Kevin Walters (second from left) as an Australian player. Also in the photo are (from left) Allan Langer, Michael Hancock, Dale Shearer
MONDAY, JULY 21
Ratings for this year’s State of Origin series – men and women – kill ratings for the British and Irish Lions v Wallabies Test. No surprise there, at least not to rugby league people. My GP, Dr Ben McCullough asks what I thought of the Lions’ Test, and I tell him I watched Melbourne v Manly instead. Dr McCullough is from Ireland. RadioSEN’s former Kangaroos’ rugby league rep, Corey Parker says union needs to recruit five NRL stars Only five! Dr McCullough has been back to Ireland in recent months and says a pipe bomb was defused at Belfast Castle when he was walking there with his wife.
Former Brisbane Wests’ halfback, Wayne Douglas tells me he also captain-coached Hamilton Hotel in what he calls ‘The Bashup’ (Commercial) League. There were a number of quality players in the competition including Norths’ star, Peter Stapleton (Kedron Brook Hotel) and Valleys’ State centre, Bob Beatson at the Darren Bell backed City Hotel. Wayne played for Bradford in England alongside Welshman, Gordon Pritchard, who returned to rugby union as a coach when his league career was over. I saw Pritchard play for Wales against France in league when I was in Britain in 1978.
TUESDAY, JULY 22
My wife, Marie and I take delivery of a new clothes dryer and the Maori chap who brings it onto the premises from the delivery truck does so by himself, which is a top effort. Learn of the passing of Nimbin identity, Eric Bazzana at the age of 90, in Lismore. The Bazzanas were all big, strong men. Eric and his wife, Marie were married 63 years. Their grandson, Travis is a promising professional baseball player in the USA. Lismore has long been a baseball stronghold.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23
John McCoy OAM always wanted to be a sports commentator, but to get his start in radio he took on a job with Radio 4IP as a disc jockey. His path to the sports department is an amazing story. When playing hit songs on a Saturday he would listen to the races, and one day was sprung by the boss. John was suspended from on-air duties, but in the meantime backed a horse in Queensland’s most prestigious race, the Stradbroke Handicap. The horse got home at juicy odds, and John’s pay day was good enough to make a deposit on a house a year or two later. Racing station 4BC got wind of McCoy’s turf expertise and offered him a job. When 4IP offered him more to stay he knocked it back, a decision the station respected because it reinforced the fact he was leaving for the right reasons. This is one of the stories John tells Marie and I as we enjoy coffee at Gaythorne RSL Club. The president of Gaythorne RSL, Nigel Cox, a devoted rugby league man, says hello and pays for the coffee and cakes for John and his wife, Carmel; Marie and I.
Kevin Walters is confirmed as new coach of our rugby league Kangaroos for the Ashes series against England in October/November. Mal Meninga had to stand down because of his role as Perth Bears coach. Kevin says he would noy be overawed by meeting Royalty on the trip to the UK. “I’ve met one King already,” he says. He is referring to Queensland’s own ‘King’ – Wally Lewis.
Former Irish rugby union five eighth, Ronan O’Gara is a guest of Melbourne Storm Rugby League club at a training run. O’Gara is part of the British and Irish Lions coaching staff.
THURSDAY, JULY 24
North Queensland Cowboys’ stalwart, Coen Hess says he intends on being a one club player, after signing a new two year deal. Hess speaks so well on RadioSEN.
My father, Jon William Ricketts was born on this day, 1929, in Sydney, where his father was working as a mechanic. My grandmother gave birth in Crown Street Hospital. Six weeks later she and the baby were on a steamer to Maryborough in Queensland to meet up with her husband who had moved to his father’s sugar cane farm at Nikenba.
FRIDAY, JULY 25
Learn of the passing of much travelled former rugby league star, Danny Peacock, who made a huge impact during his stint with Bradford Bulls in England. Danny was only 57 and his death has shocked family and his many mates. I interviewed him when he played for Wests Magpies, Gold Coast Seagulls and South Queeensland Crushers and he was always friendly and co-operative. Former Australian rugby league Test five eighth, Earl Harrison turns 85. Harrison played outside Bary Muir on the 1963-64 tour of Britain and France. Former television rugby league commentator, Bill Arthur is remembered in a lovely tribute at the Wakefield Trinity v Leeds match. It is one year since his passing. Parramatta hang on for an amazing win over the Broncos and winger, Zac Lomax and halfback, Mitchell Moses are excellent. Tommy Dearden is so good in the Cowboys’ win over the Dragons.
SATURDAY, JULY 26
Former Valleys’ goal kicking back, Steve Hegarty reminds me that the old (Tweed) Seagulls (Valley) Diehards joint venture of the mid-1980s was meant to be a ‘NRL’ franchise. Steve, who joined Valleys from Manly-Warringah in 1987, is a fellow spectator at Samford Stags’ home game against Carina. Steve’s son, Bryce, a former Broncos under-20s player, is a much travelled rugby union star, having played with the now defunct Melbourne Rebels; NSW Waratahs and Qld Reds as well having stints in Japan and England. He is currently in Japan. Also at Samford is Brisbane Wests’ number 1 fan, Geoffrey, as the Panthers are also playing here.
Iona College on Brisbane’s southern bayside, and the Sydney Roosters have formed a ‘stragetic partnership’, a marriage made in heaven according to my brother, Andrew who taught at Iona; coached rugby league there and also follows the Roosters. Former Roosters’ forward, Jared Warea Harvgreaves (now with Hull KR in England) is an Iona old boy. Gerringong product, Ashton Ward makes his NRL debut for South Sydney and looks like a kid.
SUNDAY, JULY 27
The Sunday-Mail carries a top feature about the 1995 premiership winning Canterubury Bulldogs, a club which overcame upheaval that accompanied their decision to desert the Australian Rugby League for Super League. They beat ARL super power, Manly in the Grand Final.
There is an ‘Old Boys’ day in Murwillumbah coinciding with the Mustangs’ home match against Kyogle. The day is for Mustangs Old Boys as well as former players, officials etc from the town’s previous three clubs, Souths, Old Boys and Brothers. I played for Brothers. I would love to attend, but our daughter, Mrelanie is home from Abu Dhabi and family comes first. I learn of the passing of my former Tweed Daily News workmate, Darry Vickery at the age of 73. Darryl was a fine soccer player with Tumbulgum Rangers.
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