The Brisbane Rugby League Team of the Century

It’s not very well known that the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) competition actually started in 1922. Prior to that, between 1909 and 1922, the Brisbane competition was run by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL).

The clubs rebelled and took over in 1922, resulting in a bitter feud for nearly a decade, with the QRL continually trying to undermine the local competition.

In 1929, fed up Brisbane clubs held ‘secret’ meetings with the Queensland Rugby Union about changing codes. The QRL responded by running its own competing South East QLD club competition for two years.

The Brisbane clubs counter-responded by actually voting to leave for rugby union, resulting in panic and a peace deal that confirmed the stand-alone BRL competition.

To mark the Centenary of the BRL, the QRL Historical Committee last week announced its Team of the Century. A second team as voted by fans was also announced.

Set out below is the team as announced with links and brief biographies mostly contained in my previous Roar articles. Where the Fan Poll came up with a different selection I have shown that as well.

Finally, I have submitted a few alternatives from my own Team of the BRL that I came up with as part of a series of articles I published on the Roar examining the history of this great competition.

A note on selections: there is always tension in these types of selections as to whether a player should be judged by his overall career (e.g. including his representative career) or his contribution to the competition itself.

That is, are we looking for the best players who have at some stage played in the BRL competition (which could include the likes of Clive Churchill) or are we looking at the players within the context of the competition itself?

The QRL in naming this team have leaned slightly towards the former by guaranteeing a place for ARL and QRL Team of the Century members, with a hurdle of having played in the BRL competition for at least 2 seasons.

I struggle with that a little and my own team was skewed towards winning premierships and providing great service to clubs in the competition itself.

Arthur Beetson is one example of this issue. He is an undisputed Immortal of the game, possibly the best forward to come out of Queensland, or indeed this country. However, he played a total of just two seasons in the BRL: his first and last.

Beetson therefore meets the criteria for the official team, but should he be an automatic selection over a 10-year best-in-competition type of player? The answer of course depends on your point of view.

I should add that Artie is probably not the best example, given his two seasons resulted in one premiership and one runners up trophy for his club. An Immortal indeed.

Anyway, enough wringing of hands – here is the BRL Team of the Century.

Fullback: Norm Pope – Valleys. Fan Poll: Gary Belcher – Souths.

I also picked Norm Pope, an absolute Valleys legend. He came second in the fan poll, well behind ‘Badge’ Belcher. Other notables include Allan Mills – Valleys; Ken McCrohon – Wests, Redcliffe; Ian ‘Bunny’ Pearce – Redcliffe; Colin Scott – Easts, Wynnum Manly and Frank Drake – Souths.

Wings: Lionel Morgan – Wynnum Manly and Cecil Aynsley – Wests. Fan Poll: Morgan and Fonda Metassa – Valleys, Norths.

I’ve not done a bio of Lionel Morgan, so instead here is a lovely article on him. I covered Cecil Aynsley here, too.

I actually picked ‘Smokin’’ Joe Kilroy (Norths, Brothers) in my team together with Fonda Metassa. I honestly don’t remember why now, as Lionel Morgan deserves his spot.

Cec Aynsley made the Queensland Team of the Century but he played a lot outside of Brisbane. Other notables include Len Kenny – Valleys; Len Dawson – Brothers; Frank Melit – Brothers and Reg ‘Bubbles’ Pegg – Souths.

Centres: Tom Gorman – Brothers and Mal Meninga – Souths. Fan Poll: Meninga and Gene Miles – Wynnum Manly.

I covered Tom Gorman here and Mal Meninga here.

The Fan Poll had Tom Gorman coming in 5th with only 2% of the vote, which shows that being Queensland’s first ever Kangaroo Tour captain doesn’t hold a lot of weight these days. Having said that, I also didn’t pick Gorman, as he played a lot of his football in Toowoomba.

Instead, I went for great Wests and Australian centre of the 1950’s Alex Watson. Other notables include: Fred ‘Firpo’ Neumann – Valleys; Jack Reardon – Norths; Brothers. Len Pegg – Souths and Mick Retchless – Valleys.

Five eighth: Wally Lewis – Valleys, Wynnum Manly (C). Also picked by the fans and myself.

It’s not even close, but the other standout was Johnny ‘Rubber Hips’ Gleeson – Brothers.

Halfback: Barry Muir – Wests. Fan Poll: Mark Murray – Fortitude Valley, Norths, Redcliffe.

I covered Muir in this article which provides an insight as to why he was considered the most competitive son of a footballer to play north of the Tweed.

The fans are silly here. ‘Muppet’ was a fine player but Muir was next level and a mainstay for his country during an era when we caught up to and surpassed the English. Even so, I gave it to a third option: Ross Strudwick: a Valleys and BRL icon of the 1970’s who had a profound effect on the competition.

Other notables include Arthur ‘Fatty’ Edwards – Valleys; Greg Oliphant – Wests, Redcliffe and Wayne Lindenberg – Easts.

Front Row: Brian Davies – Brothers and Duncan Hall – Fortitude Valley, Wests. Fan Poll: Hall and Greg Dowling – Wynnum Manly, Norths.

I covered Brian Davies and Duncan Hall previously, Davies here and Hall here.

Only Greg ‘Dish Head’ Dowling’s mum would pick him over Brian Davies, one of the best players Brisbane has ever produced. I had Davies and also had the great 1920’s prop Norm Potter from Wests, as Hall was another who played all around the state. Other notables include Greg Vievers – Souths; Lloyd Weier – Norths and Harry Bath – Souths.

Hooker: John Lang – Easts. Also picked by the fans and by me.

Lang is a standout. Other notables: Greg Conescu – Norths, Redcliffe; Hugh O’Doherty – Valleys; Jack Little – Valleys, Brothers.

Arthur Beetson in 2009. (Photo by Craig Golding/Getty Images)

Second Row: Arthur Beetson – Redcliffe and Peter Gallagher – Brothers. Fan Poll: Beetson and Des Morris – Easts, Wynnum Manly.

I had Peter ‘Pedro’ Gallagher, but I left out Beetson due to his short time in the competition and instead went with the fans by picking the great Des Morris from Easts and Wynnum Manly, possibly the best QLD forward to never play for his country.

Other notables include: Eddie Brosnan – Brothers; Dennis Manteit – Brothers; Bryan Neibling – Valleys, Redcliffe.

Lock: Harold ‘Mick’ Crocker – Souths. Fan Poll: Bob Lindner – Souths, Wynnum Manly.

I’ve never done a bio for the late Mick Crocker, so here is his write up from Men of League.

I left out Crocker from my team, but he is a very worthy inclusion. I didn’t even have Bobby Lindner in my honourable mentions, due to his longer time in Sydney and his habit of transforming into a colossus only when wearing Maroon.

Instead, I had Ed ‘Babe’ Collins as my lock as the most little-known and underrated superstar of Queensland rugby League, and whom I covered here.

Honourable mentions include: Bill Tyquin – Brothers, Souths. Jack ‘Gunboat’ Ryrie – Easts, Brothers. Norm Carr – Wests, Souths and Ian French – Wynnum Manly.

Reserves: John Gleeson – Brothers, Wynnum Manly. Des Morris – Easts, Wynnum Manly. Gene Miles – Wynnum Manly. Ignatius ‘Bill’ Tyquin – Souths

18th Man: Greg Veivers – Souths

Coach: Bob Bax – Brothers, Norths.

Referee: Eddie Ward.

So there we have the BRL team of the century. Littered with Immortals and Hall of Fame players, it would sure take some beating.