IF I was after a beer at a famous rugby league pub, Steve Farquhar would be the interviewee and provide his own pub. The Devils and Tigers centre won a premiership with the Tigers in 1977 and scored a try in the win over Redcliffe but then completed the dream by buying the Caxton Hotel. I sat down with Farquhar and talked about a great career.

You started at Norths Devils, how did you get to Norths and then the Tigers.

I played Under 18 for Norths and then my parents moved to Newcastle so I went with them for two years and played First Grade in Newcastle. It was a tough competition.

Dad then came back to Brisbane and I came back and played for Norths then went to Easts.

What can you remember about your debut for Norths?

I remember it vividly, first game at Lang Park, I was 22, against Wests and we won 19-0. Richie Twist, Wayne Stewart, great players on the Wests team.

I got to play with John Sattler too, that was a highlight.

I am going to say some players, you tell me what you think of when you hear of them.

Darryl Brohman: Funny bloke. I saw him playing third grade for Norths. He’s got the ball chip kicked, chipped again over the fullback and scored.

I remember thinking who is this bloke.

Bob Bax: Mastermind, just a great coach, great thinker he’s the father of coaching in Brisbane. I remember hearing the ATO would knock on Bax’s front door and Bob would be off over the back fence. His bookie skills were legendary.

Geoff Richardson: Great hands, great mind, great feet. Terrific player.

Des Morris: I was blessed to work with some great coaches, Des, Tommy Bishop, Bax, Lumsden at Newcastle but to play and be coached by Des Morris was sensational. Great player, would be a sensation today.

Wayne Lindenberg: What couldn’t he do? Just watch the try he scored in the 1977 Grand Final and that will tell you all you need to know. Should have played for Australia.

Kevvie Walters: Love him, just love the whole family. They are good men and Mr and Mrs Walters did a great job.

Allan Langer: Great customer, Alf is in here being followed by thousands. He’s the most popular bloke and half the people are too young to ever have seen him play.

John Ribot: Generous, great bloke. I played against Reebs and have had a lot to do with him since and he’s just a rugby league man.

Marty Scanlan: The toughest back I played against. Plenty tried to hurt him but no one ever did.

In the 1977 Grand Final, you get the win over Redcliffe and a try. Great day?

Yeah scored a try, Greg Holben and myself were marking Leis and Obst and it worked out because the four of us were slow.

We had only won one of our first eight games, scrapped into the finals, knocked off Norths and then win the grand final over the Dolphins who were favourites.

Dolphins had beaten us three times that year.

All the times you would have driven past the Caxton Hotel going to Lang Park did you ever think I might own that one day?

No. In fact I used to come to the fish and chip shop next door when I was a kid and I’d walk back past the pub with my chips and blokes would be getting thrown out onto the footpath and it was rough old joint then. I remember thinking that’s terrible who would ever want to own that pub.

The Caxton is synonyms with Lang Park, Origin and just rugby league, how proud are you to play your part in that?

It’s been here since 1864, it’s an old pub that’s part of Brisbane history. My brother and I bought it in 1997 so we have had it 25 years now.

I love rugby league. I love everything about it and the Caxton has played its part in that history and I take great pride in our part in Origin and Queensland league.

You played for Queensland against the Blues and against the touring English clubs how did your time in Maroon go?

I played one game starting in 1976. I think Geoff Richardson was injured and then played on the bench and didn’t get on for two games after that. I played against St.Helens for Queensland too. Great times playing for Queensland. They were tough games.