Wally Lewis gives Many rival, Cliff Lyons a ride during the Broncos’ 44-10 win over the Sea Eagles in 1988
MONDAY, MARCH 6
It is 35 years since the Broncos played their first premiership game – against Manly-Warringah at Lang Park – a match I covered for ‘The Courier-Mail’ in my first year at the paper after the closure of Brisbane’s oldest newspaper, the ‘Telegraph’, on February 5. FoxSports has a replay of the game – won 44-10 by Brisbane – and it is hilarious listening to the commentary of Rex Mossop, a dual rugby international who played with Manly. Rex’s co-commentator, Ian Maurice says Rex aged 10 years’ as a result of the big loss. “I haven’t got 10 years to play with,” Rex says. (He was 60 at the time and went on to live another 23 years).
TUESDAY, MARCH 7
Yorkshire clubs, Bradford Northern and Featherstone Rovers play for Peter Fox Memorial Trophy. When I think of Peter, his outrageous radio commentary comes to mind, as well as his wonderful efforts as coach of the British ‘Dad’s Army’ side of 1978, which was given no hope against the Kangaroos, but managed to snare a Test. Peter played for Featherstone and coached Bradford.
The AFL boasts it is keeping down the price of beer and food at games. I paid $11.25 for a beer at the NRL on Sunday and I never thought I would ever pay over $10 for beer in a plastic cup. A pot or middy of beer was 17 cents when I turned 18.
As I walk to Samford’s Main Street, past the caravan park, there is a ‘street library’, with ‘Up the Duff’ a standout paperback. In the fruit shop, a lass asks how I am feeling? I wonder what she is talking about because I feel fine, and I reckon I look fine. But then I wake up to the fact she is referring to my Roosters’ polo, and, of course, the Chooks were shock losers to the Dolphins on Sunday.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
There is an English (soccer) Championship match between Plymouth Argyle and Derby County on television as I channel surf, and Plymouth boast a player, Finn Azaz, who is of Irish and Israeli descent.
Marie and I watch movie, ‘Buckley’s Chance’, starring Bill Nighy. It is a 2021 production set in the Australian Outback.
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
Penrith forward, Liam Martin is one of the bravest players I have seen. The Temora product plays well above his weight in the Panthers’ 16-10 win over South Sydney. The Rabbitohs are down 16-4 with two minutes left when fullback, Latrell Mitchell sets up a try for Isaiah Tass, which Latrell converts, setting up a gripping finish. A youngster wearing a Roosters’ jersey, allegedly racially abuses Latrell as he is leaving the field.
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Wake to Wigan v Catalan Dragons match, which is being played in snow at Wigan’s DW Stadium. Catalans win 18-10. On RadioSEN, Matt Johns and Denan Kemp talk all things Broncos, including the effect their entry into the competition had on the old Brisbane League, as well as the adulation the players enjoy, being the only team in town (except for those three years when the Crushers were here). Now the Broncos have the Dolphins to contend with, although Broncos’ people will tell you they are a Redcliffe team, and Redcliffe is a city in its own right. True. But the Dolphins’ membership is made up of many people from the City of Brisbane, particularly from the northside. Matty and Denan also mention the old City Rowers’ Night Club, where the Broncos players could enjoy free drinks.
Marie and I attend the Broncos v Cowboys game at Suncorp Stadium, and are amazed at the speed of Broncos’ fullback, Reece Walsh, in his NRL debut for the club after being lured back to Brisbane from New Zealand Warriors. It is a frenetic game, and despite the pace, Cowboys’ veteran hooker, Jake Granville competes as if he is a youngster just starting out. Broncos’ prop, Marty Taupau is guilty of one of those shocking hip drop tackles. Broncos’ winger, Corey Oates is left with a broken jaw after a shoulder charge from Scott Drinkwater. The Broncos’ win augurs well for their season, coming on the back of their round 1 win over premiers, Penrith. Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns goes as far as to say that the club may have regained its aura.
SATURDAY, MARCH 11
The Courier-Mail’s Peter Badel and Travis Meyn have a feature about Joseph Pouniu, who is a quadriplegic after a freak incident on the footy field, playing for the Gold Coast Titans against the Brisbane Broncos at Pizzey Park, Miami in an under-17 elite squad trial. I had been told about the incident some weeks back, by a friend who knew the family. From all accounts Joseph was set to be a league star, and everyone who has met him has only nice things to say about him as a person.
Gladstone based former Test hooker, Jason Hetherington is in Brisbane for his son, Kobe’s birthday, which will be celebrated at the Jubilee Hotel in Fortitude Valley. (Kobe is on the injured list at the Broncos). Jason loved the way Broncos’ coach, Kevin Walters had Reece Walsh targeting Cowboys’ centre, Peta Hiku last night. At Milton I have a nice chat with Laurie Cranitch from Port Douglas, who went to the Broncos/Cowboys match with his son, a fine middle-distance runner, who went to Brisbane’s State High. Marie and I enjoy lunch at Mitchelton’s Ion Cafe, which is located in an old workers’ cottage.
The Dolphins host Canberra Raiders at Dolphin (Kayoh) Stadium and before the game Raiders’ coach, Ricky Stuart reflects on the association Redcliffe (as opposed to the Dolphins) enjoyed with the Sydney Roosters, when Ricky coached the Roosters. Dolphins’ chairman, Bob Jones had a season with the Roosters back in the 70s. The new boys on the block continue to defy the critics, beating Canberra 20-14, with ‘the Hammer’, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring two tries. Samoan, Anthony Milford, who can’t crack first grade, kicks the winning field goal for Dolphins’ feeder club, Central Capras against Tweed Heads Seagulls in Rockhampton.
Wests’ Cricket Club’s home ground at Graceville is named after former Queensland player, Jack McLaughlin OAM, who also was a commentator for ABC Radio, and wrote a column for ‘The Courier-Mail’. I remember Jack from my time in the media box at the Gabba back in the 1980s. I always felt a bit overawed by his knowledge of the game, given my comparative youth and inexperience. I certainly did not claim to be a cricket expert, even though I loved the game, and played it for quite a few years. I could claim to be a rugby league expert, but in the ’80s I was needed for both sports because rugby league in Queensland had not reached the stage where it would demand huge media space throughout the summer. That would come with the birth of the Broncos.
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
My former Murwillumbah High classmate, Andrew Meyenn emails and mentions the three year ban Broncos’ coach, Wayne Bennett’s imposed on me (2001-04). “Bizarre” Andrew says. Andrew tips Geelong Cats to do well in the AFL because they have some ‘ball getters’. Hope I got that term right, Andrew. I am reliably informed, not by Andrew, that the Victorian Government’s political correctness has hit the tourism industry, with guides instructed not to use the term prostitute when taking people through a red light district. And in one town, famous for its great pubs, the local tourist office will not promote historic pub tours – because alcohol is involved, I suppose. What about trips to cellar doors at vineyards? That will be next.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon plays his 100th game for the Newcastle Knights and it is great to see so many of his mates on the hill. He is a product of the South Newcastle club.
Marie and I watch excellent movie ‘Phantom of the Open’, about a novice golfer managing to get a start at the British Open.
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