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Tag Archives: Wayne Bennett

DIARY UPDATE: Week 28, 2020

11/01/2021by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 28 2020 TUESDAY, JULY 14 Legendary sports sponsor, Ron McConnell is feted at a lunch at Brisbane’s Pineapple Hotel, with most of […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

DIARY UPDATE: Week 30, 2020

05/01/2021by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 30 2020 MONDAY, JULY 27 The Courier-Mail’s chief sports writer, Robert Craddock speculates on whether the Broncos will drop young forward, Andrew […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

FLASHBACK: December 1995

26/12/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DECEMBER 1995 Queensland State of Origin coach, Paul Vautin made it clear Allan Langer would not have a saloon passage back into the Maroons’ squad, if Super League players were […]

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Flashbacks

DIARY UPDATE: Week 26, 2020

14/12/2020by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 26 2019 WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 Places in 17-man Amco Cup rugby league squads, back in the mid-1970s, were much sought after, given the […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

DIARY UPDATE: Week 24, 2020

02/12/2020by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 24 2020 MONDAY, JUNE 15 It is disappointing to see the small amount of space which ‘The Courier-Mail’ devotes to the passing […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

FLASHBACK: August, 2000

01/10/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

FLASHBACK AUGUST 2000 The crowd at Brisbane’s ANZ Stadium at southside Nathan, sat in stunned silence when Cronulla Sharks went to the halftime break leading 20-6 against premiership favorites, the […]

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Flashbacks

DIARY UPDATE: Week 10, 2020

28/09/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 10 2020 MONDAY, MARCH 9 Wake to Juventus v Inter Milan in front an empty stadium. A sign of things to come […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

DIARY UPDATE: Week 7, 2020

11/09/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 7 2020 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 The Queensland Rugby League is searching for a ‘brand’ name for their Residents’ side. The Origin team […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

FLASHBACK: August, 1995

06/09/2020by SteveRicketts 2 Comments

AUGUST 1980 Brisbane Broncos’ prop, Glenn Lazarus blasted Wests Magpies’ supporters for their parochial support of the Australian Rugby League cause during a match at Campbelltown Stadium. ‘Lazo’ said the […]

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Flashbacks

DIARY UPDATE: Week 46, 2019

01/08/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 46 2019. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Bush-fire smoke has cleared enough to be able to see Broken Head for the first time, from […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

PREACHING RUGBY TREIZE IN PARIS

09/07/2020by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

TRAVEL The cable TV channel in our Paris hotel advertised a France v Scotland rugby match. To fill in time, I stuck with the channel, and then to my delight, […]

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Travel

MAROONS ‘LACKED THE BASICS’

09/07/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

As Queenslanders celebrate the 40th anniversary of the inaugural State of Origin match, it is interesting to reflect on one man’s reasoning behind the amazing slump, which saw New South […]

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Flashbacks

NO FAIRY TALE END TO TOURNAMENT

07/07/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

TRAVEL Port Fairy in Victoria will never be associated with rugby league. But, when I hear any reference to the pretty seaside village, I immediately reflect on November 26, 2005, […]

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Travel

IN LONDON WITH THE KANGAROOS

22/06/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

TRAVEL ‘Big Willie’ Mason was polite, as he declined my request for an interview, at London’s Heathrow Airport. “‘Sorry Steve. ‘Wayne’ has put me on a media ban,” he said. […]

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Travel

TRI-NATIONS TOUR WITH WAYNE BENNETT

19/06/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

TRAVEL Recently, a mate asked how many times I had been to Britain and/or Europe, and when I answered ’20’, he said I should write a book. I’m not in […]

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Travel

FROM TEXAS TO ALICE SPRINGS, VIA WYNNUM AND BLACKPOOL

30/04/2020by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

When rugby league fans talk about ‘what might have been’, the name Terry Saunders quickly springs to mind. Chosen for the Queensland State of Origin side in 1981, the Wynnum-Manly star’s […]

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The Column

FLASHBACK: March 2010

02/04/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

FLASHBACK MARCH 2010 St George Illawarra’s reputation as the best defensive team in the NRL, under the coaching of Wayne Bennett, was enhanced by their 33-8 win over North Queensland […]

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Flashbacks

DIARY UPDATE: Week 17, 2019

28/03/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 17 2019 MONDAY, APRIL 29 Radio TAB’s Peter Psaltis says the Newcastle Knights have a reputation as a party club. Psaltis has […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

FLASHBACK: February 2010

13/03/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

FEBRUARY 2010. The likes of Northern Rivers’ Indigenous heroes, Lionel Morgan, Walter Slockee, Stokel Currie, Alan Lena, Billy McDermott, Claude McDermott and Gerald Chadburn came to mind as I covered […]

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Flashbacks

DIARY UPDATE: Week 15, 2019

11/03/2020by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 15 2019 MONDAY, APRIL 15 2019 The 13km Somerset Trail at Mt Mee is tackled by my wife, Marie and I. A […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

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IMAGE GALLERY

Greg Conescu in a pensive mood
Greg Conescu in a pensive mood
DAD
Noel Cleal in action for NSW
Noel Cleal in action for NSW
Alex Murphy holds the Challenge Cup aloft after leading Leigh to victory over Leeds at Wembley
Alex Murphy holds the Challenge Cup aloft after leading Leigh to victory over Leeds at Wembley
Eric Harris (centre) with Leeds' teammates, Welshman, Con Murphy (left) and John Kelly before a match in the 1938-39 English season
Eric Harris (centre) with Leeds’ teammates, Welshman, Con Murphy (left) and John Kelly before a match in the 1938-39 English season
Jon and Lola Ricketts on their wedding day, May 12, 1951, outside St Carthages Cathedral, Lismore.
Jon and Lola Ricketts on their wedding day, May 12, 1951, outside St Carthages Cathedral, Lismore.
Kevin and Mary Donnelly in 1975
Kevin and Mary Donnelly in 1975
David Waite (right) when he was Great Britain coach. His assistant at that time, Brian Noble, is the other man in the photo.
David Waite (right) when he was Great Britain coach. His assistant at that time, Brian Noble, is the other man in the photo.
Kiwi Test hooker, Duane Mann in action for New Zealand Residents versus Australian Residents at Lang Park in 1994, watched by rival hooker, Shane Christensen.
Kiwi Test hooker, Duane Mann in action for New Zealand Residents versus Australian Residents at Lang Park in 1994, watched by rival hooker, Shane Christensen.
Don Lancashire and his wife, Carol at their Mount Warren home in Queensland
Don Lancashire and his wife, Carol at their Mount Warren home in Queensland
Dean Pay in action for Canterbury-Bankstown. Pay scored a try in the 1994 Ashes decider.
Dean Pay in action for Canterbury-Bankstown. Pay scored a try in the 1994 Ashes decider.
Doug Muir in action for Brisbane club, Valleys
Doug Muir in action for Brisbane club, Valleys
Allan Ayres (second from left in the back row) could have been anything in rugby league. He is pictured here with the 1971 Tweed/Gold Coast premiership winning South Murwillumbah side. The captain-coach was Claude McDermott (third from right in the front row).
Allan Ayres (second from left in the back row) could have been anything in rugby league. He is pictured here with the 1971 Tweed/Gold Coast premiership winning South Murwillumbah side. The captain-coach was Claude McDermott (third from right in the front row).
Wayne Lindenberg in action for Easts
Wayne Lindenberg in action for Easts
ARL boss, Ken Arthurson
ARL boss, Ken Arthurson
Duncan Thompson
Duncan Thompson
Adrian Lam on the attack for Brisbane Wests with Ipswich Jets lock, Jeremy Schloss applying the pressure in defence.
Adrian Lam on the attack for Brisbane Wests with Ipswich Jets lock, Jeremy Schloss applying the pressure in defence.
Gene Miles in action for the Broncos. He started his senior career with Souths in Townsville.
Gene Miles in action for the Broncos. He started his senior career with Souths in Townsville.
Wigan superstar, Ellery Hanley
Wigan superstar, Ellery Hanley
Shane Bernardin trains with Redcliffe, the club he joined after leaving Norths
Shane Bernardin trains with Redcliffe, the club he joined after leaving Norths
Darren Smith in action for his first club, Brisbane Easts
Darren Smith in action for his first club, Brisbane Easts
Canberra Raiders' winger, John Ferguson
Canberra Raiders’ winger, John Ferguson
Tall winger, Darren Plowman. He was one of the Crushers' best in their first top grade hit-out against Manly at Emerald
Tall winger, Darren Plowman. He was one of the Crushers’ best in their first top grade hit-out against Manly at Emerald
Ben Ikin (left) with former Broncos' Test prop, Shane Webcke at a Men of League function.
Ben Ikin (left) with former Broncos’ Test prop, Shane Webcke at a Men of League function.
Lee Crooks in action for Great Britain against Australia
Lee Crooks in action for Great Britain against Australia
Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen
Don Fox scores for Featherstone with referee, Eric Clay on the spot to award the try. Australian defenders are nowhere to be seen.
Don Fox scores for Featherstone with referee, Eric Clay on the spot to award the try. Australian defenders are nowhere to be seen.
French manager, Antoine Blain receives the symbolic gift of a Kangaroo from Queensland Rugby League president, Vic Jensen during the historic 1951 tour
French manager, Antoine Blain receives the symbolic gift of a Kangaroo from Queensland Rugby League president, Vic Jensen during the historic 1951 tour
Ross Strudwick sells raffle tickets at the Kirra Beach Hotel in the 1980s
Ross Strudwick sells raffle tickets at the Kirra Beach Hotel in the 1980s
Peter Gallagher in action for Queensland against New South Wales at the SCG.
Peter Gallagher in action for Queensland against New South Wales at the SCG.
Clive Churchill (centre back) in the official Easts team photo from 1965. In the centre at the front is skipper, Ben Wall.
Clive Churchill (centre back) in the official Easts team photo from 1965. In the centre at the front is skipper, Ben Wall.
Captain, Gary Freeman tries to rally Kiwi teammates after Australia score a try in the series deciding Third Test at Lang Park, Brisbane in 1991. Australia won 40-12
Captain, Gary Freeman tries to rally Kiwi teammates after Australia score a try in the series deciding Third Test at Lang Park, Brisbane in 1991. Australia won 40-12
Jack Reardon (right) with former QRL boss, Ron McAuliffe (centre) and noted Brisbane journalist, Paul Sweeney
Jack Reardon (right) with former QRL boss, Ron McAuliffe (centre) and noted Brisbane journalist, Paul Sweeney
They love their league in the pretty French town of Limoux.
They love their league in the pretty French town of Limoux.
Peter Leis in action for Redcliffe
Peter Leis in action for Redcliffe
French captain, Puig Aubert (right) shakes hands with British counterpart, Scotsman, Dave Valentine, ahead of their World Cup clash in Toulouse. Watching on is English referee, Charlie Appleton from Warrington
French captain, Puig Aubert (right) shakes hands with British counterpart, Scotsman, Dave Valentine, ahead of their World Cup clash in Toulouse. Watching on is English referee, Charlie Appleton from Warrington
Rodger Kuhn in action for Easts at Lang Park
Rodger Kuhn in action for Easts at Lang Park
The late, great Harold 'Mick' Crocker.
The late, great Harold ‘Mick’ Crocker.
Scene from a Brisbane v Toowoomba Bulimba Cup match at the Gabba in the 1950s, with Brisbane on the attack. Photo from the Melit family collection.
Scene from a Brisbane v Toowoomba Bulimba Cup match at the Gabba in the 1950s, with Brisbane on the attack. Photo from the Melit family collection.
France rugby league forward, Jean Pambrun in action for Catalans XIII
France rugby league forward, Jean Pambrun in action for Catalans XIII
Referee, Stan Scamp issues a caution to Easts, Greg Holben, one of many the fiery five eighth received in his career
Referee, Stan Scamp issues a caution to Easts, Greg Holben, one of many the fiery five eighth received in his career
'Sister Dorrie' and Tex Morton. Born Dorothy May Ricketts, 'Sister' Dorrie was my great Aunty.
‘Sister Dorrie’ and Tex Morton. Born Dorothy May Ricketts, ‘Sister’ Dorrie was my great Aunty.
FRL
Murwillumbah Brothers' captain-coach, Milton Whybrow (second from left), watches the progress of teammate, Jack Nardi in the play-off for fifth spot in the 1974 Group 18-Gold Coast finals series at Murwillumbah Oval. Prop, Paul 'Porky' Weaver is on Whybrow's left. Surfers Paradise captain-coach, John Chisholm (left knee strapped) sizes up Nardi. The Pirates won, but Tweed Heads Seagulls would go on to beat Mullumbimby in the grand final.
Murwillumbah Brothers’ captain-coach, Milton Whybrow (second from left), watches the progress of teammate, Jack Nardi in the play-off for fifth spot in the 1974 Group 18-Gold Coast finals series at Murwillumbah Oval. Prop, Paul ‘Porky’ Weaver is on Whybrow’s left. Surfers Paradise captain-coach, John Chisholm (left knee strapped) sizes up Nardi. The Pirates won, but Tweed Heads Seagulls would go on to beat Mullumbimby in the grand final.
Claude Mantoulan on the attack in a Test against Great Britain
Claude Mantoulan on the attack in a Test against Great Britain
Valleys coach, Henry Holloway
Valleys coach, Henry Holloway
Reg Gasnier
Reg Gasnier
Manly skipper, Fred Jones celebrates the Sea Eagles' 1972 grand final win over the Roosters. Allan Thompson is behind him and Terry Randall on the right.
Manly skipper, Fred Jones celebrates the Sea Eagles’ 1972 grand final win over the Roosters. Allan Thompson is behind him and Terry Randall on the right.
Brad Backer in action for Easts
Brad Backer in action for Easts
'Smokin' Joe Kilroy and Brett Le Man at Brothers' training.
‘Smokin’ Joe Kilroy and Brett Le Man at Brothers’ training.
Ken Day in his Manly-Warringah gear
Ken Day in his Manly-Warringah gear
Western Division coach, Johnny King holds the Amco Cup aloft after the country boys' 6-2 win over Penrith in the final of the knock-out competition's inaugural season in 1974. To King's right is cult hero, 'TV Ted' Ellery.
Western Division coach, Johnny King holds the Amco Cup aloft after the country boys’ 6-2 win over Penrith in the final of the knock-out competition’s inaugural season in 1974. To King’s right is cult hero, ‘TV Ted’ Ellery.
Wally Lewis, pictured here during his stint with English club, Wakefield, played in five Brisbane grand finals, winning three.
Wally Lewis, pictured here during his stint with English club, Wakefield, played in five Brisbane grand finals, winning three.
Frank Stanton as coach of the New South Wales State of Origin side in 1984. Legendary trainer, Alf Richards is on his right and prop, Peter Tunks on his left.
Frank Stanton as coach of the New South Wales State of Origin side in 1984. Legendary trainer, Alf Richards is on his right and prop, Peter Tunks on his left.
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