Billy Johnstone (left) playing for Brisbane Souths in 1981. Adrian Higgs has the ball. Adrian’s brother, Darryl is in the background
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Justin Holbrook is a good choice as new coach of the Newcastle Knights. The Gold Coast Titans should never have let him go. My former Murwillumbah Brothers teammate, Greg Grainger says his son, Aaron and Holbrook were teammates at the Knights in the mid-1990s. Aaron played for New South Wales under-19s, but injuries from a car accident cut short his career.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Former host of This is Your Life Roger Climpson has died aged 93. He was the best of the hosts in my view, although Mike Munro wasn’t bad. The Uk’s best host was Michael Aspell, just edging Eamonn Andrews.
Tasmanian based author, Billy Roberts says he has had “slow traction” on his book ‘Crossroads’, about the state of rugby league in Australia. I helped with editing of the book.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Former Test cricketer, Ian Healy calls noted journalist, Robert Craddock ‘Columbo’ – “because he digs stuff out of you, that you don’t want to give up”. On FoxSports ‘The Fan’, former Gold Coast Titans’ skipper, Scott Prince says the club’s best ever signing was noted fitness trainer, Billy Johnstone.
Noted actor, Robert Redford has died aged 89. I loved him in movies such as ‘All the Presidents Men’, ‘The Natural’ and ‘The Sting’. My wife just loved him. News Ltd’s Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie has a feature about NRL heart throbs, going back as far as Phil Blake.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Donut mania has gripped Samford since the opening of the Kenilworth Bakery in what used to be the much loved Little Tree bakery/bar/live music venue. Today I witness a classic example of this passion for the donut. A woman – lets just say she is well built – walks ahead of a group of other people you might also describe as being on the large side, and as she gets closer to the bakery it hits home that the place might be shut. She gets into a jog and then on arrival at the closed iron gates at the entrance, I expect her to just turn away in disappointment. But no – she actually shakes the gates, hoping, I assume, that the proprietors will re-open just for her. Alas, this is not to be. Oh well, she’ll just have to get an ice cream from Long Larder.
The National Schools Rugby League finals are played at Leichardt Oval and former NRL star, Dean Widders does the Welcome to Country as teams line up for the girls final between Marsden (Qld) and Central Coast (NSW). The official singing of the National Anthem is performed quite well by five youngsters with Polynesian heritage, but I only see three or four players join-in. Many of them also have Polynesian heritage, and may not feel a connection with Australia. But it is their home.
I enjoy NRL 360 on FoxSports, but too often it degenerates into a yelling match. Host Braith Anasta does not have the same control over proceedings as his predecessor Ben Ikin. There is a reunion at the Gabba for the Queensland team which won the state’s first ever Sheffield Shield in 1995. Also at the function are members of the 1995 Queensland State of Origin side which won the series 3-0 against New South Wales after being despised underdogs. I’m told that best on ground at the function was Qld pace bowler, Carl Rackemann.
Following the banning of cigarette advertising many years ago, it seems only a matter of time before sports betting ads suffer the same fate, which will be a shame in many respects because they are just about the most entertaining ads on TV and hardly ever feel the need to be politically correct.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
There are vastly different emotions in the city of Hull in England this morning, our time, with Hull Kingston Rovers having clinched the Super League Leaders Shield (minor premiership) while Hull FC have missed out on the finals. I love the way KR supporters sing the Erasure song ‘A Little Respect’. SkySports interview KR forward, Sam Luckley who has an interesting accent, not Yorkshire that’s for sure. Turns out he was born in Scotland and raised in Tyne and Wear. I thought he might have been Welsh.
One of our relatively new neighbours, Ken Cluff worked at the Public Service Stores with Jim Lewis, who was Wynnum-Manly rugby league first grade coach in the late 1970s. Jim, who died in 2023, was also father of rugby League Immortal Wally Lewis. Ken, born in 1947, is so fit and is one of those rare oldies who has been able to retain muscle mass, thanks to a disciplined gym routine. No donuts for him.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
SkySports UK’s rugby league panelists express their concern about the future of Huddersfield. “The club has 130 years of history, but averages about 3,000 fans (a game),” says one. The Sky crew are also worried that a cash strapped club like Castleford will recruit from the ‘lower tiers’ in Australia rather than the NRL. As for Salford – well Sam Tomkins says it for everyone when he tips the club to fold after all the financial dramas from this year.
Tugun defeat bitter rivals Burleigh 30-26 in the Gold Coast Rugby League Grand Final with Will Johnstone the coach of the Tugun Seahawks. Will is the son of former Gold Coast NRL skipper and feared fitness trainer, Billy Johnstone. The team includes the likes of former NRL players Tyrone Peachey and Mitchell Rein, as well as Tim Wolens, a son of another former Seagulls’ player, feared tackler Darren Wolens.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Our youngest son, Lliam is in Vietnam on R & R after a business trip to China, and watches NRL in Dirty Fingers Bar, Da Nang with my brother, Andrew, who calls Vietnam home. Penrith are clinical in the first half when they race to a 36-8 halftime lead over the Bulldogs, but the Dogs are poor in defence. James Graham bags referee, Ashley Klein as does my wife, Marie’s sister, Carolyn Soward. Lliam’s travel schedule makes it impossible for him to get back to Brisbane today in time to see his sons, Ethan and Connor perform at Butterfest at The Triffid music venue in the Valley. Marie and I attend along with the boy’s mother, Channelle and other members of her family. Ethan plays the guitar, Connor the piano as Ethan sings Country Road, and quite beautifully I might add. This is a chance for kids to showcase their talent, and some of the names for acts include ‘The Trinkets’, ‘Double Crumble’ and ‘The Dragons’.
Movies we have seen this week include: ‘Good Luck to You Leo Grande (a bit cringeworthy); Funny Birds (not bad, shed a tear at one stage); Midas Man (enjoyable, although some of the casting left a bit to be desired).
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