Shane McNally
Easts’ ‘Tiger Cubs’ proved too strong for Redcliffe in the Brisbane Rugby League major semi-final at Lang Park, although both sides could manage only one try in a scrappy affair. Gavin Payne crossed for Easts, while Mitch Brennan was the Dolphins’ try scorer.
‘Mr Reliable’, Shane McNally, the senior citizen of Easts’ pack, provided the difference, kicking three goals from four shots. McNally, 29, was easily the oldest forward, with Cavill Heugh (21) the next in-line, in the seniority stakes.
Payne’s try came from a Larry Brigginshaw bomb, which evaded Redcliffe fullback, Mark Forster. Redcliffe’s try was a great team effort with Forster, Colin Part, Paul Khan, Shane Bernardin and Steve Cherry involved in the build-up.
Seven minutes from fulltime, Easts lock, Trevor Paterson – the 1983 Rothmans’ Gold Medal winner – kicked a field goal, for the final 11-5 scoreline.
Redcliffe, coached by John Barber, finished last in the State League held earlier in the season, and were written off as BRL title threats. Likewise, Easts, coached by John Lang, were not rated early in the premiership rounds, because of their inexperience.
It was Easts’ day, with the club also winning the Reserve and Third Grade major semi-finals, against Souths and Wests respectively.
Prop, Tony Elliott was dominant in the middle in Easts’ Reserve Grade’s 22-10 win, while five eighth, Trevor Cook scored two tries. Souths started well, with winger, Phil Cass (now a world renowned magician) and lock, Brett Donachie scoring tries. But the Magpies were found wanting when Easts moved into top gear
Redcliffe were to face Valleys in the First Grade preliminary final, while Souths would face Redcliffe in the Reserves and Wests had to confront Souths in the Thirds.
Teenage prop, Martin Bella was outstanding in the Tigers’ 32-6 win in Third Grade. Bella, who represented Australia at under-18 level in 1981, had joined the Tigers from North Queensland, but struggled for form for much of the club season. Wests were disappointing, especially as their side contained Queensland representatives, Tony Currie and Bill Whitmore.
I covered major semi-final day for Brisbane’s afternoon paper, the ‘Telegraph’, and the first grade match was disappointing, with poor handling regularly bringing groans from spectators.
Queensland Rugby League chairman, Ron McAuliffe returned to Brisbane in time for the major semi-finals, after being a special guest at the Tweed Banana Festival at Murwillumbah, in the Tweed Valley. While he was ‘over the border’, McAuliffe held talks with Group 18 and Tweed Seagulls’ officials about the prospect of Seagulls either entering Queensland’s State League, or the Brisbane competition. Seagulls were one of Australia’s wealthiest sporting clubs at that stage – thanks to poker machines – and had the capacity to completely dominate the Group 18 competition, if they opened the purse strings.
The Courier-Mail’s Lawrie Kavanagh said the QRL was excited about the prospect of Seagulls bringing ‘new money’ into the state.
“But I wonder how ‘new’ the Seagulls’ money will be? Probably most of it was put through the poker machines by Queensland housewives,” Kavanagh wrote.
‘Housewives’! Wouldn’t get away with that now.
In Sydney, the preliminary semi-finals were played, with St George defeating Balmain 17-14, while Parramatta accounted for Canterbury-Bankstown 30-22. Brett Kenny, one of the heroes of the 1982 Kangaroo Tour of Britain and France, scored two tries for Parramatta.
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