DIARY UPDATE: Week 16, 2022

MONDAY, APRIL 18

Kevin ‘Horrie’ Hastings remains one of my favourite footballers, because of his deeds for ‘my’ club, Eastern Suburbs Roosters. His son, Jackson, is never likely to feature on my list, but I admire his tenacity, and he certainly did a wonderful job in England last year, with Salford. Today he kicks the winning field goal – a 38 metre effort, on full-time – to hand Wests Tigers their first win of the 2022 NRL season. It was four tries each in a match which finished – Tigers 21 Parramatta Eels 20. It was entertaining stuff.

My wife, Marie and I watch the Stawell Gift Finals, with youngsters, Harrison Kerr (Victoria) and Carla Ball (Queensland) winning the main categories. Carla’s trainer wears a Queensland State of Origin polo.

The AFL has imposed a crackdown on dissent. Some what would say it’s over the top, but I reckon the Aussie rules people are out to show they are the exact opposite of soccer, the sport AFL fears the most, particularly as immigrants know little or nothing, about the 18-man game.

Hawick have won the Scottish Border Rugby Union title, after beating Kelso. I have been to Hawick four times, and I know how much they love their rugby. Former Great Britain Rugby League skipper, Dave Valentine came from Hawick.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

The Queensland Rugby League has moved into temporary offices at Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove following the disastrous floods. QRL Office Manager, Rebecca Trimble shows me around the new premises. Brisbane Rugby League area manager, Scott Dunshea tells me he played under legendary ‘bush’ captain-coach, Les Cleal at Inverell. Scott took over from former Queensland forward, Shane McNally, at the BRL.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Queensland Reds’ star, Ryan Smith says Rugby Union is as much an art form as a sport. A very abstract form of art, I would suggest.

Fresh from attending a lunch at Morningside Aussie Rules, noted league author and entertainer, Steve Hadden says the Exhibition Grounds may be used by the AFL when the Gabba is being upgraded for the 2032 Olympics. Steve, a member of the QRL History Committee, which I chair, said 500 of his Wally Lewis family history books were destroyed in the floods, as they were in storage at the QRL. Another committee member, Michael Pease, says State of Origin legend, Cameron Smith’s father, Wayne was a class player at Carina, but gave the game away, at 23, to concentrate on his brick laying business. Former Murwillumbah and Cronulla winger, Luke Covell’s daughter, Chloe is a champion skate boarder.

Andre Ponga, the father of Newcastle Knights’ star, Kalyn Ponga, doesn’t like something written about his son, by the Sydney ‘Telegraph’s Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie. Andre calls him Dennis Bullfrog Ritchie. Close. Kalyn has extended his stay with the Knights until 2027.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

Marie and I drive up Tedman Street, Zillmere, after fish and chips at Shorncliffe, and a house we knew well from our time living in Tedman, has been demolished. We knew it as ‘Rita. The flower lady’s house’, because she and her husband Les, grew beautiful flowers, which they sold for Mother’s Day. I remember one day a lady, of Pacific Island background, came in and bought most of the flowers, no doubt to sell down the road for double the price.

Valleys’ rugby league official, Chris Leeson says he played rugby union for Beenleigh in the early 1980s, when it was a country town. I played a game of rugby league for Murwillumbah Brothers against Beenleigh, at Beenleigh Showgrounds, in 1975, when it was definitely a country town. Norths’ Devils coach, Rohan Smith is to coach Leeds in England’s Super League. Evidently, Leeds’ fans are underwhelmed by the fact the club has appointed an ‘unknown’ coach. Former Bronco, Corey Norman is to join French Rugby League Club, Toulouse Olympique, to help with its battle to remain in Super League.

Another former Bronco, Corey Parker has a column in ‘The Courier-Mail’, pointing to the lack of ‘real men’ in the NRL. He means there is a lack of senior guys to keep the young blokes in line. Former Broncos’ skipper, Darren Lockyer says there are fewer playmakers in the game now, then during his time.

A ‘postie’ has dumped Liberal Party voting cards in a bin in Redbank Plains. I know this is a terrible generalisation, but posties these days seem to lack personality. It’s probably because they are dashing everywhere on their little motor bikes, whereas the posties on push bikes – men like Christ Waterson from Sandgate – would stop for a chat. 

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

Amazing scenes at ANZAC NRL match at Suncorp Stadium when a bloke, wearing a Broncos’ jersey, yells obscenities during what is meant to be the minute’s silence. Another spectator, wearing a Canterbury-Bankstown jersey, takes the law into his own hands and bashes the swearer, cheered on by most people in the vicinity. The bloke who yelled the obscenities finishes worse for wear and is removed from the ground. He gets off lightly. By the way, the female bugler was perfect, and the Broncos won 34-14 after the Bulldogs led 10-6 at halftime. Livewire fullback, Matt Dufty scored another try just after halftime, for the Dogs, but it was all Broncos from there.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Wests Tigers win another game by a point, this time against South Sydney, and once again, Jackson Hastings is brave. The Courier-Mail carries a story about parents at the footy, with a lovely picture of a mum and her 10-year-old boy, who plays rugby league for Wests Panthers.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

Marie and I enjoy a family get-together at our nephew, Patrick Lynch’s Kangaroo Point unit. The centre of attention is five-month old, Sam Morris Ricketts, the son of our niece, Jacinta and her husband, Josh, from Newcastle. My younger brother, Jeff – Josh’s grandfather – is referred to as ‘Gumpa’, which is what we called our father’s father. Hope that makes sense. Our cab driver back to Grange, is from Daisy Hill, and tells us he was back in India when the floods hit Brisbane.

Former Test rugby league prop, Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach turns 60. I interviewed him a number of times, and I get along with him just fine. But after one State of Origin match, during which he had been replaced by coach, Jack Gibson, for ill-discipline while in possession, I asked ‘Blocker’ what he thought about being hauled off? I forget the exact words of his reply, but they weren’t cordial. I told him I thought it was a fair question, and the steam really came out his ears. By this time a number of journalists had gathered round to witness the fireworks. I thought it was time to make a strategic withdrawal.

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