Mick Tierney
To say someone was ‘much loved’ may seem an over-used phrase, but in the case of Dr Mick Tierney, OAM, nothing is more appropriate.
Mick didn’t have an enemy in the world, despite having to navigate many difficult situations in his time as a rugby league administrator.
A Life Member of Brisbane Second Division (Now called ‘Rugby League Brisbane’) and Brothers St Brendan’s, Mick Tierney died on January 20, 2025, aged 76.
Mick Tierney graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1972 as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Animal Genetics, and his work in the advancement of animal breeding and genetics saw him travel extensively in South East Asia, assisting the primary industry sector, particularly in areas of tropical breeding systems.
Mick was a quiet, modest man and chances are many people were unaware of his higher education honours and the esteem in which he was held in circles far removed from rugby league.
But the 13-man game was his first love, and he combined the promotion and administration of the code with travel as a fan, often seen in the company of his great mates from Brisbane Rugby League administration, the late Ted Beaumont, and Bill Hunter. Tierney also developed a close relationship with Rugby League Immortal, Arthur Beetson, and travelled to Britain and France with Artie’s supporters’ tours.
On one occasion, at The Stoop stadium in London, our son, Damien, who was teaching in London at the time, had the pleasure and honour of sitting beside ‘Artie’ and Mick.
Mick also was a long serving ground announcer at Davies Park, West End, home ground of Souths Magpies. He would be on duty for the Queensland Cup, as well as University Rugby League’s mid-week floodlit games.
But Mick was best known for his work with the Second Division Rugby League administration, which governed a myriad of competitions across the Greater Brisbane Metropolitan area, and areas beyond, with teams from places such as Stradbroke Island, Samford, Deception Bay and Inala. There were also Greek Orthodox, Christian and Muslim sides that came under the Second Division umbrella.
It was not always smooth sailing, with the Second Division having to deal with everything from ground invasions to assaults of referees, as well as the usual judiciary and scheduling and grading dramas. Mick was always available to hear submissions from players, officials and fans, and was open in his dealings with the media.
He ensured the League always stood by referees, the people with the toughest job in the code, and often a thankless one. One on occasion a player was banned for 10 years for striking an official, but then resurfaced in rugby union, inside that 10 year period. Those bans are supposed to transfer between the codes, so this case didn’t sit particularly well with Mick.
Initially the secretary of the Second Division, Mick then succeeded his great mate, Ted Beaumont as Chairman. After Mick stepped down, Ted’s son, Keith became Second Division chairman.
Mick retired from the role in 2014 after 38 years of service to the Second Division. Mick worked out that during those 38 years there had been 2,438 teams take the field; 97,000 player registrations and about 17,500 individual players registered.
In his final year as Chairman there were 78 teams from 45 clubs, involving over 3,000 players. There were also 14 women’s teams, at time when the women’s game was really beginning to take off. Mick was always a strong advocate for women and girls playing the sport.
On Australia Day, 2016, Mick was honoured with an OAM for his services to rugby league, the community and primary industries.
Mick always did his best to promote the lower tiers of rugby league, and his charm and persistence meant that on a few occasions I attended trophy nights and season launches, to see that I could do to get the Second Division some space in ‘The Courier-Mail’.
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