suburbs Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium, with second rower, Graeme Wynn turning in one of his best performances in ages, with the Werris Creek product scoring two tries. Brisbane Brothers’ signings, Trevor Bailey and Peter Gill also stood out for the victors. Winger, Brian Johnstone had the honour of scoring the first try at the new stadium, dashing over, after claiming a Gill bomb, after just nine minutes.
Saints’ coach, Ted Glossop targeted Easts’ backs, remarking that they didn’t have many ‘noted tacklers’. (The backline included the likes of former union stars, Tony Melrose and Brett Papworth).
Test prop, Steve Roach was devastating for Balmain in their 24-4 thrashing of North Sydney in a spiteful match at Leichhardt Oval, dedicating his performance to his grandfather, Rube Winton.
“My grandmother died two weeks ago, and the old boy has been doing it a bit tough, as you can imagine,” Roach said.
A field goal by Phil Blake proved the difference in South Sydney’s 21-20 win over Cronulla at Shark Park, while at Penrith Park, five-eighth, Brad Izzard inspired the Panthers to a 28-8 win over Wests Magpies.
Footnote: Sandy Campbell was the subject of a news story in 2022, in which it was revealed he was living on the streets at Tweed Heads, a sad predicament for anyone, but a real shock, when you consider Campbell was something of a glamour player in his day. Last I heard, the Family of League (formerly Men of League) was doing something for Sandy, along with ex-players and members of the community.
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