The 1981 Australian Rugby League side captained by Steve Rogers and coached by Frank Stanton
MONDAY, JULY 28
Australian rugby league coach, Kevin Walters says he will not beg players to represent their country on this year’s Kangaroo tour of England. This follows on from his predecessor, Mal Meninga presenting players with a book on the history of the Kangaroos to remind them that an honour it is to wear the national colours, and how they are following in the footsteps of many great men.
Anthony, a caller to SEN, says stats should be kept on how many stories journalists got right, and that journalists ‘make up stories’. Anthony says the outcome would be ‘hilarious’. He might be surprised at the positive strike rate from the ‘real journalist’, who invariably have strong contact lists and make hundreds of phone calls in any one week to get their information.
TUESDAY, JULY 29
Learn of the passing of Tye Alroe, 39, from a heart attack while working out in a Burleigh Gym. Tye is the son of former Brothers’ and Norths’ player, John Alroe and the grandson of former legendary Brothers’ official, the late Don Alroe.
Radio SEN’s Vanessa Gibson asks fellow panelists to name the tallest mountain in South East Queensland. Corery Parker replies – Mt Warning. Close. You can see it from South East Queensland.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
‘Toughest ever rugby league players’ is a topic on SEN and the likes of Peter Dimond, Adrian Morley, Steve Matai, Sam Burgess and David ‘Cement’ Gillespie are mentioned. Mal Meninga says he always tried to run where ‘Cement’ was not. But of course toughness means all sorts of different things. Those aforementioned names are ‘obvious’ because they struck fear into the hearts of rivals. Diminutive Geoff Toovey was as tough as they come, and, as Corey Parker points out, so was Brent Tate who came back from so many potentially career ending injuries. Mal Meninga says Wayne Bennett never got a wooden spoon as a coach, but that is incorrect. Brothers got ‘The Spoon’ in 1981 under the great man.
Australian bowler, John Hastings has the bowling yips in a masters cricket match against Pakistan, bowling 19-ball over. It is painful to watch.
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Learn of the passing of former Australian halfback, Johnny Mayes, who played for Australia in 1975. Mayes formed a great halves combination at Manly-Warringah with Ian Martin and then Johnny Peard at Easts Roosters. He won three straight Sydney Premierships -Manly (1973), Easts (1974, ’75).
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Bank tellers were known for having second jobs back in the 1970s because their financial expertise was much sought after. They would work at the race tracks, in bottle shops etc to earn an extra quid. Some bank tellers would take money home for the weekend – for a punt – and then return it Monday (if they were lucky). There are a few former ‘bank Johnnies’ living here at Samford Grove and they discuss those days – and gambling in general – over a drink at Happy Hour. Brian Whitehead says he knew one punter – not sure if he was a bank teller – who won $100,000 in the lottery in the 1970s, and it was all gone in four years. My wife, Marie and our daughter, Melanie attend the Broncos v South Sydney game at Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos win easily, much to my wife’s disgust, but Melanie is happy.
Former England rugby league and rugby union centre, Barrie Jon Mather has been appointed Head of Performance at the New South Wales Waratahs’ rugby union.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Amazing incident in Titans v Penrith NRL match with Penrith trainer, Corey Bocking baulking Titans’ star, Jayden Campbell as he is lining up a kick for goal which would have given the home side a four point lead in the dying stages of the game. Campbell is angry, and rightly so, after he misses the conversion. Penrith go on to win in golden point extra time. Gold Coast Suns are playing an AFL match at Carrara at the same time, but even though they are travelling much better than the Titans, their crowd is smaller. Felise Kaufusi, a player I have a lot of time for, goes down in my estimation with a dangerous low hit on a rival’s legs when that player was well held. ‘Not brave”, says Fox commentator, former Test prop, Steve Roach. He meant ‘cowardly.’
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
My wife, Marie celebrates her 75th birthday and we mark the occasion with High Tea at Hendra after attending our grandson, Ethan’s rugby league match – for Norths against Brothers at Bishop Park. Marie was born at Casino in Northern New South Wales when her parents, Kevin and Mary Donnelly had a farm at Theresa Creek. That night Marie and I watch excellent movie – The Holdovers.
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