Johnny Rhodes in action for Australia against France in Sydney in 1968. Rhodes fends off Jean Capdouze. Daniel Pelleribis the other Frenchman
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Former Broncos’ skipper, Sam Thaiday lives in hope of the club going all the way this year, for the first time since 2006. How do I know? My wife told me. She chatted to Sam on her morning walk. He lives not far from us at Samford and was out walking his dogs when my wife saw him. Marie said: ‘Go Broncos. Can they go all the way?” “I hope so” replied Sam. Nothing scoop worthy there for The Courier-Mail, but at least Sam didn’t say they can’t.
A neighbour, Adele Allan asks if my Roosters’ polo is a soccer shirt. “That’s heresy”, says another neighbour Gordon Pullar who is nearby. Correct Gordon. I once had a lady ask if the polo was from the Everton Park Roosters Rugby Union Club. That floored me, and she didn’t appreciate my reply, which went something like this: ‘Fuck off lady’. No. In fact I said “No. This is the original Roosters, the Mighty Roosters of Rugby League fame”. She said nothing in reply.
Another neighbour – Jim Hedley – played rugby league for the Tigers – the Queensland Newspapers Tigers. Jim was a printer. In 1973 the Tigers played a team from the Sydney Morning Herald. “(Test winger/centre) John Rhodes worked in advertising (at The Courier-Mail) and he played the first half of the game to get out of work,” Jim said. “I replaced him in the second half.”
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
A group of old footballers meet for a coffee this morning at Coolangatta. They include dual rugby international, Ray Price and former Balmain stars, Neil ‘Bing’ Pringle and Graham Roberts. Ray signs a Parramatta jersey for a 91-year-old chap who had hoped to join the lads at the cafe, but had a fall and chipped his teeth. Graham played for Brisbane Brothers in 1974, moving north from the Cudgen club in the Tweed Valley. He landed a job as a green keeper at Nudgee Golf Club and suffered a nasty injury when his foot got caught under a mower. He missed most of the pre-season, but was lucky it wasn’t more serious. He was named in the squad for the pre-season final, and warmed up ready to replace a teammate, but was not required. When he returned to the bench, he (absent mindedly) sat on the opposition bench. Graham regularly catches up with old Cudgen teammates, Bill Julius, Phil ‘Slugger’Allan and Peter Leslie at Zanzibar Cafe, Kingscliff. Phil and I played together in Murwillumbah High School sides.
The Walker Brothers – Ben and Shane – will coach Toowoomba Clydesdales in next year’s Queensland Cup. They are from the Darling Downs so it is a good fit. Former Leeds’ coach, Barry McDermott will join new head coach, Josh Hannay at Gold Coast Titans in 2026.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Ray Hadley has a great interview with former Test centre, Mick Cronin on FoxSports, with the half hour special featuring wonderful action highlights.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Broncos’ legend, Darren Lockyer has bought a stake in the London Broncos. Lockyer is well regarded for his business sense, so that augurs well for London, a club with a single minded mission to return to Super League (from the Championship). There are a lot of people working at grassroots level for rugby league in England’s south, although league remains very much a ‘northern game’. This week there are London South v London North Origin games (under-14s and under-16s) at Brentwood. Race 7 at Lismore is called “Good Luck Marists’, a reference to the fact Lismore’s rugby league side, Marist Brothers, will play Murwillumbah Mustangs in the Northern Rivers Grand Final in Lismore this weekend. My brother, Jeff played for Marist Brothers, but previously played for Murwillumbah Brothers (as did I). Murwillumbah Brothers and Old Boys joined forces to form the Mustangs.
Marie and I attend an afternoon tea at Samford Grove for residents who have a birthday this month. My birthday fell on September 6. Carmel Selwood reminds me – again – how much Mullumbimby ‘hated’ Murwillumbah Brothers, back in the 1960s and ’70s. Carmel, whose home town is Billinudgel in Mullumbimby’s catchment area, went to many games at the Mullumbimby Showgrounds when her late husband played for the club.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12
There is a ‘Climate Action Now’ sticker on an old bus parked in Samford. The owner could do her bit for the climate by taking the bus off the road. How often do you see ‘Climate Action’ signs outside homes that you wouldn’t like to have next to your property. Visual pollution is just as damaging (psychologically, anyway) as other forms of pollution. Just to reinforce that view – Samford Grove caretaker, Lachlan has the job of returning two supermarket trolleys left in parkland near our estate. Grove resident, Brian Whitehead – a former real estate agency owner – says he could have bought a house at Paddington in Brisbane – in 1969 for $9,000. “I bought a car instead,” he says
In Paris our eldest son, Damien; his wife, Emma and two little daughters dine at Bouillon Chartier – on my recommendation – and wisely get there early to beat the crowds. Marie and I dined there in 2023.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Independent candidate for a seat on Moreton Bay City Council, Ellie Smith has a large, enthusiastic band of supporters who wear Maroon. There are Smith volunteers near the monthly Samford market, and I hear one say they are sometimes mistaken for the Labor Party. This lady said she heard a passing motorist say “Fuck off Labor”. Samford Grove resident, Bob Millar is helping with the campaigning of Liberal candidate, Dean Clements. I met Dean at a Rotary Club meeting where I was a guest speaker, and he impressed as a fine candidate. Bob reckons Smith is a Greens candidate in disguise.
At the Cronulla v Roosters final at Shark Park there are portaloos on the hill!! The ground is not up to standard for a home and away game, never mind a final. It’s a terrible look when a ground with a capacity of around 14,000 hosts a final, when the AFL averages 66,000 for finals games. The official crowd at Shark Park is 12,842. Cronulla win 20-10.
Retiring Huddersfield stalwart, Leroy Cudjoe is given an emotional farewell at his last home game for the Yorkshire rugby league club, and his little daughter is so proud. A one club player, Leroy played 408 first grade games and represented England 11 times.
Warrigal Road State School from Eight Mile Plains has entered a side in a touch footy carnival on Brisbane’s southside. Warrigal Road is multi-cultural and the side for the carnival includes 11 young Aussies of Asian descent; one African and one Anglo-Celtic lad. If they play touch, they are one step away from rugby league.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos final in Canberra is the most incredible game of football I have ever seen – an absolute heart breaker for Canberra fans. The Broncos claimed a 29-28 victory in the 94th minute of a chaotic affair. I don’t think Canberra can bounce back from this loss. They thought they had the game won twice, only to be denied by the bunker. Canberra led 28-12 and the Broncos had two men in the bin around that time, one of them Reece Walsh. When Walsh returned to the field he turned the game on its head. In the dying seconds, with the Raiders leading 28-26 thanks to Walsh’s brilliance, he attempted a field goal from outside the 40-metre area (worth two points) only to have Zac Hosking charge it down. The Raiders celebrated but Hosking was ruled to have fouled Walsh, who then slotted an easy penalty goal. There was no score in the 10 minutes of extra time so it went to golden point. Raiders halfback, Jamal Fogarty crossed for what seemed a try and was engulfed by celebrating teammates. But a knock-on was ruled in the lead-up. Bronco Ben Hunt drilled the match winning field goal soon after. Fogarty should have iced the game for the Raiders on several occasions but could not deliver. I felt sad for the signing from Burleigh Bears because he has done so well during his time in the national capital. But coach Ricky Stuart had every right to be angry with his display – I’m not saying Ricky was, but he had the right. The incredible tension of the game was reflected by the noise coming from adjoining residences here in Samford Grove with everyone riding a roller coaster of emotions. What a game. I think the Broncos will win it from here.
Learn of the passing of ground breaking player/manager, Wayne Beavis, aged 73. I had quite a few dealings with him, especially during the Super League War when he managed Brad Fittler, who was effectively spokesman for ARL loyal players, given he was Australian skipper.
Movies that Marie and I have watched this week include – Firebrand (not bad); Dom Hemingway (crap), Barry Lyndon (amazing production qualities); The Man Who Invented Christmas (OK). Barry Lyndon was made in 1975.
Marists beat Mustangs in Northern Rivers Final.
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