Paul Khan (centre) with English league legends, Mal Reilly(left) and Roger Millard
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14
Broncos’ coach, Kevin Walters is proud of the club’s heritage, and wants his players to have the same pride in the history of Queensland’s Premier sporting club. With that in mind, he has recruited me to interview one of the club’s founding fathers, Barry Maranta, for posterity purposes. Former Broncos’ hooker, Andrew McCullough has joined the club’s game development staff, but has retained his post as a corporate and game day ambassador at St George Illawarra, where he has played the last two seasons. McCullough is originally from Dalby. Shane Sullivan has been appointed Toowoomba Clydesdales CEO, recruited from Northern Territory Rugby Union. I once covered a Toowoomba v Northern Territory rugby league match in Toowoomba. The late, great Steve Rogers coached NT.
Much travelled former rugby league star, Phil Blake has been appointed Queensland Reds’ (rugby union) defence coach.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
It is our 47th wedding anniversary, and it seems like I am back at work at Queensland newspapers as I say goodbye to Marie and head off to Broncos’ training for the Maranta interview. The media pack – which includes Travis Meyn, Katie Brown, Ben Dobson and Joel Gould – is interviewing rising star, Reece Walsh, while Barry and I wait for admission to the Broncos’ Performance Centre’s film studio. The interview goes two hours, and is hard work – not because Barry is shy or anything like that. The air-con failed and it was uncomfortably hot. Barry says he couldn’t believe how amateurish the St George Dragons were, in terms of the club’s administration and coaching structure, when he checked out their operations ahead of the Broncos’ inaugural season, in 1988. Our cameraman today is Callum Wood. Lisa Parsfield, from the Broncos Old Boys’ organisation, shouts me lunch, across the road at Broncos’ Leagues Club. Former Test halfback, Scott Prince has been appointed Broncos’ NRLW coach.
New Zealand’s Joseph Manu wins the Golden Boot as International player of the Year, while fellow Roosters’ star, Raecene McGregor wins the female award. England’s Australian raised forward, Victor Radley is being investigated over an alleged altercation with Ireland’s James Bentley, at a hotel just outside Manchester. Maranta said he had heard that rival NRL clubs were circling the Broncos’ English centre, Herbie Farnsworth. Author, Patrick Skene has a go at the BBC for not getting pronunciations right, when calling the England v Samoa World Cup semi-final. Who would be a commentator today, with all those Polynesian names, unless, of course, you are a Polynesian commentator. The Kangaroos are training at Sale’s rugby union complex. George Ford, son of former Great Britain halfback, Mike Ford, has signed with Sale.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Radio SEN’S former Test wicket keeper, Ian Healy says the Wallabies should make the next Test their priority, not the World Cup. “You can fluke a World Cup, but you can’t fluke winning a Test series,” he says. It’s my belief that no matter what the national side, winning the next game is the priority, otherwise you devalue the jersey, by “looking to the future”. “‘Heals’ says union and cricket teams need to engage better with the public e.g. by rocking up at pubs.
The television ad in which a little lass in the back seat of a car belts out: ‘I’m a super woman’ rap song, really gets up my nose. The lyrics of the song include this lovely line -“spit on whoever next to me”. Any wonder the lady in the next car is horrified. People in my home town, Murwillumbah want a 24 hour police station. I can’t believe they don’t have one. It closed at mid-night, back in the early 70s when I was a young reporter at The Daily News.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17
People in Hull will have you believe Queensland ‘went the biff’ when they played Hull Kingston Rovers in the first match of the Maroons’ historic 1983 tour of the UK. But one of the Queensland forwards – Paul Khan – is adamant the brawling only started after Rovers’ Kiwi prop, Mark Broadhurst starting baiting the Maroons, Shane Bernardin in particular. “Shane was a character,” Paul says to me today. Paul knew English conditions because he had a stint at Castleford in the 1970s. Hull KR are bringing out a special jersey to commemorate the historic win over Queensland, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the clash. One of Khan’s best mates is former Cronulla teammate, Steve Kneen, who was coach driver for the New South Wales Blues in recent times.
Australia’s changing demographics are illustrated by a schools’ TV quiz show. Calare Public School from Orange in Western New South Wales is represented by three Anglo-Celtic children, while the two Sydney schools – Harrington Street and Casula – are represented by children of Asian or Middle Eastern extraction. There is terrible flooding in the Orange area, particularly around Molong, where we have friends.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Former Queensland back, Mitch Brennan tells me Brisbane Wests’ president, Hugh Kelly tried to lure him away from Souths Magpies to Bardon by offering to pay off Mitch’s $15,000 Sunnybank home over three years – that’s back in the 1970s. Mitch toured England with that ’83 Qld side.
My English photographer mate, Andrew Varley says there is a new micro brewery at Whitby, but he sticks to Guiness on a visit to the harbour town. Snapper is $120kg at Sweetlips in Samford. I remember buying fresh halibut on a visit to Whitby many years ago, and it was expensive. But $120kg!!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Former Test hooker, Greg Conescu is having a punt at Samford Pub, and introduces me to local Stags’ identity, Chris Ives, whose dad, Jim was a top player in the late 1940s.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Wake to Jillaroos celebrating victory in the World Cup final, with Ali Brigginshaw player of the match in a 54-4 win over New Zealand, in the early match of an Old Trafford double header. Ali’s dad, Larry toured England with that ’83 Queensland side. International Federation chair, Troy Grant kisses all the players, but not on the lips.
Australian soprano, Amelia Bertolini beautifully sings our national anthem before the Men’s final. Assistant coach, Adrian Lam, who has Papua New Guinea heritage, sings along with coach, Mal Meninga, but our Indigenous players do not. Referee, Ashley Klein’s voice dominates the television coverage and it is so irritating. Solicitor and fellow League historian, Lyle Beaton reckons Australian forward, Angus Chrichton should have been sent off, for using a raised elbow to the head of Chanel Harris-Tevita in the 46th minute. He got 10 in the bin, which I think was sufficient. Dual Welsh rugby international, Johnathan Davies, a commentator for the BBC, gives the man of the match award to Australian skipper, James Tedesco who scores 2 tries in the 30-10 victory. Australia celebrate with three flags – you know what I’m talking about. They just hoist one when we win an Olympic Gold Medal. The men and women’s teams get together for a photo opportunity at Old Trafford, and the Indigenous flag has pride of place, just like at an ALP or CFMEU gathering.
Our youngest won, Lliam is back from a trip to Koh Samui, where he caught up with his sister, Melanie Mariotto and her husband, Greg. Lliam suffered a terrible case of sea sickness on a fishing trip, and got little sympathy from Greg.
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