IT'S 1922 and throughout the land is unrest with the Queensland Rugby League. The uprising led to the Brisbane Rugby League being formed.
Their list of concerns was why does the QRL run the competition in Brisbane but not regional areas?
They met at the Carlton Club Hotel in Queens Street to establish a player’s association and the Union Hotel in the Valley on the March 28, 1922 was when the BRL was formed.
Now 100 years on, the Brisbane Rugby League and QRL history committee have met to come up with the BRL team of the Century.
When Eddie Ward signalled the first scrum it would be the Tiger King John Lang in control.
Lang was putting his head in scrums for the Tigers from 1969-79 and would play 200 games for the Tigers.
He played in three grand finals for the Tigers - in 1972, 1977 and 1978 - but as if that was not enough, Lang then coached the Tigers to premierships in 1983, 1991, and more grand finals in 1992 and 1993.
“I’d be looking forward to playing with Barry Muir at seven,” Lang said.
“I am proud to represent all of the players I played with and against from schoolboys to senior football in my home.”
Head of the QRL history committee is Steve Ricketts. He was part of the panel that decided the team of the century.
“First off we had to decide on some criteria, so we said you had to have played three years in the BRL and you had to be before 1988,” Ricketts said.
“We each picked our team to see what we had in common and amongst our sides and then worked through until we had a team.
“Immortals had to be included, Arthur Beetson had three years at Dolphins and Wally Lewis played for Valley and Wynnum from 1978-87.
“We also looked at Test captains from Brisbane so that’s Lewis, Tom Gorman and Greg Veivers.
“It was a very enjoyable process and I don’t think anyone will have too many arguments with the side named.”
When coach of the century Bob Bax went to the bench he’d be looking at Des Morris or Gene Miles to make an impact.
Wynnum’s Miles came to Brisbane and played 141 games for Wynnum - four grand finals from 1982-86, three wins, four State League wins, two Woolies Pre-Season final wins. It rained success at the Bay and Miles was leading the charge.
“I am extremely proud and humbled to be named in the team of the century,” Miles said.
“I’d be hoping to come on and not replace Arthur Beetson so I could run off some of his passes.”
Ipswich’s favourite son Des Morris was named on the bench and would be looking to get on as quickly as possible.
Morris played 226 games for the Tigers, and captained the Tigers in 1972 to the premiership and captain-coached in 1977 and 1978 before coaching Wynnum in 1982 and 1984 to the premiership.
“I think I could go on and combine with John Lang. We played 200 games together for Easts so I’d look to run off Langy once I got on the field.”
BRL team of the century: Norm Pope (Valleys), Lionel Morgan (Wynnum), Tom Gorman (Brothers), Mal Meninga (Souths), Cecil Aynsley (Wests), Wally Lewis (Valleys and Wynnum), Barry Muir (Wests), Brian Davies (Brothers), John Lang (Easts), Duncan Hall (Valleys, Wests), Arthur Beetson (Redcliffe), Peter Gallagher (Brothers), Harold Mick Crocker (Souths), John Gleeson (Brothers, Wynnum), Des Morris (Easts Wynnum), Gene Miles (Wynnum), Ignatius Bill Tyquin (Souths), Greg Veivers (Souths).
FAVOURITE JETS
IT'S 40 years of the Jets this year so I chose my best.
It might be that a player made me love the Jets. It might be that I loved watching them play or that I have worked with them but they’ve had an impact on me.
If I was having a Jets BBQ at my place this is who I would invite.
Danny Coburn: 258 games and probably 1000 stitches. He was tough but skilful too and scored 32 tries.
I watched Coburn for years before I got to meet him in 2008 when I started working at the Jets. He shook my hand and said welcome to the Jets and I think I smiled for a week.
Cobes’ legacy is that you work hard and you be a good man. No compromise on either of those.
Allan Langer: 33 games for the Jets.
Like any kid growing up in Ipswich who had just started watching league, Alf was king of my world.
My first autograph was Alf at McDonnell and East in town and I still have it.
I sent Alf a photo of my signed envelope the other day. Alf just looked like he was having fun. He would kick for Langton and that’s what I would practise over and over again.
Gary Coyne: An original Jet and as pure Ipswich as you can get. Raised in Ipswich and played for the Jets in 1982.
I never saw Coyne play for the Jets because I was three years old so my memories of him are of the Raiders but Coyne was my second ever interview when I started this writing gig and since then he has nothing but terrific to me. Champion bloke and great player.
Brett, Kerrod, Andrew and Kevvie Walters: It may be cheating but I am grouping them all together.
I will tell anyone that will listen that I love the Walters boys. They’re all good guys. Great family.
Ricky Bird 118 games: I wanted to drift across the field and pick up runners like Bird.
The Bird man made me go to Jets games. Just a terrific player to watch and so skilful - a craftsmen in action.
Nat Neale 180 games: All you need to say about Neale is that he is a Jets forward.
He works hard. He would stand up in any era and get the job done. Great offload and great bloke.
Tyson Lofipo: 210 games, great footwork and tough but we wouldn’t need that at my BBQ.
Lofipo was great for morale and would always make you feel welcome and part of things.
Chris Lawler: 44 games which may not seem like too much but it left an impact on me.
He was such a skilful passer of the ball and could organise an attack like he was a surgeon planning an operation. Great player.
Brendon Marshall: 154 games. Marshall was like a security blanket when you walked in and saw him getting ready you knew it was going to be ok.
Blake Lenehan: 52 games. I love the way Lenehan has kept going when things have been tough the last three years. If you talk to him about how tough it’s been he gets this “I am playing for the Jets mate” look on his face like things are great.
Danny McAllister and Brian McCarthy: 224 combined games. I couldn’t split them. They are such a great double act telling stories and just tough forwards seem to be a theme. I am always indebted to them for 2002.
Ben and Shane Walker, Trevor Gillmeister and Tommy Raudonikis get a free pass: They’re great coaches so not included in my favourite players.
FAREWELL NAT ON NORTHERN TRIP
THE Pride in Cairns is not the tropical trip across to the islands or the tree change to the Tablelands you may think. If you head up there with that attitude you’re in a world of trouble.
The Ipswich Jets tackle Pride in their final Hostplus Cup match of the season at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
The Northern Pride have done their best over the years to make it a miserable old time for the Jets.
The last time the Jets made the trip north and won was 2017. They came away with their third win from 12 games at Barlow Park.
The Pride has a great record at home against the Jets with the Pride having won nine out of 12 games in the north.
Photo: LYLE RADFORD
Jets’ skipper Nat Neale (pictured in action) got two tries and the Jets won 24-10 in 2017.
Neale needs that double again this time, requiring two tries to go past Carlin Anderson and have the Jets 10th most tries.
The Jets have never found it a nice place to travel with one win in 2008, then they had to wait until 2016 and 2017 for their three wins.
The Pride have won the past two games against the Jets. At their fortress at “Pride Manor”, Pride has only lost 42 of the 143 games there, with four draws.
So they win 67% of their games at Barlow Park. To put that in perspective, the Jets home record at North Ipswich or Briggs Road is 46%.
It’s now 14 wins each with one draw between these two clubs overall.
The Jets aren’t taking any form into this last round, after losing 52-12 to the Devils.
The Jets came back briefly but after half time the Devils scored six second half tries and the Jets couldn’t come up with any points.
This weekend will be Nat Neale’s last game for the Jets.
It's game 180 for the Jets captain - 5760 tackles and 22,320 metres coming to an end.
This season Neale is third in the Hostplus Cup for tackles and 48th for runs. He is still doing his job and was the best forward in the competition.
Neale has topped the Jets tackle count nine times this season and is still moving through a mountain of work.
The Pride can still make finals and after a 49-10 loss they will be keen to show they’re finals deserving.
If the Pride win and Wynnum lose again, the Pride will finish eighth.