DIARY UPDATE: Week 50, 2015
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 ‘Old Farts’ journos lunch at Plough Inn, South Bank. Former Lord Mayor, Sallyanne Atkinson, an ‘old’ journo, is there. We chat about State of Origin II in […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 49, 2015
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Former All Black, Jonah Lomu’s memorial service from Eden Park, Auckland is live on Fox. The entire Warriors’ NRL squad is in attendance and Warriors’ Kiwi international […]
FLASHBACK: December 1986
Australia belted France 52-0 at Carcassonne in a Test match that also was played for World Cup points. Australian winger, Dale Shearer scored four tries and fullback, Garry Jack three, in […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 47, 2015
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Our first full day on Lord Howe Island, and we explore the west, forced back by nesting sooty terns. Meet a German couple. Also a group from Canberra […]
FLASHBACK: December 1996
The appointment of former Test lock, Bob Lindner as coach did not appear to be enough to save financially embattled Brisbane Past Brothers club from being axed from the 1997 Channel […]
FLASHBACK: December 1991
Hull prop, Andy Dannant was suspended for eight matches for a high shot which left Leeds’ superstar, Ellery Hanley with his jaw broken in three places. The incident was reviewed by ‘trial by […]
FLASHBACK: December 1956
Australia’s rugby league team, branded by some critics as ‘the worst ever’ to tour the northern hemisphere, shocked Great Britain with a deserved 22-9 win in the Second Test, in […]
FLASHBACK: November 1996
Gold Coast Chargers’ coach, Phil Economidis blasted the inflated egos of players signed by the rebel Super League competition, as he talked up his club’s chances in the establishment Australian […]
FLASHBACK: November 1991
Former Welsh rugby union international, Paul Moriarty scored two tries in his Great Britain rugby league Test debut against Papua New Guinea at Central Park, Wigan. Moriarty, who was signed by Widnes […]
FLASHBACK: November 1986
Australian skipper, Wally Lewis was heavily targeted by St Helens’ players in the seventh match of the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Britain and France. Three times Lewis was hit in back […]
FLASHBACK: November 1956
There were amazing scenes in the dying minutes of the First Test between Australia and France at Parc des Princes, Paris, with the Kangaroos hanging on for a tense 15-8 […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 46, 2015
WEEK 46, 2015 Visit my uncle, Bill Ricketts and his wife, Nola at Ballina. Bill, a former Queensland policeman, is my late father’s younger brother, his only sibling. Bill, whose police […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 45, 2015
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Melbourne Cup day, and Marie goes next door to Bandits/Brothers Club and places several bets. My money was on Bondi Beach (on the nose). We both dip out, with […]
FLASHBACK: October 1996
Great Britain undertook what proved a disastrous South Pacific tour, making a mockery of Super League’s claim to be creating a new world order in which a well funded rugby league would reach new […]
FLASHBACK: October 1991
Wigan defeated Penrith 21-4 in a brutal World Club Challenge encounter at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, with former All Black, Frano ‘The Boot’ Botica kicking six goals from seven shots to win […]
FLASHBACK: October 1986
WIGAN coach, Graham Lowe predicted Australia would not go through their tour of England undefeated, after his club side made the Kangaroos battle every step of the way in the opening […]
FLASHBACK: October 1946
Ipswich club, Tivoli, coached by former international, Dan Dempsey, boasted they were as good as any team in Australia after beating champion Brisbane side, Valleys 7-2 at the Brisbane Exhibition […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 44, 2015
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27. Drive to Toowoomba for the funeral of former Brisbane Valleys and Toowoomba Souths forward, Jeff Gill who played one match for Queensland in 1973. The legendary Marty Scanlan speaks on […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 43, 2015
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 David Smith quits as National Rugby League chief executive and the rumour mill goes into overdrive, re. his replacement, with radio commentator, Ray Hadley mentioning former Queensland […]
FLASHBACK: September 1986
Queensland State of origin coach, Wayne Bennett announced he had signed a four year deal to coach Canberra Raiders. Bennett, who took Souths to Brisbane premiership glory in 1985, had […]
FLASHBACK: September 1976
Goal kicking horrors cost Brothers any chance of advancing to the 1976 Brisbane Rugby League grand final. Brothers’ ace goal kicker, Ian Dauth was in the Frank Burke Stand at […]
FLASHBACK: September 1971
Wynnum-Manly fielded a father-and-son combination against Brothers in a Brisbane Rugby League ‘Special Second Four’ competition match at Lang Park. Wynnum coach, Paul ‘Pappy’ Pyers, then 36, played centre, and […]
FLASHBACK: September 1946
Electrifying winger, Len Kenny scored five tries for Combined Brisbane in their 36-7 thrashing of Sydney premiers, Balmain Tigers at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds Each of Kenny’s tries was a […]
FLASHBACK: August 1966
Referee, Roy Massey sent four players from the field in four minutes, late in Ipswich’s dramatic 7-2 win over Brisbane in the final of the inter-city, Bulimba Cup competition at […]
DAIRY UPDATE: Week 42, 2015
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 Bus it to Frankfurt, then Metro to Marianplatz where there is an International Girls Day march in Berger Street. At Kleinmarket a busker belts out a few […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 41, 2015
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5 Travel by train to Luxembourg, through the vineyards of Champagne, and the city of Metz. Weather in Luxembourg City is dismal, like Leeds in November. Our accommodation is […]
FLASHBACK: August 1971
Centre, Brian Adams scored a last minute try to give Queensland a courageous 19-18 win over New South Wales Country in front of a hostile crowd at the Newcastle International […]
FLASHBACK: August 1946
The wizardry of Brothers’ international centre, Jack Reardon in the Brisbane elimination final 17-8 win over Souths had critics wondering how he could have been left out of the Australian side for the failed […]
FLASHBACK: August 1936
Toowoomba, captained by ironman Test forward, Herb Steinohrt, claimed the 1936 Bulimba Cup title with a thrilling 11-10 win over Ipswich at North Ipswich Reserve. The Downsmen were missing international halfback, […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 40, 2015
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Drive to Port Blanc and catch the ferry across to Ill aux Moines. So many oyster beds. An amazing tide plays havoc with vessels, in particular a little sailing boat, which […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 39, 2015
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Catch the tiny train from Roscoff to Morlaix. One drink in Bar le Commerce, watching the races from Chantilly. Pick up our hire car and drive […]
FLASHBACK: July 1986
Alex Murphy, one of the greats of British rugby league, took a pot shot at the egos of Australian players during a talent scouting trip ‘down under’ for the St […]
FLASHBACK: July 1971
Brothers’ prop, Garnett Kerr was sent from the field just before halftime in a bruising Lang Park encounter against Wests in front of a crowd of more than 16,000. Kerr, (whose […]
FLASHBACK: July 1966
‘The Golden Greek’ Fonda Metassa’s Queensland debut proved a disaster, with the Brisbane Norths’ personality player’s opposing winger, Welshman, Berwyn Jones, scoring four tries in Great Britain’s 38-29 win over […]
FLASHBACK: July 1946
Thousands of people made it into the ground without paying, and 8,000 were locked out when Australia and Great Britain played the Second Test of the 1946 Ashes series at […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 38, 2015
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Meet our apartment proprietors this morning after their weekend London trip to see modern version of Hamlet at The Barbican – directed by Lindsay Turner. Head into […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 37, 2015
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Day starts so well, with best coffee yet and a free Telegraph. Then I discover my passport is missing! Of woe is me. Where the hell did I […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 36, 2015
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Depart for the UK today. Fly business class (Singapore Airlines) for first time as a couple. So exciting. Soccer, bloody soccer is all that the bloke in front […]
DIARY: Week 35, 2015
MONDAY, AUGUST 24 Enjoy a lovely two hour chat with former Test rugby league referee and Sheffield Shield cricket umpire, Don Lancashire and his wife, Carol at their Mount Warren […]
FLASHBACK: June 1966
North Queensland scored an historic 17-13 win over Great Britain in Townsville, a huge boost for rugby league in the tropics after some embarrassing losses to previous Lions’ touring sides. […]
FLASHBACK: June 1986
State of Origin stalwarts, Chris Close, Colin Scott and Dave Brown were axed from the Queensland side to play New South Wales in the second match of the 1986 series. […]
FLASHBACK: June 1946
Great Britain suffered their first defeat of their 1946 Australasian tour when their colours were lowered 15-12 by a formidable South Coast Division side in Wollongong. To be fair to the […]
FLASHBACK: June 1936
Five eighth, Vic Hey and second rower, Les Heidke were the only Queenslanders chosen in the Australian side for the First Test against the touring England side, skippered by Cumbrian fullback, Jim […]
FLASHBACK: March 1956
BRISBANE Rugby League coach, Duncan Hall drew a line in the sand when he dropped Test forward, Tom Tyquin, as well as Ray Edwards and Johnny Bruton from the side to […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 30
TUESDAY, JULY 21 Men of League Committee meeting at Broncos as the footy team trains on the fields below. I bump into ‘The King’ Wally Lewis (Channel 9), as well as […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 29
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 On 2KY’s Big Breakfast Show, former New South Wales State of Origin centre, Matt King says the 52-6 loss to Queensland last week cut deep. “I am […]
FLASHBACK: February 1976
Norths’ teenagers, Darryl Brohman, Shane Bernardin and Neville Draper were the shining lights of round 2 of the 1976 Brisbane Woolies pre-season competition. The young trio excelled in the pouring rain at Bishop Park, […]
FLASHBACK: February 1996
MARK Geyer took sacked Broncos fullback, Julian O’Neill under his wing in Perth as the talented utility star looked to revitalise his career with the Western Reds in the proposed […]
Diary update: Week 28, 2015
MONDAY, JULY 6 Lovely time at Carbine Club Lunch at Tatts Club in the City, with the notorious Billy J Smith as MC, at a function where members of the […]
Diary entry: Week 27, 2015
WEEK 27 2015 TUESDAY, JUNE 30 To cinema to see ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, set in my favorite South of England county, Dorset, where I spent time touring ahead […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 48, 2015
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Watch movie, ‘The Dressmaker’ at Palace Centro Cinema in James Street. Quite mad, but enjoyable. Ian Botham turns 60! I met him only once – in 1987 […]
