Allan Langer (centre) with former Broncos’ skippers, Wally Lewis (left) and Gene Miles
Lifestyle Television star, Dennis Scott was named Brisbane Broncos Colts most consistent player at the club’s black tie awards night at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
Scott, who went on to play NRL for the Broncos, Canterbury and Manly, was part of a Colts side which included future Queensland icon, Petere Civoniceva, and hooker/halfback, Phil Lee who played in the Broncos’ 2000 Grand Final win over the Roosters. Civoniceva was named most improved while Lee best forward award. The team’s other trophy recipient was Ricky Bird (best back).
Qualified in a number of a different trades, Scott graduated from fulltime on the tools to co-host of popular television show, Selling Houses Australia.
Test halfback, Allan Langer was named first grade player of the year for a fourth time with the club’s two previous skippers, Wally Lewis and Gene Miles on hand to congratulate him. It was Lewis’s first time at a presentation ball since he quit the club for the Gold Coast Seagulls at the end of the 1990 season after being stripped of the captaincy by coach, Wayne Bennett.
Langer won his first player of the year award in the club’s inaugural year, 1988, after having played for Ipswich Jets in the Brisbane competition the year before. ‘Alfie’ registered 59 votes in the award, 17 more than his nearest rival, winger, Wendell Sailor. Votes were cast on a 3,2,1 basis by The Courier-Mail’s League writers and 22 current and former internationals who were asked to be guest judges. (Sounds a better system than the Brownlow).
The Ball was dominated by Langer and prop, Glenn Lazarus with ‘Alfie’ also named best back while ‘Lazo’ was best forward, most consistent and players’ player.
Experienced centre, Chris Johns, the players’ Super League spokesman, was voted best club man, while the discovery of the year, Darren Lockyer was rookie of the year.
Bennett made a special presentation to foundation player, Terry Matterson who was leaving for England the next day to start a new career with London Broncos.
Peter Ryan got the Hit of the Year award (biggest tackle, not song) while Sailor was voted most improved.
Hard nosed trainer, Kevlin Giles attended the ball ahead of his departure from the club on October 31, and had some tough things to say about the players needing to embrace professionalism, particularly as they were now being paid full time wages under Super League deals.
In an exclusive interview with yours truly, Giles said the players were overpaid for the effort they put in.
“The Broncos train six and a half hours a week, maybe seven hours,” he said. “That’s all the preparation these guys give for a quarter of a million dollars a year (That equated to $530,000 in September, 2025). They should be doing six hours a day. Even four hours a day would make the hours they’re doing now look pitiful.”
Gilles wasn’t talking about six hours of torturous physical activity a day – he was referring to things like improving agility, power and strength.
Other award winners at the Broncos’ Ball were:
Reserve grade: Best back, Leo Dynevor; best forward, Brett Green; Most consistent, Steele Retchless; most improved Paul Johnson; Incentive award, Shane Webcke.
South East Premier League: Best back Ron Troutman; Best forward, Matthew Pattie; most consistent, Cameron McNab; most improved, Paul Carige.
On March 1, 2025 Pattie’s son, Owen made his NRL debut for Canberra Raiders.
I covered the awards night after covering the ARL Grand Final 48 hours earlier with Canterbury Bankstown defeating Manly-Warringah. The day after the GF I attended the announcement of Australia’s World Cup squad at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee, interviewing new boys, Billy Moore and Aaron Raper.
About Author
