League Queensland - August Edition

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

COOPER CRONK LUKE DOUGLAS MIGHTY EASTS TIGERS IPSWICH RULES IGNATIUS PARK WINS CONFRATERNITY

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CONTENT 4

Origin Roundup Game 3

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Cooper Cronk – The Little Master

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Cool, Calm and Collective – Darius Boyd

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Controversy Corner

11 Good Guy Luke Douglas 13 XXXX Leading the Field 14 Easts Tigers 22 Ipswich Rugby League

Publisher: League Queensland is wholly owned by Tony and Carmel Price. ABN: 1508728009.

COPYRIGHT 2016 by Tony Price, all rights reserved.

35 Brisbane Dominate Qld Selection

Editor: Tony Price E: tony@leaguequeensland.com.au P: 0427 451 913 A: 34 Faust Street, Proserpine, Qld. 4800

36 Ipswich

Subeditor: Simon Price

32 Intrust Super Cup 34 Brisbane 2nd Division

37 Qld Wins Hearts and Origin Four in Mackay 40

Rugby League Country

46

Broncos Light Up Starlight Express Room

48

Confraternity Shield

50

Men of League

From the editor July has been a wonderful month if you are from the Sunshine State with Queensland winning another Origin Series despite some very indifferent New South Wales decision making and all three Queensland NRL teams in the top eight. Our adopted team full of Queenslanders in the Cronulla Sharks are leading the competition and the Melbourne Storm with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Munster in fine form are lying second. Big things have been happening around Queensland with Ignatius Park College winning the Confraternity Shield, the Queensland Rangers again defeating New South Wales and the QRL having a big weekend with their Intrust Super Cup teams during Country Week.

August is upon us and the business end of the season has started with teams jockeying for position and those crucial top spots in the semi-finals. I feel the Broncos will come good in August and like most rugby league followers in Australia I would like to see Cronulla get the monkey off their back and win a premiership. 1967 is a long time to wait but with Valentine Holmes, Benny Barba and big bad Paul Gallen firing well this could be their moment in the sun. Once again, I hope you enjoy League Queensland and again I’d like to thank the sponsors who make this magazine possible.

Kind regards,

Information and Advertising: Carmel Price P: 0439 675 325 E: admin@leaguequeensland.com.au Graphic Art: Kassi Cartia E: kassi@kartiadesigns.com.au www.kartiadesigns.com.au Printed by: Crystal Media T: 07 3356 0788 E: crystal@crystalmedia.com.au A: Unit 7/ 36 Windorah Street, Stafford, Qld. 4053 www.crystalmedia.com.au Digital version at leaguequeensland.com.au, available two weeks after printed release.

On the cover: Cameron Smith with Origin Shield (SMP Images), 2015 Jets (SMP Images), 1972 Des Morris, Jeff Fyfe and Alan Currie (Easts Tigers).

Disclaimer:

All material contained in this publication is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced, in part or in whole without written permission of the editor. Whilst the greatest care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press, readers are advised to check latest information before visiting. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. As it is not possible to ensure that the advertisements which are published in this magazine comply with the Act the responsibility must, therefore, be on the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisements for publication.

The views expressed within League Queensland are not necessarily the views of the publisher, but those of individual writers.

Tony Price 2

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The crowd of 61,267 people, mostly wearing blue, cried in anguish in the 74th minute when Darius Boyd scored after a mistake by Josh Mansour but once again the mostly reliable Thurston missed the conversion. The board read 14/12 with four minutes of play remaining when the 12th Blues penalty of the night was awarded which put the home team on the attack. A magnificent flying tackle by Cooper Cronk saved a certain Tedesco try on the right side of the field but in the next play a wild pass was picked up by Paul Gallen who found the classy Michael Jennings inside him and his momentum took him over the line with Thurston and Cronk around his legs.

The inspirational Paul Gallen kicked his first goal in his last Origin game to take the final score to 18/14.

ORIGIN ROUNDUP GAME 3 HOW did we go? 80 minutes of NSW Style Origin consisting of a penalty count that favoured the ‘Blues’ of 12/3 (9/1 in the first half), Queensland made 368 tackles to the Blues 270 and the possession favoured the home team 58% – 42% (61% to 39% in first half) yet we lead 14/12 with six minutes to go. One Sydney journalist (Tim Crawley) writing in the ‘Daily Telegraph’ after the game mentioned that in his opinion Queensland were basically robbed of the game saying that Cooper Cronk should not have been sin-binned and the try to Andrew Fifita should not have been awarded as Jennings was clearly off-side.

The Channel Nine Player of the Game went to James Maloney while the Player of the Series and Wally Lewis Medal winner was Queensland’s Captain Cameron Smith. League Queensland’s Player of the Game for New South Wales was James Tedesco followed by Maloney, Gallen and Robbie Farrah while our best for the mighty maroons were Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis and Josh McGuire.

exhibition I relate above. How did the ‘Blues’ handle the win?

They never waited for the after game ceremony and just went and spoke to their lean band of Blues supporters. ‘Respect’ is a word mentioned a lot in rugby league in the modern era and that along with humility was missing from the New South Wales agenda after Origin Three.

The sad thing from a rugby league perspective is that players like Paul Gallen are colourful and needed to give the game the zest and appeal that is missing from a lot of other sports.

Paul Gallen is bigger and better than Origin Three in Sydney indicated and I’m hoping that he gives Cronulla the same fire he breathed into the New South Wales team for the remainder of the season.

Cooper Cronk Photo: SMP Images

The game commenced with Queensland scoring the first try in the 5th minute as Greg Inglis crossed in the corner. Thurston missed the first of several costly attempts at goal.

The Blues took advantage of several crucial Queensland mistakes and in the 21st minute Tyson Frizell who was close to their best on the night scored beside the posts from a great Paul Gallen pass. Maloney kicked the goal and the Blues hit the front 6/4. The pressure was on the Queensland defence with a string of New South Wales penalties growing to 6/1 after 27 minutes and 7/1 when Cronk was sin-binned in the 31st minute. A Queensland team minus Cooper Cronk should have been easy prey for an aggressive New South Wales but despite another two penalties in the closing minutes of the first half the defensive line of the maroon team held with Greg Inglis and Dane Gagai leading the way.

Crawley went onto say that a penalty count of 10/1 after 50 minutes could not be considered fair and that several of the dubious penalties should not have been given at this level.

A final scoreline of 18/14 to the home team could hardly be considered the start of a new era of New South Wales dominance.

How did the Queensland team handle the loss? They never mentioned the atrocious display of referring and thanked everybody involved. Cameron Smith congratulated the New South Wales team and never mentioned the disgraceful

Cronk was still missing when the second half commenced and after a minute big Andrew Fifita scored off a Dane Gagai fumble. Jennings was clearly off-side but as the punter would say read tomorrow’s paper for the result. Maloney converted the try and the Blues climbed to 12/4 against a tired Queensland team that appeared on the ropes. The penalty count increased with a very dubious call against Inglis for a tackle on Josh Dugan but minutes later the Maroons luck changed when they were given their second penalty of the game. Thurston who had a relatively quiet game moved to his left and found his Cowboys’ teammate Gavin Cooper in support. Cooper scored near the corner and the conversion narrowed the gap to 12/10. Fifita had been sin-binned for a stupid late attack on Cooper and the momentum changed in Queensland’s favour for the first time in more than 60 minutes.

Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith Photo: SMP Images

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in Proserpine, at the gateway to the magnificent Whitsundays - one of the most desirable destinations in the world.

COOPER CRONK TH E

LITTLE

M A S T E R

HE has arguably the greatest football brain of any rugby league player… ever.

Cooper Cronk though will unfortunately never coach the game he has mastered.

“Full time coaching… no not for me,” the wily half back said.

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Cronk, like many modern day players, is uninterested in the brutal world of NRL coaching. It is a genuine issue for the game. There may not be another group like Des Hasler, Geoff Toovey, Paul Green, Ricky Stuart, Paul McGregor and Ivan Cleary who were all mid-90’s stars that went on to become successful first grade mentors.

Cronk has witnessed first-hand how stressed coaching makes you, seeing the damage it has done to Craig Bellamy.

“I’m not sure what the future holds,” Cronk said. “I don’t think coaching will be part of my future. Maybe at a lower level in terms of one on ones and consultancy but in terms of full time… no I wouldn’t have thought so. If you want to be good at something you need to dedicate the time.

“I don’t think there are too many successful people who don’t put in the hard work and I have seen first-hand the dedication and time required to be good at coaching.

Conveniently located, offering the best of both worlds •

“I love analysing teams and coming up with tactics to dissect a defensive line and working with young players to try and improve them but in terms of day to day coaching… the toll it takes and the time required, I don’t see that as part of my future.”

Cronk is close to finalising his next contract with the Melbourne Storm. It will be a two year deal and likely his final deal in the NRL. Super League club Warrington has long been rumoured to be the final destination of Cronk but with a media career at Fox Sports beckoning he is likely to retire as a one team Melbourne Storm star. Not bad for a Norths Devils junior NRL clubs except the Storm weren’t interested in.

5 minute walk to three schools, kindergarten and daycare.

“When you are playing footy you want to give it your utmost and as much attention as possible. I have begun thinking about that (life after football) and that’s what this next contract is all about. Hopefully when I move into the next transition I am ready for it.”

Cronk had a slow start to the season but his last month has been exceptional as the Storm surge towards the NRL finals.

“You would love to bottle it or be able to turn it on with a switch,” Cronk said.

“Anytime anyone is playing consistently well it comes down to preparation and hard work off the field. Hard work pays off, I’m a believer in that.”

Carmel Price – 0439 674 325 | buyland@whitsundaygardens.com.au 6

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| www.whitsundaygardens.com.au

– BRUCE JOHN LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

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WHY is bad news better than good news? I cannot get my head around a world where all the bad news dominates the media. Instead of talking about the great Origin result for Queensland or the great things individual players are doing in the community we seem intent on tearing that game apart by writing about some spoilt brat who simply doesn’t know better. Why do we let the media hang our stars when we have a perfectly good legal system? This question has perplexed me for ten years because back in the day it never happened. I don’t condone what a player does illegally off the field and sometimes legally but distastefully but leave the execution to the judicial system, his club and more importantly the community. Parramatta are a good case in point. The bad guys appear to be the five officials who have dragged the club into a financial mire they might never recover from yet the media have left them alone because it’s not juicy enough and concentrated on a couple of players who basically have no brains. If these players have broken the law I suggest they be prosecuted by the legal system to its fullest extent but if they haven’t broken the law and have simply acted like many people do, not using their brains, let the club and their peers decide their punishment. I’m confident if the club is not severe enough they will find sponsor pressure come to bear and as we all know – money talks.

COOL, CALM AND COLLECTIVE DARIUS Boyd has seen it all.

A Broncos mid-season slump to Boyd is like Donald Trump making an irrational comment. Brisbane struggled during winter. At one stage they lost six of eight games as injuries and Origin workload punished them. As always the halves have taken the bulk of criticism with Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford singled out for punishment in the press. Boyd, because he’s seen it all, won’t stand for it.

“It is funny how everyone bags the halves. It is pretty silly to blame two guys for a loss in form,” Boyd said.

“It is sad actually.”

Boyd debuted in 2006, the last year Brisbane won a premiership and also a season in which they had an Origin related slump. The Broncos lost five games in a row that year from round 18 to round 23 as they failed to fire after Origin.

However, they only lost one more game, on the way to a storied premiership. Even last season, the year the Broncos made the grand final, Wayne Bennett’s team lost four of their final six games in the regular season before winning their opening two finals to progress to the decider which they lost in golden point. This is why Boyd is so calm “We can’t look at the ladder and put pressure on ourselves,” Boyd said.

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My older brother was a journalist for more than 30 years and in his day the only scandal in the game was illegal. It was an un-written law that journalists respected the privacy of individuals yet today it is the reverse. One opinion is that based on the comment that because of the huge salaries the players are making they should be more accountable! If this is fact then why are the thousands of white collar criminals around Australia not on the front page of the ‘daily’s’ every day? Recently a Queensland politician was charged with drunkdriving and also driving without a license. It was not his first offence and he is supposed to be a custodian of the peoples trust. No offence was recorded because he needed a clean record to go on holidays overseas!! You are kidding. My brother worked for a Queensland newspaper and back in the mid-2000s one of the games brightest

stars was playing up like a second-hand motor bike but the issue was not raised in the media although they all knew about it. That player is now an outstanding example of what is good in the rugby league community and maybe it’s because he was given a fair go and not a trial by media ten seasons ago.

The bloke I consider the best coach in the NRL is Wayne Bennett and over the decades he has had a horde of colourful characters playing under his direction. He gave the bad guys a chance and if they responded they became Internationals. If they never responded they quietly found they were excess baggage at the club. No media involved and no dirty linen to air, just get on with the game. Time is another enemy to the young rugby league player. Prior to Super League most rugby league players had a job which kept them occupied but now in the age of the perceived super-professional any chink in a players armour is exploited by the media and the grubby bottom-feeders who look for any opportunity to take advantage of a lapse in concentration.

The Broncos are one of the better clubs in the NRL when it comes to community engagement and this keeps the good deeds flowing. It’s amazing that we don’t see a regular feature about a player in Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Townsville or New Zealand given a pat on the back in the media for visiting Ronald McDonald House or assisting with a charity yet when the first sniff of a scandal appears it becomes who can bag the player in question the most.

Rugby League is a positive game, let’s look at it and the players through positive eyes. On a positive note it was great to see Cairns, Port Moresby, Townsville and Brisbane all get World Cup games in 2017. Cairns did an amazing job with almost 15,000 turning up for the recent South Sydney vs Cowboys games. Maybe our ‘positive’ politicians should spend some of the tax payer’s dollars in the far north of Queensland.

– TONY PRICE

No book before has captured the history of the rugby league in North Queensland like MORE THAN THE FOLEY SHIELD 1908 – 2014.

Image: Courtesy Brisbane Broncos

“There’s no point worrying about ladder positions if we are not playing good football. We need to get ourselves back on track.”

Anthony Milford thanked Boyd for having his back but admitted he deserved criticism. Milford has an incredible start to the season. Over the opening ten rounds he was the best player in the NRL. Since Origin though, Brisbane’s pack has been unable to get ascendancy. The Origin stars have put their performance for state ahead of their club and those players meant to replace their ability have been found out as not ready to start games and deal with that pressure.

“Any halves in a team that is going that way will get the same criticism in the NRL,” Milford said.

“We need to steer the team a bit better, point them in the right direction. I believe so. We just need that belief in ourselves.

We need to get our season back on track, get that belief back and that will make us a strong force in the finals.”

The book tells the story of more than 300 players and officials that had a hand in the 100 year rise and development of the game in the north of Australia. The stories of the great international teams that toured the North like the 1928, 1936 and 1946 Great Britain sides, the magnificent 1951 and 1955 Frenchmen who thrilled the crowds in Townsville and Cairns.

The book is not only about the games - it captures the great players like Ola Olsen from Charters Towers, who played six games for Queensland in 1908 through to our current North Queensland super-star Johnathan Thurston. No region or town misses out with more than 400 photos, many never seen before, of teams and players from Sarina in the south, Thursday Island in the north and Mount Isa in the west.

The book written in chronological order tells about the great North Queensland team that supplied nine Queensland players in 1915 and also tells about the success of the North Queensland Cowboys, Mackay Cutters and Northern Pride. The great games are mentioned in detail like the 110 minute marathon in 1982 when Townsville and Herbert River fought out a 22/22 draw, the 100 minute Carlton Shield final in 1938 when Cairns and Townsville drew and the great effort from the 1962 Far North Queensland team in Cairns who went down to a magnificent Great Britain team 33/31.This touring team had beaten all corners including Australia. More than the Foley Shield tells all. Don’t miss out on this great piece of North Queensland history.

MORE THAN THE FOLEY SHIELD A H

ISTORY

OF

M ACKAY R UGBY L EAGUE 1919 – 2014

1911 – 2014

Available online – www.morethanthefoleyshield.com.au A HISTORY OF RUGBY LEAGUE IN MACKAY 1919 – 2014 gives a great insight into the history of the game in one of the power-house breeding grounds of rugby league in Australia.

Not many regional towns can boast of an array of talent like Ned Andrews, Elton Rasmussen, Graham Laird, Ray Laird, Martin Bella, Dale Shearer, Shannon Hegarty, Neville Costigan, Julian O’Neill, Josh Hoffman and Daly Cherry-Evans who all represented their country from Mackay or after leaving Mackay.

Rugby league historian Tony Price has captured every season in detail from 1919 through until 2014 with an amazing list of photos and facts never seen or listed before. He has put together an amazing list of representative players, officials and characters and his touch has brought A History of Mackay Rugby League to life.

– BRUCE JOHN Tony Price

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LUKE DOUGLAS

HE is an undersized prop who battles monsters ten to 20 kilograms heavier than him each week but that’s not even Luke Douglas’s greatest strength of character. Douglas is one of many NRL players who use their profile to help charity. The Titans prop and ironman of rugby league is a credit to his club. Douglas works with Down Syndrome Association Queensland and in June he competed in a special swimming relay to help promote two swimmers from DSAQ into the World Championships.

Whenever the game of rugby league descends into another scandal, men like Douglas are the players the code can look to as an example of what is right. While most consider every NRL player needs to be a role model, such a responsibility is actually a choice and one that the Douglas has relished following the tragic passing of his mother.

“I am a bit nervous actually,” he said of the charity’s win that would raise crucial funds.

“I haven’t been in the pool for a while and I understand they are strong swimmers. They are trying to get some funding to head to the World Championships and they just want some support for their championships. They are all good swimmers but we will give it our best.”

Douglas was crowned the NRL’s Ken Stephen Medal winner for 2015 which is an honour awarded to the NRL player who best represents the code off field.

“I’m not a Wayne Bennett but I try to teach the kids a few things,” Douglas said in his acceptance speech. With charity work, I’m pretty passionate about that sort of stuff. My mum was a teacher’s aide and worked with children with disabilities and I suppose it has rubbed off on me. She passed away a few years ago and I’m just trying to continue her legacy.”

Douglas holds the record for most consecutive NRL games.

In 2014, he broke Jason Taylor’s record of 194 straight appearances. He eventually played 215 games in a row before accepting a suspension from ASADA which ended his streak.

One thing he hasn’t been able to do is score tries. In round 15 he made a rare foray over the try-line in the Titans win over the Manly Sea Eagles when he stormed through a gap off an inside pass.

“I have played 10 years of first grade now and scored 13 tries, so I average one a season so it was good to get that one ... we sort of practise that move at training a bit. I can’t remember the previous one ... I know it’s been a couple of years.”

Image: Courtesy Neil Cadigan (Titans)

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It was actually the first try he scored since round 13 in 2014.

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LEADING THE FIELD AS AT 28 JULY 2016

NRL

BRISBANE SOUTHSIDE 3

LEADING THE FIELD

Cronulla Sharks (32)

1.

Wynnum Manly (52)

1.

Gin Gin (22)

2.

Melbourne Storm (30)

2.

Edens Landing (48)

2.

Avondale (22)

3.

North Queensland Cowboys (26)

3.

Beenleigh (39)

3.

Agnus Waters (16)

4.

Cantebury Bulldogs (26)

4.

Redlands (38)

4.

South Kolam (8)

INTRUST SUPER CUP

IPSWICH RUGBY LEAGUE

1.

Burleigh Bears (33)

1.

Goodna (37)

1.

Sherbourg (28)

Redcliffe Dolphins (30)

2.

Brothers (30)

2.

Nanango (24)

3.

PNG Hunters (28)

3.

Fassifern (28)

3.

Kingaroy (22)

4.

Townsville Blackhawks (27)

4.

Swifts (26)

4.

Murgon (20)

1.

Redcliffe Dolphins (34)

1.

Tweed Heads (40)

1.

Mundubbera (14)

2.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls (32)

2.

Tugun (36)

2.

Eidsvold (8)

3.

Easts Tigers (29)

3.

Burleigh (32)

3.

Monto (8)

4.

Norths Devils (25)

4.

Southport (32)

4.

GOLD COAST / TWEED COMPETITION

BRISBANE 2ND DIVISION PREMIER

CENTRAL BURNETT RUGBY LEAGUE

TOOWOOMBA RUGBY LEAGUE

Gayndah (2)

BUNDABERG RUGBY LEAGUE

1.

Albany Creek Gaters (48)

1.

Pittsworth (28)

1.

Hervey Bay (34)

2.

Brighton Roosters (47)

2.

Warwick (26)

2.

Brothers (26)

3.

West Brisbane Panthers (46)

3.

Brothers (24)

3.

Across the Waves (24)

4.

Wynnum Juniors (37)

4.

Souths (24)

4.

Wests (24)

1.

Dayboro Cowboys (52)

1.

Inglewood (20)

1.

Rockhampton Brothers (26)

2.

Moreton Bay Pride (48)

2.

Tenterfield (20)

2.

Yeppoon (20)

3.

Pine Central Holy Spirit (44)

3.

Stanthorpe / Texas (7)

3.

Norths Chargers (20)

4.

Aspley (41)

4.

Killarney (6)

4.

Biloela (13)

1.

Samford (44)

1.

Cities (34)

1.

Magpies (24)

2.

Norths St Josephs (43)

2.

St George (30)

2.

Whitsunday (24)

3.

West Arana Hills (42)

3.

Chinchilla (28)

3.

Wests (20)

4.

North Lakes Kangaroos (40)

4.

Redbulls (24)

4.

BRISBANE NORTHSIDE 1

BORDER RUGBY LEAGUE

BRISBANE NORTHSIDE 2

20* South Function Room

SOUTH BURNETT RUGBY LEAGUE

2.

FOGS COLTS

Beer Garden

NORTHERN DISTRICTS COMPETITION

1.

ROCKHAMPTON RUGBY LEAGUE

ROMA DISTRICT RUGBY LEAGUE

BRISBANE NORTHSIDE 3

MACKAY RUGBY LEAGUE

CENTRAL WEST RUGBY LEAGUE

Souths (11)

TOWNSVILLE RUGBY LEAGUE

1.

Brighton Roosters (53)

1.

Winton (14)

1.

Herbert River (44)

2.

Fortitude Valley (51)

2.

Ilfracombe (10)

2.

Brothers (40)

3.

Pine Rivers (44)

3.

Blackall (6)

3.

Centrals (30)

4.

Moreton Bay Pride (42)

4.

Barcaldine (4)

4.

Norths (28)

1.

West Inala (53)

1.

Emerald Tigers (18)

1.

Innisfail (34)

2.

Bulimba Valleys (46)

2.

Bluff Rabbitohs (16)

2.

Ivanhoes (26)

3.

Redlands District (44)

3.

Middlemount Panthers (14)

3.

Cairns Brothers (23)

4.

Beenleigh Seniors (42)

4.

Springsure (14)

4.

Atherton (23)

1.

Brothers St Brendans (52)

1.

Caloundra (52)

1.

Normanton Stingers (18)

2.

Capalaba (45)

2.

Kawana (51)

2.

Cloncurry Eagles (14)

3.

East Mt Gravatt (43)

3.

Caboolture (51)

3.

Town (14)

4.

Browns Plains (42)

4.

Maroochydore / Coolum (45)

4.

Wanderers (8)

BRISBANE SOUTHSIDE 1

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS COMPETITION

BRISBANE SOUTHSIDE 2

CAIRNS RUGBY LEAGUE

SUNSHINE COAST / GYMPIE

MOUNT ISA RUGBY LEAGUE

SUPPORTING RUGBY LEAGUE ALL OVER QUEENSLAND

WINNER 2015 OVERALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR—REGIONAL 12

LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

WINNER 2015 BEST CASUAL DINING LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

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MIGHTY MAGNIFICENT EASTS RUGBY League was first played in the East Brisbane area in 1914 but immediately after the First World War things got serious with Coorparoo, known as the ‘Bengal Tigers’, playing in a six team first grade competition. Coorparoo only played for sixteen seasons but they played with distinction appearing in seven grand finals with their only victory in the big grade being in 1923. In the early 1920’s the Coorparoo team was a powerhouse of Queensland rugby league with Arthur Henderson, Neville Broadfoot, Charlie Thorogood, C Cavanagh and J Rinaldi playing for Queensland while Thorogood toured New Zealand with the 1919 Kangaroos, sitting on the bench in the 2nd Test but playing in the 3rd Test which Australia won 34/23. Broadfoot would make his test debut against England at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds on the 26th June 1920 and would later tour England with the 1921/1922 Kangaroos.

The Coorparoo boys played in the 1919, 1921 and 1922 Grand Finals for no success but in 1923 their luck changed when the Coorparoo Rugby League Club won the Brisbane A Grade premiership with a 13/2 victory over Valleys. The 1923 team included Charlie Thorogood, Paddy Crouch and Arthur Henderson who all played for Queensland. The club secured a tenure over Langlands Park in 1922 and in 1925 signed a rugby league immortal in the mercurial Harold Horder from New South Wales. Many experts regard Harold Horder as the finest attacking winger of all-time and an indication of his powers were on display in the 1915 Interstate Series where he scored

ten tries in two games. Horder also kicked 15 goals to contribute 60 points to his team’s tally. Horder played for Coorparoo in 1925 and 1926 and although they played in grand finals both seasons never took the crown. Arthur Henderson was selected to tour with the 1928/1929 Kangaroos and in 1929 Coorparoo were beaten 12/11 by University for the premiership. Included in the 1929 team was Bill Christie who would play front row for Australia in the 3rd test of the 1932 series against Great Britain.

The Brisbane Rugby League created district football in 1933 and the great Coorparoo team was combined with the Wynnum district to form Eastern Suburbs, the club we all know as ‘Easts Tigers’.

LEAGUE QUEENSLAND BEST 1918 – 1969 Fullback Winger Centre Centre Winge 5/8 ½ Back Lock 2nd Row 2nd Row Prop Hooker Prop

Bill Thompson Harold Horder Bob Hagen Neville Broadfoot Jeff Denman Charlie Thorogood Ron Stanton Ron McLennan Jack Ryrie Geoff Connell Kev Stephens Arthur Henderson Bill Christie

MIGHTY MAGNIFICENT EASTS Easts were competitive in the 1930’s although the competition was dominated by Norths, Brothers, Valleys and Wests until the end of the Second World War with Easts winning a reserve grade title in 1940 under the captaincy of Nev Ryrie.

Senior players in the club in the pre-war years included Bill Christie, Bill Thompson and the amazing Jack Ryrie. Bill Thompson, who played Bulimba Cup football for Brisbane from 1930 – 1938, never played for Queensland but did play for Brisbane in a team that defeated the 1932 Englishmen.

Jack ‘Gunboat’ Ryrie was the heart and soul of Eastern Suburbs playing 27 Bulimba Cup games between 1936 and 1947 and 19 games for Queensland between 1938 and 1946.

The 1946 season saw the emergence of a new Easts Tigers with Jack Ryrie in the twilight of a great career taking an emerging team to the BRL minor premiership before going down 5/2 in the premiership final to Souths. 1947 was the Year of the Tiger as six of their first grade team played in the Bulimba Cup Final for Brisbane and the up-and-coming Ron McLennan made the Queensland team. The 1947 first grade team is considered by many to be the best Tigers team of all time although the great 1977/78 teams would take some tossing. Easts defeated Souths 15/2 in the premiership decider and won every title on offer that season. They lost the 1948 Grand Final 36/18 to Souths

and 1949 Grand Final 22/8 also to Souths but bounced back to take the 1950 crown 14/10 over Wests. Easts continued to be a force in Brisbane rugby league in the early 1950’s playing in the 1951 and 1953 Grand Finals but never won another title until the 1972 season.

THE 1960’s in Brisbane were dominated by Northern Suburbs (7 premierships), Brothers (two), Valleys and Redcliffe but Easts were a sleeping giant assembling a strong team comprising local juniors and several key imports including Geoff Connell, Jeff Denman, Des Morris, Sid Clarke and David Wakerley.

Connell played for the Tigers from 1967 until 1969 and on the 8th July 1967 he ran onto the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 3rd Test against New Zealand. Denman was an Ipswich junior who would eventually play 12 games for Queensland and tour New Zealand with the 1969 Australian team. By 1968 the young Tigers were starting to roar and with a team comprising the experienced Reg Webster, Les Geeves and Peter Lobegeiger, the quality of Denman and Geoff Connell and the youthful Des Morris they made their first grand final since 1953 in the top grade. Brothers with a very hot team won the 1968 Grand Final but the Tigers were back on track.

A new crop of local juniors came into grade in 1969 including Paul Khan, Rodger Khun, Noel Cowell, Bruce Walker and Greg Holben but despite a strong start to the season they were knocked out in the semi-finals. The 1970 season saw the club sign the colourful Ted Verrenkamp as coach and once again improved their stock of quality players with the arrival of

EASTERN SUBURBS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1950 BRL FIRST GRADE PREMIERS Back (L-R): F Thomsen (Selector), M Kent, Len Blaik, N Rolley, A Lawrence (Selector) 2nd Row: A Anderson, Charlie Martin, J McPhail, F McKenzie, Ken Schatz, J Cornish (Selector) 3rd Row: C Kahler, Alan Stanton, K Busteed, J Walker, F Zahner, Bruce Baker, L Guy, G Halliday 4th Row: Hec McInnes, B Milne, J O’Malley, R Christensen, Ted Dempsey, S Griffiths, R Otway, J Mitchell Front: J Garrigan (Secretary), N Feuerriegal, Jack Atkin (Coach), Rob Kille (Captain), A G Welch (President), Tom Drysdale (V/ Capt), Keith Brown, Ron Stanton, W Robertson (Treasurer)

Image: Courtesy Easts Tigers

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MIGHTY MAGNIFICENT EASTS Rod Morris and Kevin Stephens. The Tigers won the Brisbane Reserve Grade Final in 1970 but better things were ahead.

The 1971 season saw a dogged Easts Tigers go down 18/10 to Valleys in the premiership decider with the score locked at 10/10 after 40 minutes. Valleys with the experienced Marty Scanlan and Gerry Fitzpatrick in control dominated the second half. Des Morris, John Lang and Allan Currie were outstanding for the Tigers.

1972 was the Year of the Tiger as the Ted Verrenkamp-coached Eastern Suburbs defeated Valleys 16/15 on the back of a Jeff Fyfe field-goal in the dying seconds of the Grand Final.

A new era of dominance had arrived in ‘Tiger-Town’ with a player group who would star for the next ten seasons.

Led by Des Morris the Tigers were competitive throughout the 1970’s although Wests and Valleys had their measure from 1973 to 1976. The Tigers played in the 1976 Grand Final but a solitary field goal to their fiery second-row forward John Payne was the only point scored as Wests won 16/1.

Between 1973 and 1976 the Tigers were one of the glamour teams of the Brisbane competition with John Lang being one of only two Queensland players to tour with the 1973 Kangaroos and the club full of talent with John Eales (1973) and Jeff Fyfe (1974) winning the prestigious Rothmans Medal and the Morris brothers, Lee Hutchinson, John Eales, John Payne and Steve Farquhar representing Queensland. By 1977 the cream had once again risen to the top with five Easts senior teams playing in grand finals winning premierships in First, Reserve Grade and Second Division as well as the Club Championships for the first time since 1951. Rod Morris was selected to play for Australia with John Callus and Steve Farquhar playing for Queensland. Alan Currie won the clubs third Rothmans Medal

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in five seasons. Des Morris had taken on the dual role of captain/ coach with aplomb as he steered his classy team through the Grand Final. Easts led 12/7 at half time and held onto defeat a very good Redcliffe 17/13. John Callus, Steve Farquhar and Wayne Lindenburg scored tries for the Tigers with Greg Holben kicking four goals.

It could be argued that the period between 1973 and 1981 were the pinnacle of club rugby league in Brisbane as there was no Bulimba Cup competition to break into representative rugby league and no State League until 1982. Most club teams contained Internationals and mere state players ran around in reserve grade. Easts took their second premiership title in succession in 1978 with Alan Currie, Des Morris and John Lang playing in their third winning grand final. Their classy half-back Wayne Lindenberg would also pick up a third gong when he ran onto Lang Park in the 1983 decider. Easts defeated Valleys in 1978 with Greg Holben and Des Morris scoring tries while Jeff McDonald (3) and Lindenberg kicked goals.

LEAGUE QUEENSLAND BEST 1970 – 2016 Fullback Winger Centre Centre Winger 5/8 ½ Back Lock 2nd Row 2nd Row Prop Hooker Prop

Gavin Payne Brad Backer Greg Holben Steve Farquhar John Callus Wayne Lindenberg Paul Green Allan Currie Des Morris Darren Smith Rod Morris John Lang Martin Bella

EASTERN SUBURBS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1972 BRL FIRST GRADE PREMIERS - Back (L-R): Ted Verrenkamp (Coach), Neil Bradley (Trainer), John Schatz (Selector) 4th Row: Tony McGuin (Ass. Secretary), Ian Murphy, Ray Norbury, Kev Stephens, Frank Paulger, Alan Shepherd, Graham Lawson, Wally Taylor (Masseur) 3rd Row: Jim Ward, Alan Currie, Jeff Denman, Jeff Fyfe, Paul Khan, Boris Crassini, John Dowling 2nd Row: Nev Brett (Manager), Lee Hutchinson, Mick Georgiou, Wayne Phillips, Rod Morris, John Eales, Wayne Heydt, Ray Price (Selector) Front: Jack Loth (Patron), John Lang, Des Morris (Captain), Jack Atkin (President), Rob Pearse, John Atkin, Tom Drysdale (Secretary) Image: Courtesy Easts Tigers

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MIGHTY MAGNIFICENT EASTS Success on the rugby league field brings attention and Rod Morris (Balmain) and John Lang (Easts) moved to Sydney but a new crop of youngsters arrived at Langlands Park including Martin Bella, Mick McLean, Brett Le Man, Ray Kelly, Cavill Heugh, the Payne brothers, Larry Brigginshaw and Trevor Patterson and by 1983 the ‘Tigers flag’ once again flew over Lang Park. Easts won the 1983 Grand Final with a 14/6 defeat of Brisbane glamour team Redcliffe. Brett Tengdahl and Brad Backer scored tries while the ever-reliable Shane McNally kicked three goals.

The big money of the Sydney competition hurt Easts in the mid to late 1980’s with many of their better players chasing the big dollars on offer but by the early 1990’s a new crop of Tigers had arrived including Darren Smith, Ian Staines, Steve Dowden, Jamie Sandy and Ken Jackson. Easts finished 3rd in 1990 and went two steps better in 1991 when they defeated Wests 25/10 in the Grand Final. Kurt Wrigley (2), Steve Dowden and Andrew Neave scored tries with Ken Jackson kicking four goals.

performing teams throughout they have never won the title despite playing in the 1997, 2004, 2013 and 2014 Grand Finals.

During this time their Scott Thorburn (2002) and Cody Walker (2013) have picked up Player of the Year Awards.

Is 2016 the ‘Year of the Tiger’ – they are up there and at their best can win the competition but have to bring their A Game along every time in the finals. In the FOGS Challenge they currently sit in 3rd position on the ladder with 11 wins and a draw from their 17 games played and will certainly feature in the semi-finals. The Intrust Super Cup team are currently sitting in 5th spot on the ladder but crucially have a four point buffer between them and the three teams below them which are Ipswich, Souths Logan and Wynnum. On the negative side they play PNG in New Guinea but the rest of the season is in positive territory with a bye followed by three home games and an away game against Wynnum. League Queensland’s crystal ball sees the Tigers finishing the season still in 5th spot on 34 points giving them the unenviable task of playing the PNG Hunters away in the first week of the finals. Key players coming back from injury like Billy Walters will have a big bearing on their final hopes.

EASTERN SUBURBS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1977 BRL FIRST GRADE PREMIERS - Back (L-R): Arthur Alexander (Trainer), John Abbott, Rod Morris, Geoff Naylor, Luciano Nobile, Mark Fyfe, Tony Stanton (Strapper) 3rd Row: Wally Taylor (Masseur), Frank Shaw (manager), Steve Farquhar, Bevan De Bruyn, Steve Stacey, Errol Slingsby, Wayne Woods, Tom Drysdale (Treasurer), John Sheppard (Selector) 2nd Row: Rod Beare (Selector), Brian Smart (Secretary), Wayne Lindenberg, John Callus, Frank Roddy, Greg Holben, Alan Stanton (Selector), George West (Selector) Front: Jack Loth (Patron), Alan Currie, Des Morris (Capt/Coach), Ted Verrenkamp (President), John Lang, Rodger Kuhn, Terry Creedy (Manager)

Easts continued to play a major role in Brisbane rugby league through the 1990’s, appearing in the 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997 Grand Finals but were beaten on the day. Several of their players gave sterling service to the club with Gavin Payne playing in the winning teams of 1983 and 1991 and the losing 1992 team while Scott Neilsen played in the 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997 Grand Finals. Other players who gave sterling service to the club in this era were Steve Dowden, Andrew Neave and Peter Turner who all appeared in three finals. Paul Green who played in the 1992 and 1993 Grand Finals would go onto play seven Origin games for Queensland and two Super League tests (1997). The Queensland Cup came into being in 1996 and although Easts have been one of the better

EASTERN SUBURBS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1978 BRL FIRST GRADE PREMIERS - Back (L-R): Arthur Alexander (Trainer), Mark Payne, Rod Morris, Luciano Nobile, Bob Arnold, Tony Stanton (Strapper) 3rd Row: John Sheppard (Selector), Wayne Smith, Errol Slingsby, Bernie Lowther, Wayne Lindenberg, Wayne McEwan, Brian Smart (Secretary) 2nd Row: Cliff Green snr (Selector), Rod McDougall (Manager), John Callus, Bruce McLeod, Brad Sully, Frank Roddy, Boris Crassini (Manager), George West (Selector) Front: Jack Loth (Patron), Steve Stacey, John Lang, Des Morris (Capt/ Coach), Greg Holben, Brad Backer, Ted Verrnekamp (President) Inserts: Alan Currie, John Abbott, Rodger Kuhn Absent: Jeff McDonald, Steve Farquhar

EASTERN SUBURBS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1991 BRL FIRST GRADE PREMIERS - Back (L-R): Jeff Evans (Trainer), Dan Penman (Trainer), Paul Lusk, Greg Street, Darren Wolens, Darren Winmill, Darren Crothers, Trevor Catchpole (Trainer), Noreen Wheatley (Trainer) Middle: Brian Smart (Secretary), Ray Grieshaber (Selector), Pat O’Brien (Manager), Rob Duncan, Andrew McGown, Rob Raiteri, Scott Neilson, Kurt Wrigley, Bruce Crosby, Mike Batch (Sprints Coach), Terry Jacks (Skills Coach), Graham McComb (Kicking Coach) Front: Mike Kopittke (Sponsor, Pepsi), Steve Hermann, Steve Dowden, Ian Stains (Captain), John Lang (Coach), Gavin Payne (V/Capt), Andrew Neave, Ken Jackson, Shane Richardson (President) Image: Courtesy Steve Dowden

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THE GREAT DEBATE WHO WERE THE GREATEST TIGERS?

League Queensland is about rugby league so I will keep my debate to the people who have influenced the game in a positive manner for the Coorparoo or Easts Tigers Rugby League Club on the playing field and the two players listed below are “League Queenslands’ Greatest Tigers”.

If you go to Suzuki Stadium at Langlands Park, the home of Easts Tigers you will find Des Morris handing out programs and ensuring that the corporate people are looked after. I would suggest that he doesn’t have to do it – he simply loves the club and the game. Originally from Ipswich where he played Bulimba Cup football in 1967 he arrived at Easts in 1968 and immediately made an impression as the Tigers made their first grand final since 1953. Morris would go on to play 226 games

Images: Courtesy Easts Tigers

for the Tigers including three premierships and won the ‘Courier Mail Best and Fairest’ in 1975. On the representative front ‘Big Des’ played 13 Bulimba Cup games for Brisbane (1969 – 1972) winning the cup in 1969, 1971 and 1972. He played 15 games for Queensland between 1969 and 1979 and many consider him one of the few Queenslanders who should have played for Australia in the 1970’s and never did. Des coached Easts from 1975 – 1979 (Player/Coach) and also 1988 and 1989 for two premierships. He was president of the club from 1995 until 2002 and CEO of the Rugby League club until earlier this year.

During his absence from the club from 1981 – 1985 where he coached Wynnum he took the Seagulls to Grand Finals in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1985, winning the flag in 1982 and 1984.

EASTS TIGERS 2016 INTRUST SUPER CUP - Back Row: Brandon Downey, Jake Foster, John Puna, Matthew Pitman, Matthew Zgrajewski, Francis Tualau, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jeremy Hawkins Third Row: Matthew Williamson, Daniel Foster, Tommy Butterfield, Luke Lavelle, Michael Kai, Jared Teo, Liam McDonald Second Row: Gary Johnson, Doug Graydon, Mark Shipway, Scott Sipple (Coach), Jermaine Sipple, Darren Smith, Andrew Ross, Shannon Fish Front Row: Ash Little, Billy Waters, Shane Neumann, Dane Hogan (Captain), Brentt Warr, Javarn White, Chris Ostwald, Cheyse Blair Image: Courtesy Easts Tigers

John Lang was probably the greatest rugby league player who wore a Tigers jersey.

He basically played in an era of New South Wales dominance yet excelled at the highest level. He won the club Best and Fairest in 1971, 1973 and 1975, played in the 1972, 1977 and 1978 premiership teams, represented Queensland on 23 occasions (Best Player in 1972) and New South Wales and played for Australia in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978.

He coached the club to the 1983 and 1991 premierships and in all coached the Tigers for nine seasons. Not afraid to venture south of the border John Lang played for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney and later coached Cronulla, South Sydney and Penrith (2003 premiers).

He also coached the Australian Super League team. Significantly for Queensland the 1980 Queensland State of Origin Team had a big Easts Tigers influence with Colin Scott (fullback), Brad Backer (winger), John Lang (hooker) and Rod Morris (prop) all current or former Easts players.

Lang had won the New South Wales Player of the Match Award in the second game of the Interstate Series in 1980 prior to the first Origin.

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MIGHTY MAGNIFICENT

IPSWICH

MIGHTY Magnificent Ipswich has a proud tradition in Australian rugby league with Bob Tubman from Ipswich playing in the first ever Test for Australia against New Zealand at the Sydney Agricultural Grounds on the 9th May 1908. Another Ipswich player, Bill Hardcastle played and scored a try in the 2nd Test in Brisbane on the 30th May and retained his spot for the 3rd Test played in Sydney on the 6th June. Hardcastle, a tough no-nonsense forward, toured with the first ever Kangaroos to England at the end of the 1908 season while Bob Tubman was recalled to play in the 2nd Test against England at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds on the 2nd July 1910. Amazingly Tubman and Hardcastle played for Australia from Ipswich before the game commenced in the city. The first ever inter-city game was on the 9th October 1909 against Brisbane while the first club game was not played until 1910.

England toured Australia in 1924 and when Australia ran onto the Sydney Cricket Grounds on the 23rd June the team included Eric Frauenfelder, Norm Potter and the captain Jimmy Craig from Ipswich. All three retained their spots for the 2nd Test also played in Sydney and were joined by another Ipswich player Johnny Hunt. Australia had lost the 1st and 2nd Test when England ran onto the Brisbane Exhibition Ground on the 12th July 1924 and I’m confident that many of the 39,000 spectators were from Ipswich as they cheered on their five Internationals in Australia’s 21/11 victory. Frauenfelder, Hunt, Craig and Potter had been joined by the magnificent Billy Paten to make this the best ever Ipswich representation at International level. Although England defeated Australia in the test series a Queensland team including the five Ipswich players defeated them 25/10.

The returning soldiers from the First World War including the legendary Duncan Thompson, who had been halfback in St Paul’s premiership team of 1915, brought a new vitality to the game.

Although inter-city rugby league had been played in some form since the 1909 season in 1925 we saw the introduction of the famous Bulimba Cup. The quality of the players in the early years was breath-taking with Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane full of Internationals. You would have to be an astute judge of rugby league to work out if the Ipswich team that won the Bulimba Cup in 1926 was better than the 1929 team as both contained nine internationals and four Queensland players. The 1926 team contained Frauenfelder, Craig, Paten, Potter, Cecil Aynsley, Harry Caples, Les Sellars, Bill Smith and Arthur Henderson who all wore Australian colours while mere mortals like Jim McBrien, Keith Hughes, Percy Parcells and Syd Malcolm were Queensland representatives. If we include Syd Malcolm’s eighteen rugby union tests for Australia including some as captain maybe the 1926 team would get the edge.

Many, including Thompson, considered themselves lucky to be alive and rugby league was an avenue to prove that.

By 1919 the quality of club football in Ipswich was first class with players like Thompson and Billy Paten selected to tour New Zealand with the Australian team that year. This trend would continue for many seasons. Duncan Thompson was now playing for North Sydney and along with future Ipswich players Jimmy Craig and Harry Caples toured England with the 1921/1922 Kangaroos. Another Ipswich legend Norm Potter also toured.

LEAGUE QUEENSLAND - FIRST XIII 1908 – 1945 FULLBACK WINGER CENTRE CENTRE WINGER 5/8 ½ BACK LOCK 2ND ROW 2ND ROW PROP HOOKER PROP

ERIC FRAUENFELDER CECIL AYNSLEY BILL ‘CIRCY’ SMITH JIMMY CRAIG BILLY PATEN JOHN HUNT DUNCAN THOMPSON JIM BENNETT LES HEIDKE BOB TUBMAN NORM POTTER BILL HARDCASTLE DAN DEMPSEY

IPSWICH RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1926 BULIMBA CUP CHAMPIONS Back (L-R): W Smith, R Falvey, J McBrien, Jimmy Craig Second Row: G Curtis, Ces Aynsley, Con Mengel (Secretary), Les Sellars, J Allman Third Row: T Quirk, Harry Caples, P Parcell, Mo Biggs, H Parry, R Sabine Sitting: W Johnston (Selector), K Hughes, N Reynolds, Norm Potter (Captain), A Henderson, Eric Frauenfelder, J Doyle (Selector) Front: Billy Paten 22

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Get out there in Ipswich More than 6,000 hectares of bushland is available in Ipswich for sustainable recreation.

Activities accessible to visitors include: •

trail running

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mountain biking

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bushwalking

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horse riding

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swimming

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fishing

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orienteering

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canoeing

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kayaking

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picnicking

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camping

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bird watching

Visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/recreation for more information on all the recreational activities and get out there today.

Mountain biking at Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate

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MIGHTY MAGNIFICENT IPSWICH The 1929 team contained Internationals in Smith, Frauenfelder, Aynsley, Paten, Sellars, Henderson, Frank Donnar, Jim Bennett and Dan Dempsey plus their state players in Hughes, Mo Biggs, Parcells and Les Campbell. During the 1928 season England toured again and Jimmy Craig and Dan Dempsey played in all three tests. England toured again in 1932 with Ipswich supplying Joe Wilson, Hec Gee, Dan Dempsey and the incomparable Les ‘Monty’ Heidke to the Australian ranks. The Australian team that defeated England 15/6 on the 18th June 1932 contained all four players. The Kangaroos toured England at the end of the 1932 season with Bill Smith, Heidke and Frank Donnar representing the coal-city.

The 1930’s saw ‘Mighty Magnificent Ipswich’ dominate the Bulimba Cup taking the title in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938 and 1939 with teams that included players of the calibre of Eddie ‘Babe’ Collins, Henry Bichel, Vic Hey and Jack Gayler.

Although Ipswich dominated the Bulimba Cup only Les Heidke and Doug McLean wore the green and gold during this period.

The Second World War saw rugby league take second place to the conflict with Brisbane bolstered by many servicemen dominating the Bulimba Cup competition in 1940/1941 before a gap of two seasons. The Cup was resumed in 1944 and one Ipswich player was John Grice who won premierships with Tivoli in 1944 and 1945 before signing with South Brisbane for the 1946 season. He ran onto the Sydney Cricket Ground as Australian halfback against England on the 17th June in the 1st Test and retained his spot for the 2nd Test in Brisbane. Between 1944 and 1956 Toowoomba won eight and Brisbane won five of the competitions before Ipswich re-joined the winners club in 1957. During this sparse period for the city players like Ron Griffiths, Dennis Flannery and Bernie Drew wore the green and gold of Australia.

From the mid-1950’s onwards the nucleus of a great team was assembling with a forward pack containing Bernie Drew, Dennis Jackwitz, Gary Parcell, Jim Foreman, Don Meehan and Dud Beattie as good as any in the country and in 1957 they won their first title for more than 20 seasons. In 1958 the forward pack was bolstered by ‘Australian Team of the Century’ forward Noel Kelly and Ipswich won their second Bulimba Cup in as many seasons. On the representative front Beattie and Kelly made their test debut on the 13th June 1959 against New

Zealand and both retained their positions for the three test series. Queensland dominated the 1959 Inter-State series with Gary Parcell joining his Ipswich teammates Beattie and Kelly on the 1959 Kangaroo tour.

The demise of the Bulimba Cup at the end of the 1972 season saw a consolidation of the Brisbane club competition while Ipswich and Toowoomba played their representative rugby league in a state-wide league that included North Queensland, Central Queensland, Wide Bay and sometimes the Gold Coast.

In 1982 a State League was introduced which gave much better exposure to talented players from regional areas and in 1987 ‘Gold was discovered in Ipswich’ in the shape of the pint-sized Alan Langer and the Walters boys. The dream began when it was decided to have a Queensland selection trial with New South Wales-based players in one team and Queenslandbased players in the other while City played Country as the curtain-raiser. Following the trials a Queensland Residents team that included Alan Langer toured New Zealand and later that season he was selected in the Queensland ‘Origin’ team to play New South Wales. The rest is history but for the record the Ipswich boys did their city proud as all four toured with the 1992 Kangaroos to England.

– LEAGUE QUEENSLAND Acknowledges assistance from Jan Christison (Secretary/History Researcher; Ipswich Rugby League) and reference to her book – ‘Ipswich Rugby League – The Bulimba Cup Era’ E: jandbchristison@optus.com.au

FULLBACK WINGER CENTRE CENTRE WINGER 5/8 ½ BACK LOCK 2ND ROW 2ND ROW PROP HOOKER PROP

HARRY LINDE DENNIS FLANNERY NEV LINDE JEFF DENMAN BRIAN WALSH KEVIN WALTERS ALAN LANGER DON MEEHAN BERNIE DREW GARY PARCELL NOEL KELLY STEVEN WALTERS DUD BEATTIE

IPSWICH RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1958 BULIMBA CUP CHAMPIONS Back Row: B McDonald, M Scully Third Row: Noel Kelly, B McGuire, R Gwynne, D Brown Second Row: Brian Brennan, Jim Foreman, J Perrett, B Rashleigh, T Jones, S Walker Sitting: W Cameron, B Walsh, Dud Beattie, L Duncan (Captain), V Watterson, D Barrett, Gary Parcell Absent: Dan Dempsey (Coach) LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

TWO TOURS AND EIGHT GREAT IPSWICH PLAYERS

The rugby league world was changing in the late 1950’s with many great Queensland players heading to the poker-machine rich Sydney club scene and Ipswich was no exception losing their better players to Sydney and Brisbane so for the better half of the 1960’s until the end of the Bulimba Cup in 1972 the coal-city only won one more title. This was in 1966 with a team rich on attitude but not so rich on stars. Only Bruce Coles had played for Queensland which was a far cry from the ten Internationals and four state players of the 1926 season but win they did against Brisbane in a play-off in Toowoomba.

The Brisbane team contained Australian player Noel Cavanagh plus Queensland players Don Jago, Tony Scott, Ray Cattanach, Barry Dowling, John Doyle, Brian Blowes and Trevor Niebling but Ipswich prevailed 7/2.

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A TALE OF

IPSWICH has never been the Centre of the Rugby League Universe but for eight players 35 seasons apart the 1959 and 1992 Kangaroo Tours seemed like a magic moment in time.

In 1959 Queensland dominated the Inter-State Series winning 17/15, 23/11 and 18/14 and in any other time could have expected to get at least 13 of the 26 places on the Kangaroo Tour but this was New South Wales dominated Australia and the selectors only picked seven Queenslanders. It is recorded history that the entire Ipswich front-row of Noel Kelly, Dud Beattie and Gary Parcell made the tour but it was the former Ipswich player who never toured that is one of the sad selection decisions of Australian rugby league. Don Meehan had been one of the outstanding forwards in the Inter-State series and there was clearly not twelve forwards in Australia better than him but Meehan along with key players like Bobby Banks were overlooked by the selectors. Meehan was a magnificent ball playing forward with skills beyond his years.

He would eventually go onto be one of the most successful player/coaches in Queensland rugby league and an icon of the game in Queensland. He played nine games for Queensland in a short representative career including seven during the 1959/1960 seasons.

The Ipswich trio of Beattie, Parcell and Kelly would tour and surprisingly Kelly, the most famous of the trio, never played in any of the six tests while Parcell and Beattie both played in four apiece. Kelly would have his time in the rugby league sun and make another two Kangaroo tours (1963/64 and 1967) and eventually play 25 tests for his country and in 2008 he was named hooker in the Australian Team of the Century.

Alan Langer was the ANZ Colt of the Year in 1987 and after making his state debut that season would go onto play 35 games for Queensland in a career that would span 16 seasons.

‘Alfie’, as he was affectionately known, was a pint-sized halfback who dominated the game at the highest level playing 22 tests for Australia after making his test debut against Papua New Guinea in Wagga on the 20th July 1988. ‘Alfie’ was the greatest halfback who ever wore a Queensland jersey and his selection in the Queensland Team of the Century is testimony to that.

On the 6th March 1988 when the Brisbane Broncos ran onto

Lang Park in their first ever game in the NSWRL the little guy wearing number seven was Alan Langer and for more than 250 first grade games the jersey was his. Langer scored 100 tries in his 258 first grade games for the Broncos, won four premierships, three Origin ‘Man of the Match’ awards, the 1992 Clive Churchill medal and 1992 Rothmans Medal as the Best Player in the Game. A testimony to the character of the little elf from Ipswich is that Wayne Bennett, the hardest taskmaster in rugby league, appointed Alan Langer as captain of the Brisbane Broncos for seven seasons.

Kevin Walters would be right up there with the best of all time if it was not for his early years as understudy to the ‘Immortal’ Wally Lewis. Indeed Wayne Bennett finally moved Lewis to lock and Kevin Walters to five-eighth so both could be on the field. Kevin Walters played 50 games for the Canberra Raiders including the 1989 premiership before heading home to Queensland in 1990 to join his twin brother Kerrod and little ‘Alfie’ at the Broncos.

Kevvie made his Origin debut as a replacement in Game Three 1989 and would eventually play 20 games for Queensland and eleven games for Australia. Walters was a magnificent ball player and team man and would go on to play 242 games for the Broncos including the 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000 premiership finals. Walters is the current Queensland ‘Origin’ coach and a legend of Ipswich Rugby League. A ‘Tale of Two Hookers’ would be one way to describe the talented Steve and Kerrod Walters as both have represented their town, state and country in the hooking position.

Kerrod Walters would play eighth Tests plus six Origin game and in a ‘believe it or not’ situation was pushed out of the Australian hookers spot by his older brother Steven when he was suspended prior to the first game of the 1991 series.

Steven played 14 Origin games for Queensland and 15 tests for Australia and until Cameron Smith appeared on the scene was considered the best ever Queensland hooker. Both were great players in a great era of rugby league and had magnificent club careers.

1993 Broncos celebrate

Image: Courtesy Brisbane Broncos

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SUPER STARS

OF THE IPSWICH RUGBY LEAGUE Fullback – Eric Frauenfelder

was simply one of the greatest of Queensland’s rugby league stars immediately after the First World War. A magnificent fullback who played for Brothers in the Ipswich club competition he won club premierships in 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926 and 1929 and was fullback in the great Ipswich Bulimba Cup teams of 1926 and 1929. He played the first of his 24 games for Queensland in 1921. He was Australia’s fullback for all games in the 1924 test series against England but there is more to the Eric Frauenfelder story. Originally from Victoria he was a magnificent kicker of the ball with his grounding in Australian Rules. Frauenfelder was one of the first players to embrace the idea of being a country player/coach and during a playing career that lasted at least until 1936 he played and coached at Gympie (1928 played against Great Britain for Wide Bay), Barcaldine, Herbert River and the Burdekin. In the twilight of a wonderful career he played in the 1931 North Queensland B Grade premiership team for Ayr, the 1935 North Queensland B Grade final for Herbert River and was still playing representative rugby league in 1936 in Ayr.

defeated NSW 18/13 in Sydney. In 1924 the legendary Jimmy Craig captained Australia in all three tests against England, playing halfback in the 1st Test and centre in the 2nd and 3rd Tests. He also captained Ipswich against Great Britain on the 12th June. In 1925 Harry Caples arrived in Ipswich which coincided with the first year of the Bulimba Cup and in 1926 under the leadership of Craig, Ipswich won their first Bulimba Cup. Jimmy Craig played for Queensland from 1923 until 1928 with Queensland winning 16 of 23 games in that period. Craig played in all three tests of the 1928 series against England, once again proving his versatility playing fullback and centre.

In 1929 he returned to NSW to play for Western Suburbs and as captain-coach took them to their first ever premiership in 1930. Jimmy Craig was the leading point scorer in the Sydney competition in 1929/1930 and played his last game for NSW in 1929 in a series win over Queensland. While in Ipswich he played in 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927 and 1928 Grand Finals for Starlights, winning in 1924, 1926 and 1928. In 2008 the magnificent Jimmy Craig was selected in the Queensland Team of the Century.

‘Monty’ Heidke In a magnificent representative Winger – Cecil Aynsley was good enough to Les career that went from 1931 – 1946 Heidke played 53 Bulimba beat great players like Kerry Boustead (25 tests for Australia) for a wing position in the ‘Queensland Team of the Century’.

A product of the Charters Towers rugby league system he played for Charters Towers against Townsville and Brisbane before heading south to play for Wests in Brisbane in 1922.

He was fast enough in 1921 to win the £100 Townsville Gift – a sprint race for professionals. Aynsley played for Wests from 1922 (premiers) until 1925 and made the first of his 34 Queensland appearances in 1922 scoring a try against the returning Australian team. Cecil Aynsley played in all Tests against England in 1924 and in a low scoring series scored points in all three games. He played Bulimba Cup for Brisbane in 1925 and was the star of Queensland’s tour to New Zealand that season scoring 34 tries in eleven games while amassing 114 points. In 1926 Aynsley signed with Ipswich club Starlights where he won premierships (1926/1928) and was an integral member of the great Ipswich teams that won the 1926/1929 Bulimba Cups. Cecil Aynsley scored a try in the 1st Test against England in 1928 but was omitted from the next two encounters. He played for Queensland in 1930 and spent the last five seasons of his career playing for Rochdale Hornets in England.

Centre – Jimmy Craig

could be considered the finest utility player that ever played rugby league. That’s a big call but not many people have played fullback, centre, five-eighth, halfback and hooker for Australia. Originally from NSW Jimmy Craig was a Balmain junior and was a key member of their premiership winning teams in 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919 and 1920. Balmain never won the 1918 premiership with Jimmy Craig away in the army. He played for NSW against England in 1920 and toured Great Britain with the 1921/1922 Kangaroos, playing 23 games including his test debut on the 1st October 1921. Harry Caples and Duncan Thompson also toured with the Kangaroos and in 1923 Jimmy Craig arrived in Ipswich. He played the first of his 33 games for Queensland on the 25th June that year in a team that

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Cup games, 39 games for Queensland, nine tests for Australia and toured with the 1933/1934 and 1937/1938 Kangaroos.

He played his first game for Ipswich on the 9th April 1932 and his last on the 15th June 1946. ‘Monty’ Heidke retired at the end of the 1947 season a winner after captaining and coaching West End to the Ipswich club premiership. ‘Monty’ Heidke played the first of his 43 games for Queensland on the 27th June 1931 against NSW in Brisbane and his last on the 26th July 1941, also in Brisbane. Originally from Bundaberg he made the Queensland team from there and moved to Ipswich in 1932. Heidke came from magnificent rugby league pedigree with his father and uncle both playing for Australia from Wide Bay. Heidke’s influence to Ipswich rugby league should never be underestimated as he played in 12 Ipswich club grand-finals for a variety of clubs.

Dennis Flannery

is the second Ipswich winger selected in the Queensland Team of the Century. In a starstudded field that included players of the calibre of Billy Paten, Kerry Boustead, Michael Hancock, Willie Carne, Dale Shearer, Lionel Williamson, Pat McMahon, Des McGovern and John Ribot the selectors chose the Ipswich pair. Flannery played his entire career in Ipswich, representing the city in 32 Bulimba Cup games from 1947 – 1957 and also played for the coal-city against the 1950 Englishmen and 1956 Maoris. On the Queensland front Dennis Flannery made his state debut on the 14th May 1948 and the last of his 27 appearances on the 21st July 1956. Dennis Flannery made his test debut on the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the second test of the 1950 series against Great Britain and went onto play 13 tests for Australia, toured with the 1952/1953 and 1956/1957 Kangaroos and was a test regular for six seasons. A prolific try scorer Dennis Flannery scored three tries in one game against New South Wales in 1955 and scored 23 tries in 14 games on the 1952/53 Kangaroo Tour.

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IPSWICH JETS CHAMPIONS OF AUSTRALIA

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THE Ipswich Jets first played on a state-wide level in 1982 with the introduction of the State League Competition and after four seasons they were admitted to the BRL first grade competition where they played for 11 seasons from 1986 until the introduction of the Queensland Cup in 1997. The Jets, coached by Tommy Raudonikis, played in the 1988 Grand Final but were defeated 17/14 by Seagulls Diehards and in 1989 the Jets also went down 28/4 to Valleys in the big game.

Their best effort over the next seven seasons were semi-final spots in 1993/1994.

It’s Going to be

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The Jets came into the Queensland Cup in 1997 and many highprofile coaches have taken the reigns including Glen Lazarus, Trevor Gillmeister, Kevin Walters, Gary Grienke and Cavill Heugh. The team has been competitive throughout, appearing in five semi-finals, three grand finals with one premiership.

Former Brisbane Souths player Gary Grienke coached the team in 2001/2002 and took them into the 2002 Grand Final against Redcliffe. Redcliffe were the minor premiers and played that way as they defeated the Jets 43/10. The Jets made the semifinals the next season but struggled for the next four seasons before playing in the semi-finals again in 2007 but were knocked out in the second week by Redcliffe but in 2008 they were minor premiers and favourites to win a home grand final at North Ipswich Oval when beaten 24/18 by Souths Logan.

The Jets signed Ben and Shane Walker as co-coaches for the 2011 season and the improvement in the Jets has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2011 they finished 5th and were beaten in the first week of the semi-finals by the Northern Pride. In 2012 they finished 4th and were beaten in the first week of the semi-finals 26/20 by Norths. In 2013 they finished 6th and missed the finals by one spot and in 2014 they finished 5th and defeated Tweed Heads 28/10 in the first week of the finals before going down in the second week to Wynnum-Manly 34/22.

The big news in 2015 was the Townsville Blackhawks entering

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the competition and the whispers about being a Cowboys ‘Reserve Grade’ team reverberated around the rugby league world. The new boys played like professionals and by season end had won the minor premiership with 19 wins, a draw and three losses. They also had easily the best attacking record of 850 points (37 points per game) and also the best defensive record of 16 points per game. Next best on the ladder were the PNG Hunters followed by the Ipswich Jets, Wynnum, Easts and the Northern Pride to make up the semi-final contenders. On the 6th September the high-flying Jets knocked the Northern Pride out of the finadl race with an impressive 54/26 victory at North Sydney Oval and the following week they took the scalp of Easts Tigers 44/18 also at North Ipswich. The Blackhawks in the meantime marched straight into the Grand Final with an impressive 26/12 defeat of the PNG Hunters in Townsville.

The Ipswich Jets scored five tries to PNG’s two as they marched into the Grand Final with a 28/12 win at Kougari Oval.

The Townsville Blackhawks commenced their inaugural season with no great expectations and a top-six finish was going to be the bench-mark set by the management. However, as the season progressed the bar was lifted and on Grand Final day on the 27th September the northern team ran onto the field as favourites against a team that had not won the Queensland Cup since its inception. Both teams had victories over one another with the Jets defeating the Blackhawks 36/24 at North Ipswich Oval on the 14th March while the Blackhawks had won 36/28 in round 23 in Charters Towers.

The North Queensland side started well with Tom Humble over to open the scoring for the game and the Blackhawks looked like they were handling the grand final nerves better than their opposition. However, the speed of Marmin Barba helped light up a sodden Suncorp Stadium and turned the game in the favour of the Jets, with his bust down the sideline and pass LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

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IPSWICH JETS CHAMPIONS OF AUSTRALIA inside to Dane Phillips coming up with points. He scored one of his own soon after following an error from the Blackhawks, with Jahrome Hughes throwing the ball into his path in his attempt to keep the ball from going over the sideline. Fellow speedster Zac Santo picked up his customary try, speeding away to peg the scores back to 12/8. However, as the clock was winding down for halftime – the Jets made sure they had ample breathing space at the break, with Carlin Anderson scoring from a set play from a scrum, giving his side a 16/8 lead at halftime.

The Jets started the second half with short kick-off – and after two previous ones were unsuccessful – this one came up with the goods – eventuating in a try to retiring skipper Keiron Lander before Nemani Valekapa added to the points tally with a try of his own.

However, despite uncharacteristic errors blotting their play throughout the match the Blackhawks were never going to die wondering and hit back with Hughes finding some redemption to go over to reduce the deficit to 10 points at 24/14 but a penalty goal to the Jets took the gap out to two converted tries once again.

Duncan Hall Medal as Player of the Game while Daniel Beasley was close to the best for the Blackhawks.

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One week later the Ipswich flag was hoisted over Stadium Australia when the Mighty Magnificent Ipswich Jets defeated Newcastle 26/12 in the Australian Grand Final (NRL State Championships).

The unorthodox Jets scored three first-half tries then prop Rod Griffin charged over for a fourth in the 69th minute to ensure a second straight national club title for Queensland after Northern Pride had accounted for Penrith in the inaugural interstate club decider last year. A 90-metre try by Ipswich speedster Marmin Barba two minutes before half-time gave the Queensland Cup premiers a 20/6 lead at the break. IPSWICH JETS 26 (M Parcell, B McConnachie, M Barba, R Griffin tries; C Anderson 5 goals) NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 12 (G Ndaira, J Feeney tries; G Ndaira 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Half-time Jets 20-6.

The excitement kept on coming and with just over six minutes left in the game – Robert Lui got his team back in the game with a chip-kick ahead for himself which he pounced on to score.

The result was in the balance until the final minute – but the Ipswich Jets held out a tenacious Townsville Blackhawks to claim their maiden Intrust Super Cup premiership with a 32/20 victory.

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It was a grandstand finish with Townsville pressing until the end – but they could not pin back the Jets who inflated the scoreline with a try to the brilliant Matt Parcell in the final seconds of the game. Former Mount Isa player, Billy McConnachie won the

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THE INTRUST SUPER CUP

PNG (36), Easts (32) and Souths Logan (30). I feel that the Blackhawks will sort out their problems at the business end of the season as they have too many good players not to. They also have the benefit of only playing one top ranked team in their home run when they play PNG in Townsville on the 13th August. Their playing roster in Mount Isa was as good as they have fielded all year so expect big things from them in the finals.

Ipswich on the other hand, who have played admirably in the middle of the season, have to face the might of PNG and Redcliffe on their way to sixth spot.

A mountain too high to climb in my opinion and they will rue their round 13 loss to Tweed Heads. The Sunshine Coast Falcons are an outside chance and their away game against Souths Logan on the 31st July could be their season maker or breaker. In August they have a bye and then play the Capras and Wynnum before a last round horror trip to PNG. If they defeat Souths they could finish the season on 29 points and scrape into the six. Wynnum losing to the last placed Mackay Cutters have basically lost any real chance they had of making the finals and their run home includes three away games plus Easts at home.

The disappointing teams in my opinion are the Northern Pride who have fallen from grace in the last month losing four games in succession and the Capras who looked good early and faded after round nine.

I expected the Capras under Kim Williams to aim up in 2016 but they have conceded a massive 608 points in 19 games which is the worst in the league.

AFTER 20 rounds of the Intrust Super Cup the contenders for the title are flexing their muscles and there has been some major changes over the past five rounds with the form teams of the competition being the Burleigh Bears and Redcliffe Dolphins who have only lost one game apiece since Round 12.

Burleigh just keep winning but their defence is only the sixth best in the league which must concern their coach.

The Dolphins on the other hand have the best defence in the Intrust Super Cup but there are three teams with better attack.

My favourites for the crown at the start of the season were the Townsville Blackhawks but they had lost five of their last eight games to be jittery in fourth spot but a big 13-try win over the Capras in Mount Isa has given them some confidence. The

The Cutters and Norths Devils are also under achievers although the Cutters picked up the scalp of Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round 20. luxury of seeing players like Ray Thompson running around in Blackhawks colours must strengthen their semi-finals hopes plus having the best attacking record in the competition coupled with the third best defensive record, they are primed for the finals.

The 2015 premiers Ipswich had strung together five consecutive wins since round 13 but faltered in round 20 with a big 46/26 loss to the Bears and now really need teams above them to falter to defend their crown.

Easts have been inconsistent but have the luxury of three home games in August and should hold on or improve their position heading into the finals.

I feel that the ‘Final Six’ is reasonably clear-cut with five rounds to play. Souths Logan in my opinion will finish sixth with the best run home of the three teams as they meet Norths and the Sunshine Coast at home, Capras, Cutters and Burleigh away and pick up two points for a bye. Souths Logan look to me to be two teams. On their day they look like Intrust Cup champions and they showed this form against the Blackhawks in round 17 and the next week they look like wooden-spoon contenders as Wynnum ran all over them. Their A Game will see them into sixth spot in the semi-finals and their other game will see Ipswich sneak into the play-offs. Wynnum and Ipswich both did Souths a big favour losing in round 20 as this moved them into outright sixth spot.

My Final Six looking through the League Queensland Crystal Ball would be Burleigh (41), Dolphins (40), Blackhawks (37), 32

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Jamal Fogarty (Burleigh Bears) stands alone on top of the point scoring board in the Intrust Cup with 206 points after 20 rounds leading Darren Nicholls (Dolphins) 170, Khan Ahwang (Pride) 150 and Liam Taylor (Cutters) on 144. The Blackhawks’ Johnathan Reuben leads the try scoring with 16 from Burleigh’s Kurtis Rowe (15), Sunshine Coast’s Ryley Jacks (13) and Daniel Ogden from Wynnum also on 13.

BRISBANE 2ND DIVISION FINALS SIX weeks of footy finals action for BSDRL (Brisbane Second Division Rugby League) teams begin on Saturday July 30. The first out of our seven grades to kick off finals are our Northside 3s and 2s. Semi-Finals for all teams are hosted at neutral grounds around Brisbane with all Preliminary and Grand Finals being played at Langlands Park, Main Avenue, Coorparoo on Saturday afternoons from noon during August until mid-September.

Northside 3, game 1 leaders Brighton Roosters had dropped to second on the ladder when teams for Ted Beaumont Chairman Trophies were finalised are content now back sitting in 1st place on 53 points.

With the four sorted they will take on second place-setters Fortitude Valley “Diehards” for the spot straight into the Grand Final. Shall punters be treated to another close final or will Pine Rivers “Bears” sitting in third or fourth place Moreton Bay Pride supporters be cheering their team on Grand Final day.

Samford Stags have held their form since claiming the Ted Beaumont Trophy to finish the 2016 season as Minor Premiers in Northside 2.

Further down the ladder three teams Albany Creek Gaters, Northlakes Kangaroos and Norths Juniors were all sitting equal on 37 points vying for the final fourth spot when the last fixture

for the season kicked off.

Albany Creek having the better for and against in points differential, were no match when they took on second place Norths St Josephs and ended their season slipping into 6th position.

West Arana Hills and Northlakes will hit out to see who continue as preliminary finalist.

Southside 3 Logan City Hawks playmaker Lance Aubrey as leading try-scorer after just a dozen games in this grade has his team sitting just outside the four on the ladder. Wynnum Manly and Edens Landing both sitting more than 10 points ahead of their closest opponents, Seagull key star Eliaz Marsters and Dragons Nicholas Yule will be focusing on winning the next couple of matches to give their club bragging rights to be top of the ladder come August 6.

Brothers Saint Brendans as always are strong contenders when it comes to playing finals footy, the Brethren remain hopeful Capalaba Warriors and Mt Gravatt Eagles just two of the teams LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

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BRISBANE 2ND DIVISION FINALS 30.07.2016 Northside 2 Semi Finals Matches (Matheson Oval, Mundin Street, Petrie)

Andrew Weir (North Lakes) with ball and Stuart Jenkins (Arana Hills)

Northside 3 Semi Finals Matches (Les Hughes Complex, Francis Road Bray Park) 06.08.2016 Northside 2 & Northside 3 Prelim Finals Matches (Langlands Park) 13.08.2016 Northside 2 & Northside 3 Grand Finals Matches (Langlands park) 13.08.2016 Southside 2 Semi Finals Matches (Grosvenor Park, Berley Drive, Browns Plains) Southside 3 Semi Finals Matches (Bill Norris Oval, Boundary Road, Beenleigh)

Andrew Weir (North Lakes) with ball and Stuart Jenkins (Arana Hills)

20.08.2016 Southside 2 & Southside 3 Prelim Finals Matches (Langlands Park) 27.08.2016 Southside 2 & Southside 3 Grand Finals Matches (Langlands Park)

Images: Courtesy Kristy Zagari

27.08.2016 Northside 1 Semi Finals Matches (Kev McKell Oval, Dawson Parade Arana Hills) Southside 1 Semi Finals Matches (Brandon Park, Mortimer Road, Acacia Ridge) Premier Grade Semi Finals Matches (Emerson Park, Bega Street, Grange) 03.09.2016 Northside 1 & Southside 1 & Premier Grade Prelim Finals Matches (Langlands Park)

Roy Ainuu (Browns Plains)

10.09.2016 Northside 1 & Southside 1 & Premier Grade Grand Finals Matches (Langlands Park) 23.09.2016 Player of the Year Awards Presentation Dinner Souths Sporting Club, Mortimer Road, Acacia Ridge, tickets on sale soon

BRISBANE SOUTHS DOMINATE QUEENSLAND SELECTION

Jimmy Woo (Wynnum) tackling Neville Simpson (Logan City Hawks)

sitting below them don’t pounce and take away their end of season goal of a victorious finish in Southside 2.

2015 Northside 1 grandfinal winners West Mitchelton remain optimistic of cementing their spot once again in the top four, rival clubs Dayboro Cowboys and Pine Central Holy Spirit will be attacking and defending the try line in a bid to prevent the Mitchie Boys return to Langlands ‘Suzuki Stadium’ to claim victory in September.

Southside 1 started with 7 teams before Logan Brothers withdrew due to a large number of player injuries, giving new comers for 2016 West Inala Seniors under coach Chris Conlon and his team less teams to challenge. After defeating Bulimba Valley Bulldogs in a close contest for the Ted Beaumont Chairman’s Trophy the Panthers now have their eyes set on the bigger trophy to claim on Grand Final day or will the Doggies bite back to take out their fifth

grand final victory.

The Premier Grade leader board continues to change weekly between Brighton Roosters, Albany Creek Gaters and West Brisbane Panthers. With four matches until the first of BSDRL Premier Grade finals begin there is still a lot of football to be played until the top four positions are finalised. Could it be, we see Wynnum Manly, Waterford Demons, or Valley Diehards end their year in one or more of these spots?

Looking for Saturday afternoon rugby league or for BSDRL finals and venues (semi final venues maybe subject to change) All Preliminary and Grand Final matches will be played at Langlands Park, Main Avenue, Coorparoo, entry to any final match is $5.00 per person, with Aged Pensioners free. Keep an eye on our website bsdrl.leaguenet.com.au or find us on facebook for updates.

POWERHOUSE Women’s teams the Burleigh Bears, Brisbane Souths and the Sunshine Coast’s Beerwah Bulldogs dominated selections for Queensland’s Interstate Challenge squad. Souths have been rarely defeated over the last seven seasons and provide seven players to the squad while last year’s South East Queensland Women’s competition Premiers Burleigh had four selections. Jillaroos’ Chelsea Baker and Kody House from Central Queensland and Souths Sunnybanks’ Brittany Breayley were almost automatic selections following strong showings at the State Championships in June.

Another Central Queensland player, former Jillaroo Tegan Rolfe regained her Queensland spot following successful recovery from a shoulder injury which kept her out of the game for two years. Tegan was Beerwah’s inaugural captain in season 2012 and was instrumental in Beerwah’s ongoing

rise to the top of the Women’s game. Beerwah’s Jillaroo, Annette Brander, Beerwah captain Courtney Lockwood and dynamic forward Stefanie Gallagher made up the original Queensland selections. Following the unfortunate withdrawal of young Jillaroo Casey Karklis through injury, Beerwah’s Sarah Walker was rushed into the squad.

With the South East Queensland Women’s competition regular season drawing to a close, Souths, Burleigh and Beerwah are well on top of the 15 team competition. The finals format will see three pools of five teams, based on their spot on the competition ladder, with each pool playing for a Premiership flag. The Finals will commence on Saturday, 27th Augus – KRISTY ZAGARI

– CATHERINE JONES Images: Courtesy Catherine Jones

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Images: Courtesy Bulls Masters

IPSWICH RUGBY LEAGUE ROUNDUP AFTER 14 rounds of the Ipswich Rugby League club competition the Goodna Eagles sit firmly on top of the ladder after defeating their closest rivals the Fassifern Bombers 44/24 at Woogaroo Field. They basically have the minor premiership wrapped up after converting a half-time lead of 24/18 into an impressive victory as their three game lead is enough to get them over the line regardless of results in the closing three rounds. Goodna’s Corey Kirk was the key to the win as he guided his team around the park and kicked six goals from eight attempts. The talented Kirk had been out injured and the team relished his return.

Mitchell Mcnamee, Alex Tupuse, Max Seumanutafa, Anthony Noa, Saunda Seumanutafa, Toby Campbell and Fili Loane scored tries for Goodna in a strong all round effort while Scott Ireland, Kali Naque, Liam West and Kieran Turner crossed for Fassifern with Harold Mosby kicking four goals.

Ipswich Brothers now join Fassifern with seven wins from 14 starts after defeating West End 38/20 at Brother Seary Oval although Fassifern retain second spot on the ladder with a marginally better points differential. Loia Fetaoai (2), Josh Leisemann, Ben Seve, Sam Krueger, Elijah Umu and Caleb Heke scored tries for Brothers with Leisemann kicking five goals while Samson Hookey (2), Monson Utai and Ezra Vaigalu scored tries for West End with Kain Freeburn and Exra Vaigalu kicking goals.

Swifts moved into outright fourth spot on the ladder with a hard fought 32/28 defeat of Norths Tigers at Purga.

Prior to this game Swifts had held onto fourth spot with a slightly better points differential but the narrow victory takes them into a semi-final position. Tyran Chapman (2), Zeb Nuuola (2), Ratunaisa Vatuinaruku and Stephen O’Donahue crossed for Swifts while Vatuinaruku and O’Donahue both kicked two goals apiece. Kaelum Fairhurst was a standout for Norths in scoring three tries while Anava Fesolai and Tonga Mounga also crossed the white line. Steven West (3) and Dion Willett kicked goals.

There are three weeks remaining in the competition with Goodna playing West End, Swifts and Fassifern again on their way to a semi-final position while Brothers could sneak into second position at finals time with games against Norths, West End and Swifts. Fassifern have two home games remaining against Norths and Goodna plus an away game against Swifts.

They currently have the leading two try scorers in the Ipswich competition in former North Queensland players Raymond Baira and Harold Mosby but they will have to be at the top of their game to stop Goodna.

STEVE RAI NBO W 07 3496 1110 info@articulateframing.com.au www.articulateframing.com.au 36

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF RUGBY LEAGUE IPSWICH

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QUEENSLAND WINS HEARTS AND ORIGIN FOUR IN MACKAY WHILE the league boys went about their business of claiming the State of Origin for 2016 our cricketers were also doing their bit not only for the state but the community. Queensland’s cricket greats – and a few well-known Blues – have joined forces to raise more than $217,000 for child protection campaigners Bravehearts.

Andy Bichel, Chris Lynn, Allan Border, Adam Dale, Ian Healy(captain), Jimmy Maher, Nathan Reardon, Stuart Law, Michael Kasprowicz, Ryan Harris, Joe Burns, Andrew Symons, Clint Paull (12th man Auction winner).

The Bulls Masters, headed by former Bulls’ legends Ian Healy and Jimmy Maher, presented Bravehearts with a cheque for $217,433 from a Twenty20 All Stars cricket clash held in Mackay last month. Healy, Maher and former greats such as Michael Kasprowicz, Andrew Symonds, Ryan Harris and Andy Bichel were part of a Bulls Masters team that rolled the Baggy Blues, featuring Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Brad Haddin and Brett Lee. “We had two great days in Mackay. All funds raised from ticket sales to the game, a special dinner, raffles and merchandise were directed to Bravehearts,” Bulls Masters’ Chairman Ian Healy said.

“This shows the power of sport coming together for a great cause.

Bravehearts is an outstanding national group grown and based in Queensland.

We couldn’t be prouder to stand behind them, particularly as the work they have done for almost 20 years is underlined through the current Royal Commission.”

Maher, the Bulls Masters Managing Director, said the T20 All Stars clash would become an annual event, with the significant fundraising to be directed to a chosen charity each year. “We chose Bravehearts because of the remarkable work they do,” Maher said.

“The Bulls Masters spend a lot of time helping young kids get a pathway from regional areas to our biggest cricket grounds.

I still remember as a young bloke in far north Queensland getting excited about visits from the likes of Greg Chappell, Jeff Thomson and Allan Border. We try to do the same now for this generation of young Queenslanders and we have so much respect for the work Bravehearts does.”

Bravehearts founder and chair Hetty Johnston said the contribution from the Bulls Masters would make a difference.

“The funds raised from this inaugural State of Origin game will go straight back into the Mackay community and enable Bravehearts to bring much needed services and support programs with a holistic approach to protecting kids,” Johnston said.

“The Bulls Masters have long been supporters of the work we do and they do an incredible job providing opportunities for country kids, coaching kids, raising money for charities, visiting hospitals and the list goes on.

We look forward to bringing our personal safety education program Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show to Mackay in 2017.”

Bulls Masters thanked their Major partners The Mackay Regional Council, Suncorp Bank, Qantas Link and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their support in staging the T20 All Stars.

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QUEENSLAND WINS HEARTS AND ORIGIN FOUR IN MACKAY

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson was delighted with the positive economic outcomes for the region and for Bravehearts and congratulated the Bulls Masters. “It is a truly outstanding result from the inaugural Bulls Masters v Baggy Blues match in Mackay. The money raised for Bravehearts on top of the economic injection the weekend delivered to our community more than justifies Council’s investment in the event,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Having the teams visit Mackay was sensational, the match was outstanding – Queensland winning was icing on the cake – and our community will get an ongoing benefit with the establishment of a Bravehearts branch here. Congratulations to Jimmy Maher and his team of organisers and to Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston whose presence in Mackay gave a real focus to what it was all about.”

from Maher. “It was the first match for the Healy-Waugh trophy and there was no way that Heals was letting the Blues get their hands on it first,” Maher said. The Bulls Masters have a busy second half of the year with visits to regional areas including Mount Isa, Central Queensland and Mackay.

Left to Right: Eva Slamkova (Bravehearts Fundraising Manager), Jimmy Maher (Managing Director Bulls Masters), Ian Healy (Chairman Bulls Masters) and Dr. Deidre Thompson (Acting CEO Bravehearts)

For the record, the Bulls Masters won the inaugural Healy-Waugh Trophy with a strong win over the Baggy Blues.

Set almost 200 runs from their 20 overs, the Bulls surged to victory in the 16th over with the help of a century from incumbent Test opener Joe Burns and a sharp 48

Winter in

Mackay events is heating up with great

Sunday June August 16 -17 14 THIS B L OCK OF L A N D IS ID E A L F O R A H O M E W I TH BI G VERA NDA H S TO TA KE F U L L A DVA NTA G E OF THE MESM ER I SI NG V IE W S L O O K IN G O V E R A BEL L P O I NT MA RI NA TO H A Y MA N A ND H O O K I SL ANDS .

Mechanos Wings T20 All Stars and Wheels Cricket, Festival -for Mackay Aero Club Bravehearts Harrup Park/MECC

Saturday August Saturday July 9 20 Twilight City G&S Engineering Spooktacular Wine & Food Day -- Mackay Queens Park City Centre

August August 25 25 to to 27 27

Aug Aug 24 24 to to Sept Sept 44

Mackay MackayAirport Airport Beach Beach Horse Horse Racing Racing Festival Festival -- Harbour Harbour Beach Beach

International International Quadrangular Quadrangular Cricket Cricket Series Series -- Harrup Harrup Park Park

Y O U R P I E CE O F THE MIG HTY, M A G N I F I CE N T W HITS UND AYS

$449,000

ü Lot 13 on SP163579, Jessies Way, Cannonvale – with National Park at back and the glorious Whitsunday Passage in front. ü Only 13 lots in gated estate and one of only two on the high side of the road. ü 639 m2 house pad already established ü Only a ten minute walk to the main beach and school.

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Find Find more more events events at at mackayregion.com/events mackayregion.com/events LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

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RUGBY LEAGUE COUNTRY have any hope of sneaking into fifth, but Norths thumped the Lions 42-18. Norths played finals football for the first time last year, reaching the preliminary final and are rated by many to be the sleeping giants of TDRL. A host of former NRL players now ply their trade for Norths, including former Cowboys players Wayne Ulugia and Ricky Thorby, and 27-game first grade playmaker Tom Humble, who played for Parramatta, West Tigers and Penrith. Norths’ win helped erase the demons of their 28-26 defeat against the Lions in Round 3, which saw the Lions overturn a 26-0 halftime deficit to score one of the greatest comebacks in A grade TDRL history.

Ankle injuries to Norths pair Damon Rauhihi - the son of Cowboys cult hero Paul Rauhihi – and Justin Greenaway took the gloss of the Round 13 win. “We were leading 24-6 at the break and then they (the Lions) got a couple back and before we knew it, it was 24-18,” Norths coach Jason Cook said. “To be honest there was that thought of “here we go ahead’, but we were able to kick on this time.

Image: Courtesy Innisfail Brothers

Centrals’ Ben Lui flying against Western Lions.

IT must be lonely at the top of a mountain looking down as others try to drag you down but it’s official that Innisfail Brothers and Rockhampton Brothers are the only undefeated teams playing in an A Grade Competition in Queensland. The Leprechauns’ huge 82/6 victory over Mareeba in round 17 of the Cairns and District Rugby League Competition has lifted their winning figures to 616 – 236 for a positive points differential of a massive 380.

Coached by former Origin player Ty Williams the Leprechauns are the current CDRL premiers but have gone to another level under the direction of Williams.

The boys in the butcher’s colours scored 14 tries with Fred Koraba going in for a treble while Matthew Healey scored two tries and kicked 13 goals for an impressive 34 points. Ivanhoes are still in second spot but lost 14/10 to Atherton in Round 17 and now have Cairns Brothers, Atherton and Mossman/Port Douglas breathing down their necks. Cairns Brothers had a big 70/10 win over Yarrabah while Tully kept in front of Edmonton Storm with a strong 36/10 result. Mossman/Port Douglas defeated Kangaroos 50/10 to keep their 5th spot on the ladder.

The huge 15,000 strong crowd at the South Sydney vs Cowboys game in Cairns must have given the NRL something to think about. It was a South Sydney home game but the financial windfall from Tourism Queensland plus the massive gate were easy incentives for the Rabbitohs to take the game north.

Maybe the NRL should look to the far north of Queensland for their next NRL team as Cairns ticks all the boxes as far as I’m concerned. They have a strong rugby league following, International airport, great accommodation and are close to Papua New Guinea where rugby league is the national sport.

Keep the name the Northern Pride and include PNG and you have a winner!!

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Finals footy has been locked up in the Townsville and Districts Rugby League competition, but just who will take out this season’s premiership is anyone’s guess. Pre-season favourites and guaranteed minor premiership winners Herbert River suffered a second straight defeat at home, this time to Centrals 16-12 following a 14-10 defeat to keen rivals Brothers.

The Crushers were in cruise control since Round 1 and had not dropped a game all season before the clash against Brothers, which was played in rain-lashed conditions at Herbert River’s Crushers Club. The structured, rolling game that had put Herbert River in good stead for so long went begging, with uncharacteristic errors allowing Brothers numerous attacking opportunities that eventually resulted in points. It was the same story one week later against Centrals, who surged to a surprise 10-0 lead before halftime, before the Crushers hit back through Brett Anderson just after the break. The Crushers fightback did not eventuate, however, as Centrals played Herbert River at their own grinding game to eventually apply enough pressure and score a third try through Lenny Magey.

Image: Courtesy Nathan Brown

“The boys toughed it out, and the 2pm kick-off took the sting out of I think as well. “Both sides were doing it tough at the end, but it was just a relief to have finals locked up.” Brothers are also firming for finals after overpowering University 56-20 at their Jack Manski Oval home to extend their winning run to seven games.

NQ UNITED TOO STRONG FOR QLD OUTBACK

A long-range effort from Herbert River outside back Michael Carroll salvaged some home-town pride near fulltime, but Centrals had already done enough to score one of the TDRL’s biggest upsets. “It was really close the whole time and that game was definitely won on defence,” Centrals playing coach Matt Green said. “We defended repeat set after repeat set, and we had that attitude of playing for each other. “It’s a massive result for us because we were in the grind with them and we stayed to our structures. “Against a team like Herbert River who just have to cop your medicine and stay in the arm wrestle, which we were able to do.” The win put Centrals into third with one regular round of football remaining until the TDRL’s newlook finals system, which features the top five sides. Herbert River lead the way followed by Brothers, Centrals, Norths and Western Lions.

Defending premiers Burdekin won 40-18 over University but needed Norths to drop their game against Western Lions to

NORTH QUEENSLAND UNITED – 2016 QUEENSLAND OUTBACK CHAMPIONS - Back (L-R): Thomas Loban (Coach), Caleb Geia, Remus Phineasa, Jordon Prior, Ishmael Soki, William Blackman, Darryl Pearson, Brenden Ramsamy, Windsor Bowie, Gabriel Bon, Chastyn Bowen, Gresham Ross, Fred Bulsey, Sam Joe (Assistant Coach), Sean Durant (Trainer) Front: Obe Geia, Isuah Wigness, Gedi Dau, Daniel Mairu, Tim Oberleuter, Seamus Gay

Image: Courtesy QRL Northern Division

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NORTH Queensland United scored twelve tries as they defeated Queensland Outback 64/18 at Jack Manski Oval in Townsville on the 16th July. The North Queensland team were too fit and too fast for the boys from the bush with their hooker Tim Oberleuter scoring three tries in a Man of the Match performance. Others to go well for the winners were Daniel Mairu, Windsor Bowie, Chastyn Brown and William Blackman. The best for Queensland Outback were Brenton Stonier, Cody Steedman and James Baira.

spot with nine victories. The Sharks hold onto a one point lead (52) at the top of the table because of two draws while Kawana, who have the best attacking team in the competition (504 points in 16 games), lead Caboolture on percentages.

Caboolture captured the prized scalp of Caloundra in round 17 with a 30/10 demolition which would have the premiership leaders wondering while Kawana defeated Maroochydore/ Coolum 16/10 to maintain their position.

Dylan McGrath (Gympie) still leads the try scoring with 13 while the Ainsworth brothers, Lance (12) and Christopher (10) are close on his tail. Tony Ainsworth is the leading point scorer in the competition.

Hervey Bay are still leading the Bundaberg competition after a big 50/0 win over Wests while Brothers are two points in front of Waves and Wests.

Hervey Bay have led all season and with 15 wins and one loss todate are the team to beat.

Isis Devils picked up their first win for the season with a 32/14 victory over Easts at the Childers Show Grounds while Waves hit top gear with a massive 60/26 defeat of Wallaroos.

It’s final time in the Burnett region with minor premiers Mundubbera winning the major semi-final with a hard fought 34/24 defeat of Monto while Eidsvold ended Gayndah’s season with a 28/18 victory.

The scores were NQ United 64 (Daniel Mairu 3, Tim Oberleuter 3, Windsor Bowie 2, Isiah Wigness, Gedi Dau, Chastyn Bowen and William Blackman tries while Gresham Ross (1), Windsor Bowie (3) and Ishmael Soki (4) kicked goals) defeated Queensland Outback 18 (Brenton Stonier 2, Cody Steedman tries with James Baira kicking three goals.

Wests Tigers are breathing down the necks of the Whitsunday Brahmans and Magpies in the Mackay Competition although they went down 28/24 to Magpies in Round 14. Most good judges say there are three possible premiers with Wests joining the big two in discussions.

Magpie’s young halfback Stephen Jones was the best on the field at Tiger Park but the Wests boys kept coming all game.

Magpies are still leading the competition with a slightly better point’s differential to the Brahmans as they have both won 12 games from 14 and have one victory apiece against one another. The Brahmans defeated Norths 38/12 at Glenella without their Queensland Rangers forward Ivan Patelo and are looking sharp coming into the business end of the season.

Moranbah have now replaced Souths in fourth spot after defeating the Sharks 22/10 in Round 14.

There are three teams fighting for the top spot in the Sunshine Coast/Gympie Rugby League competition with Caloundra Sharks, Kawana Dolphins and the Caboolture Snakes all with 10 wins from 17 starts while Maroochydore/Coolum sit in fourth 42

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Mundubbera had finished the regular season on 14 points from Monto (8), Eidsvold (8) and Gayndah (2). In the South Burnett competition Cherbourg defeated Nanango 48/24 in the major semi-final while Murgon had to play extra time to defeat Kingaroy 30/28 in the minor semi-final. Cherbourg scored 688 points in their 12 games in the regular season for an average of 57 points per game which would be the best of any A Grade team in Queensland.

Rockhampton Brothers have taken all before them as they remain undefeated after 16 rounds of the Rockhampton and District Competition. The Brethren defeated Valleys 24/12 in a hard battle while Norths totally destroyed FitzroyGracemere, piling on 15 tries including three to Matt Jarvis, as they ran away 80/4. Norths are currently in second position with 10 wins from 14 games while Yeppoon, who defeated Tannum Sands 32/22, sit in third spot also with ten wins.

Defence is the key to Rockhampton Brothers success as they have only conceded ten points a game this season compared to their nearest rival.

The final whistle is about to sound on the last few rounds of the Central Highlands Rugby League and we are no closer to determining the four teams playing off for that one day in September.

The Emerald Tigers are still the team to beat on the top of the ladder, going into the bye weekend on July 9th with only one loss in Round 1. The key to their success is their injuryfree season and depth of their squad. Each week, a squad has to be actively picked from a squad of 35-40 players, leaving many training the house down to ensure they get a weekly jersey.

Coaches Brett Weatherley and Ray Ebsworth have done a great job to keep the team dominant through the rest of

the season. The team has been able to score points, but also remain strong defensively, leaking the least amount of points so far out of any team this season. They have also been able to keep all 35-40 players interested in training each week for a spot in the side. This is a challenge in itself and whatever formula they are using; it must be working.

It’s a tough trip home though with games against teams in the top section of the ladder. They are looking at wrapping up the minor premiership with a few more wins and looking to win the premiership, something they haven’t been able to do since 2010. Last time they came close was in 2013 when they were narrowly defeated in the Grand Final by the Clermont Bears 36-30.

The Bluff Rabbitohs continue to be the “underdogs” of the competition, still near the top of the ladder. Their persistence with their young and upcoming players has paid dividends with some good players developing in Orme Row-Row, Branden Ferguson, Billy Byrne and Jack Laxton. Their run home is a favoured one and they are most likely going to make the finals with the chance to back up last year’s successful premiership.

The Springsure Mountain Men have surprised many this season with the mighty blue men still going strong and not giving up, like they have in seasons gone by.

Coach Warren Sullivan has got them firing at the right time and they are certainly eyeing off the chance of a finals berth, something that hasn’t been achieved by the club for many, many years.

Expect plenty of points to be scored on the left edge over the next few weeks leading up to the finals with a dangerous combination of speed and size built with Jared Owens, Terry Delalande and Ben Kerle.

The Dysart Bulls’ season is also hanging in the balance as the next few games are crucial as to whether the Bulls will be back in town for finals this year or not. It’s important they win all of their upcoming matches in order to compete against Bluff, Springsure and Middlemount for that fourth and final spot.

Blackwater are still a mathematical chance of making the finals but it’s going to be a tough few weeks for the Crushers who have to win all their games to possibly make it. They will also have to cross all of their fingers and toes that results go in the way of the Crushers’ favour.

Bears Ladies, are on top of the ladder and look more and more likely that they’ll take out the minor premiership. Three players from the Bears, Tegan Rolfe, Elle Waters and Carly Bell represented the Central Crows recently with Tegan Rolfe selected for the Queensland Women’s side. Their experience has been shown back at club level with the three directing the team on the field, allowing the younger players to showcase their talents on the field.

The Emerald Tigers Ladies are chasing the Clermont Bears Ladies for the minor premiership but a few injuries to key players may prove costly for the veteran Tigers. The Tigers have seen some young and exciting talent break through this season, including Miesha Huet in the back row and Paige Michelmore on the wing.

The Blackwater Crushettes are not too far behind the top two, with the semi-experienced Crushettes side hoping to make up from last year’s loss in the preliminary final. Find of the year for the Crushettes, Nadine Hattingh at lock forward, has scored plenty of tries and has been a standout in her debut season.

The Dysart Bulls Ladies have seen a new coach in Mick Findlay take over and introduce some new set plays. They will make it into the top four and could prove to be a threat come finals time. Finally, the hope of playing finals for the Emerald Cowgirls are all but gone after a few recent crucial losses.

The developing team has done very well this season recording their first ever team win against the Blackwater Crushettes and could prove dangerous in years to come as those girls can tackle!

It’s looking to be an exciting final weeks of the season with five teams still in the hunt for the Men’s premiership and four teams chasing the Ladies premiership…. we’re looking forward to a thrilling finish!

– CAMERON STALLARD

The hope of playing finals for the Emerald Cowboys and Clermont Bears are all but over after their season has seen plenty of effort, but unfortunately results haven’t gone their way. Both clubs have shown plenty of heart in their rebuilding years, with both teams showing up and giving their 100% each week.

The Central Highlands Women’s competition continues to grow and is just as close as the Men’s competition.

2015 premiers, the Clermont LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

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INDIGENOUS ALL STARS TOO GOOD FOR CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ALL STARS be watched over the last few rounds.

Souths kept their finals form intact by thrashing a hapless Oakey 82/0 at Terry Mickleborough Oval. The Tigers had nine individual try scorers with Chris Oliver kicking seven goals.

Image: Courtesy Cameron Stallard

THE Indigenous All Stars were all class in defeating the Highlanders All Stars 34/22 in the annual Central Highlands All Stars match at McIndoe Park. After their narrow loss last year to the CH All Stars, the Indigenous All Stars led from the start, scoring seven tries to the CH All Stars’ four.

A late resurgence from the CH All Stars saw two tries scored in the last five minutes but the Indigenous side were able to hang on and lift the trophy for the first time in the occasion’s short history.

Before the match, the traditional owners of the land opened the night performing a traditional dance in front of both sides and the large crowd who braved the cold to witness the match.

Congratulations to David Brice from the Indigenous All Stars and Sam Clayton from the CH All Stars who were awarded the players’ player awards for both teams.

All Stars organiser Andrew Doyle said after the match that it was very special to see this game grow from last year and means a lot to him and the Indigenous people in the Central Highlands.

“It was great game to play in last year and to see it grow this year is great to see” Doyle said.

“It means a lot to me to play in this game to celebrate NAIDOC 44

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week and I want to thank everyone who has been involved in making it happen, including the players, coaching staff, referees and all of the spectators who came to watch tonight.”

Former Rugby League great and current NRL One Community ambassador Preston Campbell made the journey north to play in the match for the second year running and said he thoroughly enjoyed the night and is looking forward to future matches between the two sides. “It’s great for all of these players to volunteer their time and play in a great game of football to celebrate NAIDOC week” Campbell said.

“This is the second year I’ve been involved in this match and again it was a great success. I’m already looking forward to next year’s clash.”

The annual Indigenous All Stars vs CH All Stars is set to be a regular fixture in the Central Highlands calendar and with both teams already keen to line-up for next year’s clash.

A special thanks must go to all of the players, coaching staff and referees who made the night possible. The game was played in good spirits and was a great spectacle to witness.

A massive thanks must go to the Emerald Brothers Junior Rugby League club who worked tirelessly in the canteen and a special thanks must also go to the Central Highlands Rugby League, Central Highlands Regional Council, Queensland Government, Central Highlands NAIDOC week committee, Arrow Energy and Black Magic Trophies for their continued support.

– CAMERON STALLARD

The Toowoomba Rugby League competition has moved one step closer to the finals and the big upset was Highfields 34/26 defeat of Pittsworth. Highfields put a shiver through the 2016 season with a convincing win. Pittsworth led 12/6 midway through the first half and looked dominating during that initial period. But Highfields scored the next 28 points in a convincing display that put a message out to the rest of the competition. Eagles’ halfback Jarrod Lee had the ball on a string with accurate kicking and he was good in defence as well. He challenged the line and his teammates followed.

Pittsworth challenged the Eagles but were outplayed. Losing play maker Thomas O’Sullivan early in the second half was the turning point for the Danes. They lost their momentum and Highfields capitalised with urgency in their attack and sting in their defence. Their slick backline were in impressive form, centre Braydon Mitchell scoring a double. Ever reliable Blake Appo also collected a double. Pittsworth certainly weren’t disgraced and three late tries showed why they are on the top of the ladder. It was a tough contest with players on both sides going down injured but Highfields deserved the win and are on track again after last week’s poor effort against the Cowboys. Their win throws the guessing game out the window as far as a clear favourite for the competition is concerned.

Gatton took care of Goondiwindi at Cahill Park Sporting Complex by racing in eight tries to three in their 42/18 victory. The Hawks always had control in the match with Callum Woolacott scoring two tries and kicking a bag of goals to remain the competition’s leading points scorer.

Winger Josh Belz also scored a double and was the Hawks’ best player. Everything he touched turned to gold and he played havoc with the Boars’ defence. Gatton led 26/6 at half-time and went on with it in the second half. The Boars tried hard and were competitive all day but Hawks’ halves Dom Haak and Woolacott were just a bit too classy for them.

The Gold Coast Tweed Rugby League competition has reached an interesting stage with the big upset being the easy 56/0 defeat of the Southport Sharks by the Burleigh Bears. The Sharks had been sailing alone in third position but Burleigh have now leap-frogged them and taken third spot.

Troy Leo from Southport is a clear leader in the try scoring with 17 in front of his Sharks’ teammate Regan Muir-Ogle on 12. Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay 26/22, Tweed Heads defeated Currumbin 68/0 and Tugun defeated Bilambil 44/16 to retain second spot on the ladder.

Brothers convincingly defeated Wattles 50/6 in an effortless display. Young players, Mitch Revell, Zane Wilshire and William O’Gradey all played well for the Brethren. Dale Perkins again led by example for the Warriors.

Dalby Diehards made it two wins in a row at Dalby on Saturday night when they beat Valleys Roosters 12/8 in this season’s lowest scoring match. Amazingly the score was nil all at half-time.

The first half was fairly scrappy but in the second half, the game settled into a tough contest. Each side scored two tries each. But it was the Dylan Taylor’s two goals that made the difference. Tom Boland, Mitchell Taylor and Xavier Manely were Dalby’s best. Valleys were impressive and will need to LEAGUEQUEENSLAND.COM.AU

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Image: Courtesy Brisbane Broncos

BRONCOS LIGHT UP STARLIGHT EXPRESS ROOM YOUNG patients at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital received a very special visit by two Brisbane Broncos in July. Players Ben Hunt and Joadan Kahu surprised the kids with the help of Captain Starlight and Captain Giggles at the Starlight Express Room.

Controversially, the players were named team captains of opposing sides, with Hunt in charge of the ‘Yellow Yetis’ and Kahu leading the way for the ‘Purple Penguins’. After a few rounds of tight competition between the pair, they were soon facing an intense battle of ‘paper, scissors, rock’ to determine an overall winner. In the end it was the Purple Penguins who took out the competition, with Jordan Kahu taking out the win against Hunt with a strong ‘rock’ over ‘scissors’. Much to the delight of the kids, the pair spent time signing autographs and posing for photographs before they moved onto the various wards.

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The Brisbane Broncos have supported the Starlight Children’s Foundation for over 7 years with donations from the Brisbane Broncos Charity Fund and player appearances at the Starlight Express Room. Run by Captain Starlight and volunteers, Starlight Express Rooms are unique spaces filled with laughter, smiles, fun people and enjoyable activities.

Kids can watch DVDs or compete with family and new friends on Xbox, PlayStation and WII. They can join Captain Starlight in a musical jam session, have their face painted, watch a live magic show, make balloon animals, paint, paste and create amazing crafts or just clown around and have fun.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation programs are an essential part of a child’s ‘total’ care. Their work complements traditional medical treatment by helping young people flourish, build resilience and shape their individuality.

– CATHERINE DAWSON, COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPT

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IGNATIUS PARK COLLEGE

WINS CONFRO 2016 THE Queensland Independent secondary schools association held another successful carnival in Rockhampton during the last week of June. Mal Maninga was present on the first day to meet with coaches and present man of match awards. Bronco CEO Paul White spoke to officials and sponsors at the annual dinner on the Tuesday night. Petro Civonecciva had a presence through the week under the banner of the Men of League foundation.

In the Bob Lindner Trophy final for the second half of Div A, St. Pats Mackay showed that they are beginning to reclaim the power they once had in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. They defeated St. Teresa’s Abergowrie 26-18 in a fast and open game of football. In Div B, newcomers to the carnival Marist Brothers Ashgrove completed what was a magic week for them by defeating Columba College Charters Towers 26-6 in the final. Marists had lost their first game on Monday morning but as expected, improved every game as they grew into the code and the carnival. It won’t be long before they will be nominating for the top division.

IGNATIUS PARK COLLEGE FIRST XIII – 2016 CONFRATERNITY SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS - Back (L-R): Manfred Babao, McKenzie Baker, Tom Kenny, Jack Gauld, Kurt Schultz, Regan Baker, Christian Quabba (Coach) Middle: Father Rod Ward, Caleb Jones, Issac Locke, Dalton Pegoraro, Adam Whyte, James Babao, Lope Goidubu, Patrick Conn, Gary Cook, Ms Kayleen Foster Front: Jonte Kennedy, Adam Cook, Brodie Chaffey, Oscar Carter, Thomas McCagh, Enemarki Shibasaki, Hayden Saltner, Ethan James Absent: Mr Matthew Rowan

Parents and supporters throughout the state could watch the games ‘live’ and the pressure will be on to repeat this next year when the carnival comes to Brisbane hosted by Padua College.

A highlight for them was the naming of their centre Ben Bucknall as the winner of the Bronco’s “Player with the most potential” award presented by life member of the association and Broncos staffer Steve Parle. towards his teammates, the opposition, the officials and the many parents who were there to support the team. The ‘Fair Play’ award this year as recorded by the referees after each game went to St. Johns Roma and this award too is highly prized.

Apart from Monday morning when drizzling rain softened the fields there was glorious sunny weather for all the almost 150 games on display. Referees came from all over the state and appreciated the great spirit the games were played in. Most schools provided up to five of their staff who give up a week of their holidays to give their charges a week to remember.

The Confraternity Shield proper was won once again by Ignatius Park College Townsville who defeated arch rivals St. Brendan’s College Yeppoon in a repeat of the 2015 final. The final score in that match was 28-4.The winners were the most consistent side all week and deserved their victory. St. Brendans had dropped a point with a drawn match against Padua College on the Tuesday morning as well as being down 0-2 at half-time against St. Mary’s Toowoomba. Iggy Park were just too big and too strong for most of the week. Host school, The Cathedral College were expected to break the monopoly the two finalists have had for the past ten years but were in a particularly tough pool and went down narrowly to St. Brendans on Monday night and then had to play the eventual winners in the quarter final on Tuesday afternoon.

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A new innovation this year and what proved a big success, was the live streaming of games via the TCC website. In all, over 30,000 hits were recorded for the games from all over the world.

A big thanks must go to local convenor Paul Dever from The Cathedral College who put on a faultless carnival with the support of so many staff and parents of the school. Paul exemplifies a unique feature of Confraternity, which accounts for a lot of its success. So many players return to Confro’ in an official capacity some years later, such is the experience for them as teenagers. Paul had been a player in TCC’s inaugural year, but has gone on to manage and coach school teams and now to convene what is one of the biggest sporting events bringing in over $4million dollars to the local community.

– COL HENNESSY Images: Courtesy Ignatius Park

He will have his name alongside the likes of Wendell Sailor and Julian O’Neill. Player of the Carnival was the Aquinas College (Gold Coast) second rower Lochlyn Sheldon who won himself a $5000 bursary for further study from the recent sponsor The Carbine Club. In the Div. B schools group the player of the carnival was Trinity College’s Benjamin Thomas.

All schools had their own player of the carnival and local dignitaries and Life Members presented these awards on the Friday afternoon. A new award this year was the ‘Spirit of Confraternity’ for a player from each participating school and this gave staff the opportunity to acknowledge not one of the best players necessarily but the boy who showed the right spirit

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VALE ‘BALDY’ THOMPSON 1 3 T H

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BRIAN Ronald ‘Baldy’ Thompson was a Burdekin junior who arrived in Mount Isa as a youngster. On the way out here he got the nits and so his head was shaved when he and brother Alf, who still had his hair, went down to the Leichardt River to have a look. Local boy Ronnie Kennedy met up with them and with immediately nicknamed them Baldy and Hairy, nicknames that stuck for the rest of their lives. Baldy was a very good footballer. He was one of a number of Town Juniors stuck behind a senior team that wouldn’t budge. So a new club was formed that was named Wanderers after a club Baldy’s father Tiger had played for. North Queensland representative Gordon Bathe had been coaching Town but agreed to coach the new club. Bathe suggested the colours blue and gold because they were Townsville colours, the side he had represented North Queensland from.

He was in the great Mount Isa team that defeated Mirani 21/16 in the 1953 North Queensland B Grade Final and 27/19 in the 1954 Final. He played the 1956 season in Townsville with Estates and was five-eighth in the Townsville team that went through the season undefeated including the Foley Shield Final against Cairns. He returned to Mount Isa but a knee injury cruelled his mobility and moved him into the forwards. He is described by those of his era as uncompromising. If he knew you and liked you then he would hit you hard. If he didn’t like you he’d hit you bloody hard. He used to tell his junior players, “Don’t waste your time running up there if you’re not going to hurt them”.

He coached Wanderers when his knee finally ended his career and was most proud of a game where he lost all of his

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experienced players. He introduced a host of young blokes to the team and they went out and beat a crack and odd-on favourite Black Stars team. He coached Wanderers juniors from schoolkids all through the grades and many a player who went on to Foley Shield glory was touched by him. The only time he coached Mount Isa was a trip to Darwin where they played the Northern Territory sides and a visiting South Sydney Juniors side that contained future Premiership stars and Australian representatives such as the legendary Eric Simms. The side was without many of the guns and full of eager youngsters who went down in a hotly-contested final due to the accuracy of Simms boot.

Thompson was a great sportsperson and excelled at cycling, boxing and swimming and also helped start softball in the mining city. He was a top notch cyclist and was a regular on race nights at Wellington oval. In those days track cycling was hugely popular and participants could win as much on a night as they could in wages for the week. Bookmakers used to field on the races and the grandstand was packed to the rafters and Baldy was one of the best. He also used to put on shows at the town pool where he would perform silly dives which required enormous skill. His wife Alice and her friends were involved in the formation of Wanderers Softball Club and Baldy began coaching them. He coached Mount Isa at State carnivals and was also assistant coach of the Queensland Open Ladies side that claimed a National title.

– JAMES COGLAN AND PETER WORMALD

TOWNSVILLE RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM – 1956 FOLEY SHIELD CHAMPIONS - Defeated Herbert River 30/5 & 60/3. Mackay 41/14 & 18/11. Ayr 48/11 & 44/5. Cairns 23/16 and Rockhampton 22/15 Back: R Ellery, J White, J Casey, J Brereton, A Roberts, K Herbert, C McElligott, R Smith, B Ansell, D Fardon, T Scott Front: C Hooper, R Heilbronn, K Geary, G Church, Len Blaik (Captain), S Hinds, E Pattinson, “Baldy’ Thompson

Image: Contributed

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