Vern Daisy leads out Mt Isa for a match against Burdekin. The other player is Qld prop George Radeck
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Former TV newsreader and sports presenter Ken Sutcliffe is a great admirer of legendary North Queensland rugby league forward, Vern Daisy. “Vern was the toughest, meanest and most clever ball playing forward I have ever seen, outside of Arthur Beetson,” Sutcliffe said a few years back. “To this day I have no doubt he could have played for Australia. But Vern was a man of the north. He had a life big city money couldn’t buy and he was North Queensland through and through. The Cowboys just came 20 years too late”. Ken, a guest tonight on NRL 360, is known more for his associations with Mudgee in New South Wales than North Queensland. But early in his media career he was based in Townsville and got to see Vern and his brother, Frank play footy, along with Gordon Tallis’s father, Wally. Former Broncos’ skipper, Sam Thaiday (ex Townsville) is part of a gym fitness class here at Samford and a passer by compliments him on his work for Channel 9 as Sam runs from the gym past the town’s very tempting patisserie. Going past the patisserie is a good idea Sam.
I watch some of the memorial services for assassinated right wing US politician, Charlie Kirk and it is a powerful Christian affair, which does not surprise. Some news outlets take the piss about the religious aspect, but I bet they wouldn’t do that if it was a Muslim service.
Fellow Samford Grove resident Russell Platt hosts ‘Carole King in Hyde Park’ in our over-65 village cinema today. I hadn’t seen it before and absolutely loved it. I grew up listening to Carole and I confess to shedding a few tears (in the dark of the cinema) during some of the songs from her Harvest LP.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
A former employee of Little Tree laments its demise as he serves me a coffee at Buzz Cafe in Samford’s Main Street, opposite what is now the Kenilworth Bakery in the Little Tree building. He says he has never set foot in Kenilworth and never will and claims a lot of rubbish is ending up in the nearby creek, from donut consuming patrons. On the way to the cafe I see a postman put letters in a box, and when they fall out doesn’t bother to alight from his motor bike, he just carries on regardless. The posties of today leave me cold. Samford is a nice place to live, but it has its share of rev heads, unfortunately.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Former St George (Sydney) and Huddersfield (UK) centre, Jim Lenihan has been named coach of Easts’ Tigers, replacing Matt Church. The Brisbane Lions Aussie rules squad looks like a Queensland State of Origin side as they head to Melbourne for the finals. I’m talking about their attire, rather than their physiques.
There is a Scouts Jamboree at Baden Powell Park here at Samford.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
It seems the Perth Bears will place some of their early signings with Catalans Dragons in Super League, while also doing a player deal with Easts Tigers in Brisbane, ahead of Perth’s entry into the NRL in 2027. I learn this after chatting to Easts’ stalwarts Keith Phillips and Des Morris outside Brisbane City Hall where the Queensland (Hostplus) Cup awards dinner is about to be held. Grand finalists Burleigh Bears are late for the function because of a prang on the MI heading north from the Gold Coast. A sign of things to come when we host the Olympics. Tony Gould is seated at the same table as Marie and I. He is doing a PHD on the long term effects of playing rugby league – on female participants. Also at our table is Suzie Gallagher, daughter of former Brisbane Brothers, Queensland and Australian skipper, Peter Gallagher. Peter was one of the founding members of the Gold Coast Giants in 1988 and Suzie recalls being recruited to write business letters for the club at the time, when she was just 17.
Former Port Macquarie player, Oliver Pascoe wins the Petero Civoniceva Medal as Qld Cup Player of the Year. Contracted now to Ipswich Jets, Pascoe has a train and trial deal with Gold Coast Titans NRL outfit ahead of the 2026 season. Earlier in the week he had won the Allan Langer Medal as Jets best player. Dolphins’ media boss Trad McLean is present at the function and is happy a former Port player has got the award, given his father, Mick ‘Dolly’ McLean is a former captain-coach of the club. I played against Dolly in 1975 when I was contracted to Wingham Tigers in the same (Group 3) league. Channel 9’s Adam Jackson does a top job as MC.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Fellow Samford Grove residents, Damien Sheales (who worked in the bank at Wingham many years ago) and Dave Turner are wearing Brisbane Lions gear ahead of tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final in Melbourne where the Lions will take on Geelong. Damien says the Grand Final parade in Melbourne is a Holy Day of Obligation. It is the busiest day in the history of the Brisbane Airport as Lions fans head south.
Another neighbour, Phil Shipton recalls the old Church (Rugby) League in Brisbane when he played for Ekibin United. “Wooloowin Methodists were the team to beat,” he says. Probably because they didn’t drink. Phil says Ekibin recruited St Laurence’s First XV fullback, Tom Armstrong for a game, but he broke his collarbone, something which didn’t go over well at Laurie’s.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Former Australian rugby league skipper, Cameron Smith is naturally cheering for Norths at the Queensland Cup Grand Final at Redcliffe, given the Devils were his first senior club. But he admits to having a soft spot for Burleigh’s Cole Geyer (his god son), the son of his former Melbourne Storm club teammate, Matt Geyer. Cam, who is at the game with his father, Wayne (a former Easts and Wynnum player) says Matt is a good coach. Recently retired QRL Chairman Bruce Hatcher tells me when he played rugby union for Brothers in 1968 they went as a team to watch the Brothers’ league boys play their grand final against Easts. Brothers won that game, and then a week later the Brothers union boys won their GF. The union boys stayed at a Chermside Motel the night before their game at Ballymore.
I attend the Qld Cup GF with fellow History Committee member, Paul Hayes who tells me his first job was installing car radios and he recalls rugby league Immortal, a young Wally Lewis, calling into the business in his job as a TripleM Sales rep. Paul and I chat at length to former Queensland forward, Reg Cannon and QRL director, Matt O’Hanlon a former Brothers’ prop. Matt has been to Ireland in recent times and loves the place. He says some publicans wont take Yanks because they just stand around listening to the music without buying a drink. One foursome bought a pint of Guinness and asked for four straws.
By the way – Burleigh are too good for Norths despite having halfback, Guy Hamilton playing on one leg for some time. I feel happy for Burleigh CEO, Damian Driscoll who has been doing great work for the club. “He’s a great CEO, but he was an average player,” says Matt Johns on FoxSports. Of course, some would say Matt is a great host, but a not-so-great player.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
St Helens pull off an amazing elimination finals win over Leeds at Headingley, with the ball passing through 17 sets of hands in the final movement of the game, the end result a try to Perth (Australia) born Shane Wright. Final score St Helens 16 Leeds 14. I can’t remember a better try and I’m sure it will be replayed across the world even in areas that don’t known anything about rugby league. Long serving Leeds’ CEO and part owner, Gary Hetherington took out the match ball before kick-off. It is his last game at Headingley as CEO as he is heading for new challenges with London Broncos. Gary and his wife, Kath, a former President of the Rugby Football League, are quite emotional. They looked after Marie and I when we attended a match against Warrington back in June. In France, Villeneuve-Sur-Lot defeat St Esteve 32-22 for a memorable home win, with the mayor of the town in attendance.
I have never heard a louder crowd at Suncorp Stadium than today’s 52, 493 roll-up for the preliminary final between the Broncos and Premiers, Penrith with Adam Reynolds kicking one of the all time pressure conversions to give Brisbane victory. Reynolds had left the goal kicking responsibilities to Reece Walsh earlier in the match, but as skipper he took it on himself to convert the try scored in the corner by Deine Mariner. There are a couple of crowd urgers, one of them former Broncos’ skipper, Alex Glenn. It is very NBA, and I don’t particularly like it. But I’m a grumpy old man. My wife and I enjoy the game although we could have done without the presence of a young bloke behind us who drops the f-bomb in every sentence. And he is incapable of long sentences. As Marie and I drive back to Samford via Fulcher Road, Red Hill, there are two shirtless players being put through their paces, under lights, on the Broncos’ main field – undoubtedly members of the extended squad who weren’t required today, but need a run in case they are needed for the GF next Sunday against Melbourne Storm, who beat a brave Sharks outfit on Friday night. I don’t think the Broncos can be beaten, they have so much momentum.
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