FLASHBACK: February 1973

FEBRUARY 1973

Brisbane Brothers defeated North Sydney 12-11 in a quality trial at Corbett Park, Grange with an estimated 8,000 fans cramming into the North Brisbane suburban ground, causing traffic chaos in surrounding streets.

Coached by former Test hooker, Noel Kelly and with Test five eighth, Tim Pickup calling the shots, Norths were expected to win. But Brothers proudly flew the flag for Brisbane club football with a quality display.

Pickup was the outstanding player, but Norths couldn’t capitalise on his clever attack, with fellow Australian Test player, George Ambrum and Kiwi international, Eddie Heatley both falling short, when it seemed they must score.

It was Pickup’s opposing five eighth, Barry ‘Tubby’ Dowling who scored the first try of the night, dashing 30 metres down the blindside to catch Bears’ defenders napping. The try followed a great movement in which Test lock, Col Weiss; Jim O’Connor and Graham Quinn featured.

Norths’ first try was scored by former South Murwillumbah winger, George Varella, who came from a prominent Tweed family, of Greek origin. Former Australian rules player, Barry Glasgow did the lead-up work for Varella’s try. Norths’ best forward was former Brisbane Easts’ youngster, Bruce Walker.

There was plenty of fire, with referee, Henry Albert dismissing Indigenous forward, Noel ‘Chips’ Harrington (Brothers) and Brian Anderson (Norths) in the second half.

Ross Strudwick, Valleys’ halfback signing from St George in Sydney, impressed The Courier-Mail’s Jack Reardon, when Reardon attended Diehards’ training at Neumann Oval (now Allan Border Field).

“He looks smart, quick and keeps on running into attacking movements. Valleys have a real capture in this player,” wrote Reardon.

Another newcomer at Valleys was Greg O’Shea, 18, a son of former Test forward, Kel O’Shea, a product of Ayr in the Burdekin region of North Queensland.

Queensland winger, Warren Orr confirmed he would join Brisbane Wests Panthers from the Atherton club in North Queensland. Orr, 22, a dairy cattle husbandry officer, had been transferred to Brisbane. Orr was to join fellow State winger, Wayne Stewart in the Panthers’ line-up. A Wynnum-Manly Junior, Orr represented Queensland Primary Schools from Wynnum State.

Wests owed the signing of Orr to strong ties between committeeman, Hugh Kelly and his North Queensland mates. One of them contacted Kelly to alert him to Orr’s impending job transfer.

The Panthers’ biggest signing was former Test skipper, John Sattler. There were rumours in Sydney that another Test forward, Queenslander, Arthur Beetson would quit Easts Roosters to return to Redcliffe.

Giant New Zealand Test prop, Robin Orchard reported for training at Redcliffe on February 2. Redcliffe secretary, Don McLennan said he was ‘flabbergasted’ when Orchard; his wife and two children walked into the leagues club at Redcliffe Show Grounds.

“We were arranging a big welcome for Robin, with a Maori concert party and club supporters to be at the airport,” McClennan said. “He has arrived 24 hours earlier than we anticipated.”

At a meeting of the Brisbane Rugby League, Ken McMillan from Wests Panthers, was made a Life Member.

Footnote: I drove from Muwillumbah to Brisbane to watch the Brothers v North Sydney match. I got totally lost, around Lutwyche. I could see the floodlights in the distance, but do you think I could find my way there!!. It seemed as if there was a maze of streets. I made it to the ground in time for the second half. Three years later I was training and playing for Brothers at Grange, and then, in 2008, my wife, Marie and I moved into Hermitage Gardens at Grange, a town house estate built on Brothers’ former playing fields.

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