Greg Dowling tackled by Brothers’ forward, Mark Crear
Rookie Valleys’ coach, Peter McWhirter expressed his pride in his young players after the Diehards’ courageous 25-22 loss to Premiers, Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League Knockout semi-final at Lang Park.
Wynnum, coached by Des Morris, boasted four Test players, and one player (Gary Coyne) destined for international honours. The established internationals were Australian skipper, Wally Lewis; Gene Miles, Greg Dowling and Colin Scott. Valleys didn’t have any internationals, or State players for that matter, although Les Kiss and Mark Hohn would go on to wear the green and gold.
McWhirter reserved special praise for Hohn, Kiss and Shane Kelly after Valleys matched Wynnum in the try scoring department, and fought back from 18-0 down to make a real contest of it.
Valleys had just edged out Easts for fourth spot while Wynnum finished equal top of the ladder with Souths and Brothers, but those two clubs had better for-and-against records. The Diehards were one of the fittest sides in the competition with former player, Brian Canavan the head conditioner.
Hohn and Kelly had joined Valleys from the Darling Downs, while Kiss was signed from the Bundaberg competition. The Diehards’ major off-season losses were John Tapp, Russell Klein (Brothers) and Al McInnes (retirement).
McWhirter had stepped into the big shoes of Ross Strudwick who was coaching Brothers, after they had axed another former Test halfback, Tom Raudonikis.
David Manson refereed the 1985 Knock-out semi-final, with Test referee, Eddie Ward given control of the major semi-final between Souths and Brothers, to be played the next weekend.
Manson allowed play to flow and there were some marvellous tries. Lewis and Dowling each crossed for two for Wynnum while Kiss, Grant Rix, Peter McCabe and Stephen Boys scored tries for Valleys. Warren Green kicked four goals for Wynnum with Lewis landing a field goal. Michael ‘Phone’ Booth converted three of Valleys’ tries.
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