MONDAY, MAY 30
The Brisbane Rugby League Team of the Century will be named later this year, and the QRL History Committee, of which I am chairman, will have the job of selecting the squad, along with a coach. I discuss the process over lunch, with BRL chairman, Sebastian Olsen, (a lawyer), at Port Office Hotel. Sebastian says former Queensland forward, Con Marrinan lives at Samford, where my wife, Marie and I are moving to, next month. I knew Sam Thaiday and Greg Conescu lived in the village, but was not aware that Marrinan – who played two games for the Maroons in 1980 from Central Qld – was also located there. My bus to the city was almost empty – it is packed on my way home, and the woman next to me reeks of BO. Worse still, I have left plenty of room for her, and she still wants me to move over. I would have moved out onto the street, if it was possible. Before lunch I had walked through Anzac Square, where there is a statue, I hadn’t seen before – honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Servicemen and Women. The statue was only unveiled three days ago.
Perth born, Jai Hindley becomes the first Australian to win the Giro ‘d Italia. Nottingham Forest have been promoted to Premier League. I always associate Forest with legendary manager, Brian Clough, who was in charge in the late 1970s, when they enjoyed so much success.
TUESDAY, MAY 31
Former State forward, Reg Cannon calls into Stafford Tavern on his way home from Queensland Rugby League’s ‘Long Lunch’, and catches up with former Brothers’ teammate, Peter Skerman. Reg recalls the Queensland side having a keg of beer, ‘after hours’, at Brisbane’s Wickham Hotel, following a rare win over New South Wales, in the 1960s. He says the Sydney Roosters (then known as Easts) always looked after the Queensland players when they were in Sydney in the late 1960s, early 1970s. Fellow drinker, Keith Daley recently went to Coolangatta, where he caught up with another former Stafford Tavern regular, Gerry McKendry, who lives at Kirra. Keith and Gerry had a few drinks with former Sydney first graders, Neil Pringle and Greg Bandiera. A bloke at the pub, who shall remain nameless, says something is ‘a pigment of your imagination’.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
Kyhnan Butler, the nephew of my former Murwillumbah Brothers’ teammate, Greg Grainger, scores two tries for All Saints, Maitland against Holy Cross, Ryde, in a schoolboys’ game. The commentator (not sure of his or her name) compares Kyhnan to former Australian hooker, Cameron Smith.
Former State forward, Tom Duggan reflects on his time as licensee of Roma’s Queen’s Arms Hotel. In the 1980s, he was paying 23 percent interest on the loan, after buying into the pub. Tom is a fellow member of the Brisbane Men of League Committee, and today we nominate treasurer, Cliff Coyle for the State Volunteer of the Year award.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2
Radio TAB guys reflect on the glory days of greyhound racing at the Gabba, when the track went around the cricket field. The cricketers would stay after training, with an Esky full of XXXX, and watch the races. God knows how many cricketers tripped over the track, when going out onto the field. I remember sitting on the track watching Sheffield Shield and Test matches. There were 40 or more bookies fielding on the dogs on Thursday nights at the Gabba, which was the place to go in Brisbane.
Famed television sports commentator, Ray ‘Rabbits’ Warren is a guest on Ray Hadley’s radio show, after ‘Rabbits’ announces he is calling it quits. The old Amco Cup knockout competition is discussed. I played two Cup games in the 1970s, but I’m not sure whether Ray was commentator.
The English Test cricket season begins with England hosting New Zealand at Lords. England skipper, Ben Stokes sings ‘God Save the Queen’, but not too enthusiastically. (He has Kiwi heritage, with his father, Jed, having represented New Zealand in rugby league). There is acknowledgement of the passing of Australian great, Shane Warne, with 23 seconds applause, a tribute to Warne’s favourite number, which was worn by Aussie rules star, Dermott Brereton, who Warne idolised. There are huge crowds in Pall Mall on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Holiday.
FRIDAY, JUNE 3
Wake to the news 17 wickets fell in the Lords’ Test. I interview ‘Super Coach’, Wayne Bennett at Redcliffe Leagues Club, for Men of League Foundation, although it was touch and go at one stage whether the interview would go ahead, as Wayne had double booked, with a fishing club, of all things. It means I have to interview Wayne before guests have eaten, instead of after. It goes OK, but he should be better organised. Wayne hangs around for a while after the interview, which is nice. But a fishing club!!! Redcliffe cult figure, Forester Grayson, wearing a Stetson, is among the guests. The New Zealand Warriors, who are based at Redcliffe during these Covid times, are training on an outside ground when I arrive. Warriors’ owner, Mark Robinson was to attend the lunch, but his son, Zorro, has Covid. Robinson donates $1,000 to Men of League.
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
There is debate in England’s rugby league community about whether Australian, Chris McQueen should be picked for the national side. Former Great Britain and Wales five eighth, Lee Briers says there are enough good forwards in the UK, without having to select a colonial (He didn’t use that term. I thought I would throw it in). McQueen, who has played State of Origin for Queensland, plays for West Yorkshire club, Huddersfield, and represented England in 2017. (He has an English father). McQueen scores two tries against Catalan Dragons today. Warrington fans boo their players after a 40-4 loss to Leeds. Leeds’ Australian coach, Rohan Smith, who started the year in charge of Norths’ Devils in the Queensland Cup, tells SkySports he had wanted to be a coach since he was 16. (He is now 41). His father is former top coach, Brian Smith, and his uncle, Tony has coached Great Britain. New Zealand’s all time great halfback, Stacey Jones is appointed interim coach of the Warriors, with Australian, Nathan Brown not willing to commit to the club beyond this year, when they will return to New Zealand.
Former New South Wales representative, Rocky Laurie has died in Wauchope. I played against members of the Laurie family in 1975, when I was contracted to Wingham Tigers. That was the year Rocky left Wauchope for Easts in Sydney. Wauchope, coached by Kiwi international, Eddie Heatley, won the Group 3 premiership in 1975. Rocky’s funeral is to be held on the footy field.
People come through our town house as part of a rent inspection. Two young blokes are first, and one of them says he played cards with former Broncos’ fullback, Darius Boyd last night.
SUNDAY, JUNE 5
The ABC’s Ian McNamara (Macca) says most school fights – in the 1950s, 60s and 70s’ – were wrestles, rather than the full blooded fist fights or martial arts affairs, we see now, with hair pulling, stomping and even knives being drawn, sometimes by females. Female brawls were unheard of during my high school years – 1965-70.
There is an old Journos get-together at Pig and Whistle, West End, organised by Barton Green and Kay Dibben. I can’t attend unfortunately, as I had promised to have a last drink with Sunday regulars at Stafford Tavern, ahead of our move to Samford to live. I worked with Barton at the Brisbane ‘Telegraph’ and Kay at ‘The Courier-Mail’.
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