Trevor Gillmeister takes the ball up for the Crushers against Canterbury
The South Queensland Crushers’ attempts to build a formidable playing roster hit a major hurdle when Fijian rugby union sensation, Waisale Serevi failed to honour the three-year deal he had signed with the Brisbane based rugby league club.
Crushers’ chief executive, Darryl Van de Velde had signed Serevi, after the Queensland Rugby League backed club got the go ahead to be part of the ARL Premiership, in 1995.
Serevi had been expected to represent Fiji in the Rugby League World Sevens in Sydney, in February, 1994, but instead of attending the League trials in Fiji, went to a union carnival, in breach of his contact, which took effect on January 1.
The drums were beating loud that Serevi would remain in the 15-man code, but Van de Velde was adamant he would not let Serevi renege on his League deal. The Fijian side for the League Sevens was to be captained by Canberra’s Noa Nadruku, with Crushers’ signing Filimoni Seru, also in the squad. Van de Velde had accepted a role as an assistant to the South African Rhinos side to contest the League Sevens. He had a number of league contacts in South Africa, as a result of a visit there in 1993, as part of a recruiting mission.
Fiji Rugby League’s Technical Officer, Mike Dennis quit his post as a result of the Serevi issue. Dennis, Australia’s Defence Attache in Suva, said the handling of the issue was causing “irreparable damage to the reputation of Fijian footballers of both codes, world wide.”
Dennis said “inaccurate press coverage of the issue” was leading to conflict with his Defence position, in a country where Union was far and away the dominant rugby code.
Van de Velde had not given up on signing players from rugby union, with England halfback, Dewi Morris top of his list.
The Crushers were to field a side in Brisbane’s XXXX Cup competition in 1994, under the coaching of Bill Gardner, who had returned to Australia after coaching Sheffield in England. The Crushers were beaten 32-16 by Cronulla’s Reserve Grade side in their first trial, with Murwillumbah product, Paul Donaghy scoring two tries for the Sharks.
Gold Coast Seagulls defeated Logan City Scorpions 36-20 in a Sevens trial, with David Bouveng, Wayne Bartrim and Tim Patterson each scoring two tries for Seagulls. Ipswich Jets defeated Brisbane Wests 22-18 in the final of the Runaway Bay Sevens, with Ipswich captain-coach, Kevin Langer the player of the tournament.
The Seagulls’ squad chosen for the World Sevens was: Russell Bussian, Tim Patterson, Adrian Vowles (c), Dale Shearer, David Bouveng, John Skardon, Kevin Campion, Wayne Bartrim, Terry Cook, Eddie Fallins.
Former Broncos’ forward, Trevor Gillmeister was named in Penrith’s squad for a trial against a Mackay representative side. Gillmeister was a key factor in the Broncos’ march to Premiership glory in 1992 and ’93, but was squeezed out of the club by salary cap pressures, much to the disappointment of his teammates.
Prop, Victor Timms and halfback, Leo Dynevor became the first Brisbane Broncos signed to the club’s new London operation, which was still called the Crusaders at that stage. Dynevor’s uncle was 1962 Commonwealth Games Boxing (Bantamweight) Gold Medal winner, Jeff Dynevor.
Timms, originally from Mount Isa, toured New Zealand with the Ross O’Reilly coached Queensland under-19 side in 1990. “I’ve had a look at some of the Crusaders’ matches and one was played in a blizzard. I’m more used to dodging bindi-eyes,” Timms said.
The 1994 Tooheys’ Challenge Pre-Season launch was held at Ayers Rock Resort on January 27, at the urging of the Northern Territory Government and sponsors, with a semi-final to be held in Alice Springs. Other venues for the pre-season competition included Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Parkes, Narrandera, Gunnedah and Albury, with Local Government officials from those centres, also attending he launch.
On the Brisbane club scene, prop forward, Steve Telfer was appointed Brothers’ captain, by coach, Don Gailer.
Footnote: I attended the Tooheys’ Challenge launch, covering the event for ‘The Courier-Mail’. The NSWRL flew a number of media representatives to the event on a chartered aircraft. We stayed overnight at the resort, and even had the chance to see Ayers Rock (Uluru) up close. A number of media types climbed ‘The Rock’, but I stayed on the bus to file a story.
About Author
