Tony Currie in action for Wests in 1986
Test centre, Tony Currie confirmed he would return to his beloved Wests Panthers, after helping the Brisbane Broncos to their first ever premiership win in 1992.
It seemed Currie would hang up the boots after coming off the bench in the Broncos’ 28-8 win over St George in the 1992 NSWRL Grand Final, But the 30-year-old said he felt as if he had more football in him, and was keen to go out where it all began – with the Panthers.
Currie, a graduate of Brisbane’s Kelvin Grove High, played for Wests from 1981 to 1984, and again in 1986, after one season at Redcliffe. After three seasons with Canterbury-Bankstown, he joined the Broncos in 1989.
Wests’ coach, Gary Grienke had been forced to use Brisbane representative forward, Steve Mills at centre early in 1993, following a serious injury to Queensland Residents’ representative, Sam Smith. Grienke was thrilled by the prospect of Currie’s return to the club.
Former Fijian rugby union International, Noa Nadruku was compared to Canberra’s personality winger of the 1980s, John ‘Chicka’ Ferguson after his imposing first grade debut in Canberra’s 12-10 loss to the Broncos at Brisbane’s ANZ Stadium. Nadruku scored a try and tackled like a league veteran, to contain his powerful international opponent, Michael Hancock.
Nadruku has been set to play for Logan City in the Brisbane competition, until the Raiders took a punt on the former union star, who had only switched codes 12 months earlier, playing in a low level, 13-a-side competition in Fiji.
Heat exhaustion saw another former union star, David Furner, stay in the dressing rooms after halftime, with Canberra skipper, Mal Meninga assuming the goal kicking role against the Broncos.
“I was extremely worried about David’s condition at halftime,” said Canberra coach, Tim Sheens.
More concerning for the Raiders was the news Test lock, Bradley Clyde had suffered posterior cruciate ligament damage in a tackle by Australian teammate, Steve Renouf.
Raiders’ hooker, Steve Walters showed great resolve to return to the field after his nose was belted out of shape by an accidental elbow from Broncos’ prop, Glenn Lazarus, early in the second half. Walters, who had to have the nose manipulated back into place, by the Canberra team doctor, was injured attempting a front-on tackle on the rampaging Lazarus.
Former Test fullback, Paul Hauff scored a confidence boosting hat-trick of tries in the Broncos’ reserve grade side’s 24-20 comeback win over Canebrra. Down 20-8 with 20 minutes left, Brisbane took full advantage of Canberra skipper, David Woods’ banishment to the sin bin by referee, Tim Mander. Queenslander under-19 winger, Chris McKenna scored the match winning try two minutes from the end.
Former Brisbane Valleys’ halfback, Trevor Schodel scored two tries for Canberra. Former Cairns and Northern Territory winger, Justin Mossman also played strongly for the Raiders.
Broncos’ reserve grade coach, Bill Gardner was on a short list of contenders for the Castleford job in England. Darryl Van de Velde had announced he would stand down as coach at the end of the English season, in May.
Footnote: Tony Currie won a BRL Title with Wests in 1993. His teammates at the Panthers included future dual International, Brad Thorn and future Queensland and Papua New Guinea skipper, Adrian Lam.
Tony Currie will deliver the annual Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture at QRL Headquarters, Castlemaine Street, Milton, Brisbane on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 10 a.m.
He will be the first Indigenous person to deliver the Lecture, which was first held in 2010, and was then known as the Harry Sunderland Address.
Admission is free and the lecture will be live streamed by the QRL.
But, for catering purposes, please phone (07) 33676000 or email qrlreception@qrl.com.au
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