Greg Oliphant (background) and John Ribot playing for South Queensland against New South Wales Country at Lang Park
Wests’ coach, Greg Oliphant ruled out signing ‘old blokes from Sydney’ as the Panthers looked to rebuild, following a disastrous campaign in the 1983 Brisbane Rugby League Premiership.
Oliphant, a former Test halfback, took over the reins from former Queensland lock, Ron Raper at Purtell Park, hoping to lift the Panthers out of the cellar, and promising supporters that the club would play attractive football. But Oliphant said the club would not be embarking on a shopping spree.
“I suppose we will be underdogs every time we go on the field, but that suits me fine,” he said. “We are not going to run out there with frills on our pants and lie down for any team. I want to get Wests out of the losing habit and I am positive we have the team to give a good account of ourselves.
“Every coach would like to say he has the team to win the final, but I am not kidding myself that is going to be easy. When you weigh up the opposition, it’s obvious this is going to be a hard season, but big names don’t worry me.
“We are on the lookout for centres, but there aren’t too many around. I’m not interested in some of the older blokes from Sydney, who are over the hill, and there just aren’t a lot of up and comers on the market.”
As well as a new coach, Wests had a new president, with Dr Peter Zavatarro taking over from former Queensland forward, Hugh Kelly.
Zavattaro described Mark Crear (Brothers) as the Panthers’ “only serious loss”, although other players to depart included Brisbane representative forwards, John Tapp (Valleys) and Brett Ferguson (Brothers). Signings included prop, Paul Stewart (Wide Bay); halfback, Neil Wharton (Brisbane Souths) and prop, Peter Winton (Gold Coast).
The players who carried most responsibility going into 1984 were rep. stars, Tony Currie, Mick Neill, Norm Carr and Dave Moffett.
“There is a saying that if Wests are firing, the grandstands at Lang Park will be full, so we will be doing our bit to bring the crowds back,” Oliphant said.
In other news of the time, South Sydney coach, Ron Willey invited exciting Toowoomba State League fullback, Rick Weribone to trial with the Rabbitohs. Weribone had played for the Queensland under-18 and Secondary Schools sides in 1977, and was part of the premiership winning Newtown side in the Toowoomba competition in 1983.
The highlight of the Indigenous star’s 1983 State League season was a conversion landed from the sideline, to give the Clydesdales a 6-4 win over Brisbane Brothers at Roma. Weribone had to make his run-up through ankle deep water.
Brisbane Souths’ first grade coach, Wayne Bennett was also named coach of the Queensland under-18 side. Arthur Beetson was coach of the Qld senior side.
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