Queensland celebrate victory over New South Wales in 1995
Newly re-appointed Queensland State of Origin coach, Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin backed Brisbane Broncos’ players to get behind him in 1996 if if they became available for the annual series against New South Wales.
With the exception of prop, Gavin ‘Jed’ Allan, Broncos’ players were ignored in 1995 because of their affiliation with the proposed News Ltd funded Super League competition.
Despite the absence of stars such as Allan Langer, Wendell Sailor, Steve Renouf, Michael Hancock and the Walters twins, Kevin and Kerrod, the much-maligned Maroons won the series 3-0 against a Test strength Blues. Gavin Allen was chosen because he had not aligned with Super League, or the Australian Rugby League under whose auspices the Origin series was run.
“If there is a compromise and four or five Broncos or other Super League players get picked I’m sure Queensland will play with the same passion as this year,” Vautin said. “These blokes saw what we did and they will be acutely aware that our team of no-names did what they couldn’t the previous three years. It will work in our favour. The superstars will want to pull their fingers out to make sure we don’t surrender the Shield.”
There were talks of compromise between the ARL and Super League in December, although the dispute was scheduled to go before the Federal Court in February. If the two sides came together the Queensland selectors faced a tough task naming a 17. Adrian Lam had done a superb job as halfback in 1995, but Langer had been a regular in Queensland teams since 1987, as well as being a regular in Australian teams from 1988.
“If Adrian plays next year the way he did for Queensland this year, how can you leave him out?” Vautin said.
Vautin was a commentator for Channel 9 and a staunch critic of Super League. He was left stunned by his boss, Kerry Packer’s decision to come to an arrangement with Super League to also televise some of their games if their competition got up and running. Vautin said all the right things at the time of Packer’s SL deal, but ARL heavies described it as a betrayal.
An all-ARL side represented the Kangaroos in Britain in the Centenary World Cup in October/November 1995 with Vautin thrilled that eight of his players were in the touring side. (They were Brett Dallas, Mark Coyne, Danny Moore, Billy Moore, Wayne Bartrim, Gary Larson, Jason Smith, Robbie O’Davis).
“The players got bagged before they left Australia and they were entitled to be happy when they won (the final against England),” Vautin said. “There was nothing over the top about their post match comments. I thought they were good winners. I’ve heard a few Super League people back here barracked for England. That is disgusting and a sad indictment on the whole situation.”
Footnote: When I interviewed Gavin Allan in 2013 for the book ‘Bennett’s Broncos’ he told me he arrived at Broncos’ training early in 1995 to discover that SL boss, John Ribot – a former Broncos’ CEO – had signed the majority of his teammates for the rebels.
‘Blokes who were on $100,000 all of a sudden were getting $200,000,” he said. “People started talking about how much money they got. ‘So and So’ got this much, and we only got this. That sort of stuff. It started turning me off a bit as I had never looked at the money side of things. It’s not the most important part of anything you do, I believe. It’s a by-product of what you do. I was on pretty good money at the Broncos, and I had my (printing) business as well.”
When QRL boss Ross Livermore heard Allan had not signed with SL, he asked if he would play for Queensland. Allen made it clear he would not be signing an ARL Loyalty Agreement, but Livermore didn’t care, as long as he didn’t sign with SL.
“I got to sit back and absorb everything around me, and I heard Rupert Murdoch was going to sue everyone for everything they’ve got if they go back from Super League to the ARL,” Allen said. “I thought, what sort of prick would do that, screw someone because they wanted to play for a certain club?”
Allen broke his cheekbone in the third game of the 1995 Origin series, an injury which cost him spot in the Australian team for the mid-season Trans-Tasman series. He signed with London Broncos at the end of the year.
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