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Redcliffe Dolphins Rugby League Club
From the The Sun Book of Rugby League published 1983
The Redcliffe club was formed in 1947 and admitted to the Sandgate sub-district competition. Eventually Redcliffe became part of the Murrumba League, which included teams from Caboolture, Woodford and Kilcoy areas north of Brisbane.
The first step towards full Brisbane Rugby League status came in 1957, when the club entered a team in the BRL third grade competition. The following year, Redcliffe fielded third and reserve grade teams in the BRL. Now was the time to push for promotion, and Wests international fullback Ken McCrohan was bought for the princely sum of 600 pounds to captain-coach the reserve grade in 1959.
It proved a smart move. Under McCrohan, the club won the reserve grade title, prompting a successful application for admittance to the BRL in 1960.
Unlike some fledgling clubs which take many years to find their feet in the big time, the Dolphins were immediately competitive. After only two years in the competition, they made it to the semi finals, where they were knocked out by eventual premiers Norths.
The success was no flash in the pan. Three years later in 1965 the Dolphins startled the league world and delighted themselves by forcing their way to the grand final and grabbing their first title with a 15-2 defeat of Valleys.
The man who led the charge was captain-coach Henry Holloway, one of a number of big names who held the reins at Redcliffe. Other notable coaches to follow were Ron Raper, Barry Muir, Frank Stanton and Arthur Beetson.
It took Redcliffe until 1973 to make their next grand final but, in the next eight seasons, they participated in the big September show three more times. They were unsuccessful in all four occasions, losing to Valleys 15-7 in 1973, Wests 26-24 in 1975 and Souths 13-9 in 1981. The Dolphins had some consolation in winning the President's Cup in 1975 and 1977.
Despite the let-downs, Redcliffe pride themselves in consistently putting out a side that is competitive. They have always done the bulk if their recruiting in the country and their connection with one small Queensland nursery, Roma, is well known. It all started with Arthur Beetson, who left the Darling Downs town to join Redcliffe in 1965. Another famous player who made the Roma-Redcliffe transition was Ray Higgs. Nowdays almost every rugby league footballer who leaves Roma for the Big Smoke heads for the Peninsula club.
No history of Redcliffe would be complete without mention of Ian 'Bunny' Pearce, probably the club's most popular player and certainly one of the most dedicated in his stint from 1975 to 1982. Pearce, who also coached the Dolphins to the 1977 grand final, played for Queensland eight times, including the famous 1975 defeat of NSW, and collected the Rothman;s Medal in 1978.
The longest-serving player in the club was Dayboro farmer Peter Leis, who between 1966 and 1982 notched 275 games in the maroon and white. Leis was also a regular centre in the Queensland team for a number of seasons.
The first person to play 100 games for Redcliffe was lock Col Weier, one of the stars of the 1965 premiership. Muir and Beetson coached Queensland while at Redcliffe and Stanton retained his position as Australian coach when he switched from Sydney club Balmain to the Dolphins in 1980.
A man whose name is virtually synonymous with Redcliffe is Don McLennan, who began his association with the club in 1950. He was secretary in 1960 and, except for two seasons in the late 60s he has held the position since.
Redcliffe players to represent Queensland up to and including 1982 were: Bob Gehrke, Trevor Harken, Tony Obst, Ian Thinee, Steve Crear, Rob Orchard, Ron Raper, Peter Leis, Rod Halley, Ian Pearce, Chris Anderson, Dave Moffett, Brian Gardiner, Terry Donnelly, Steve Bullow, Greg Oliphant, Chris Close, Trevor Benson and Artie Beetson.
From the The Sun Book of Rugby League published 1983
Year entered the premiership : 1960
Colours : Red and White
Emblem : Dolphin
Home ground : Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe.
TITLES (As at 1982. Not current.)
First grade : 1965.
Reserve grade : 1959, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1981, 1982.
Third grade : 1981.
President's Cup : 1975, 1977.
The Redcliffe club was formed in 1947 and admitted to the Sandgate sub-district competition. Eventually Redcliffe became part of the Murrumba League, which included teams from Caboolture, Woodford and Kilcoy areas north of Brisbane.
The first step towards full Brisbane Rugby League status came in 1957, when the club entered a team in the BRL third grade competition. The following year, Redcliffe fielded third and reserve grade teams in the BRL. Now was the time to push for promotion, and Wests international fullback Ken McCrohan was bought for the princely sum of 600 pounds to captain-coach the reserve grade in 1959.
It proved a smart move. Under McCrohan, the club won the reserve grade title, prompting a successful application for admittance to the BRL in 1960.
Unlike some fledgling clubs which take many years to find their feet in the big time, the Dolphins were immediately competitive. After only two years in the competition, they made it to the semi finals, where they were knocked out by eventual premiers Norths.
The success was no flash in the pan. Three years later in 1965 the Dolphins startled the league world and delighted themselves by forcing their way to the grand final and grabbing their first title with a 15-2 defeat of Valleys.
The man who led the charge was captain-coach Henry Holloway, one of a number of big names who held the reins at Redcliffe. Other notable coaches to follow were Ron Raper, Barry Muir, Frank Stanton and Arthur Beetson.
It took Redcliffe until 1973 to make their next grand final but, in the next eight seasons, they participated in the big September show three more times. They were unsuccessful in all four occasions, losing to Valleys 15-7 in 1973, Wests 26-24 in 1975 and Souths 13-9 in 1981. The Dolphins had some consolation in winning the President's Cup in 1975 and 1977.
Despite the let-downs, Redcliffe pride themselves in consistently putting out a side that is competitive. They have always done the bulk if their recruiting in the country and their connection with one small Queensland nursery, Roma, is well known. It all started with Arthur Beetson, who left the Darling Downs town to join Redcliffe in 1965. Another famous player who made the Roma-Redcliffe transition was Ray Higgs. Nowdays almost every rugby league footballer who leaves Roma for the Big Smoke heads for the Peninsula club.
No history of Redcliffe would be complete without mention of Ian 'Bunny' Pearce, probably the club's most popular player and certainly one of the most dedicated in his stint from 1975 to 1982. Pearce, who also coached the Dolphins to the 1977 grand final, played for Queensland eight times, including the famous 1975 defeat of NSW, and collected the Rothman;s Medal in 1978.
The longest-serving player in the club was Dayboro farmer Peter Leis, who between 1966 and 1982 notched 275 games in the maroon and white. Leis was also a regular centre in the Queensland team for a number of seasons.
The first person to play 100 games for Redcliffe was lock Col Weier, one of the stars of the 1965 premiership. Muir and Beetson coached Queensland while at Redcliffe and Stanton retained his position as Australian coach when he switched from Sydney club Balmain to the Dolphins in 1980.
A man whose name is virtually synonymous with Redcliffe is Don McLennan, who began his association with the club in 1950. He was secretary in 1960 and, except for two seasons in the late 60s he has held the position since.
Redcliffe players to represent Queensland up to and including 1982 were: Bob Gehrke, Trevor Harken, Tony Obst, Ian Thinee, Steve Crear, Rob Orchard, Ron Raper, Peter Leis, Rod Halley, Ian Pearce, Chris Anderson, Dave Moffett, Brian Gardiner, Terry Donnelly, Steve Bullow, Greg Oliphant, Chris Close, Trevor Benson and Artie Beetson.
