mud n blood
Juniors
- Messages
- 595
Bit bored today, so thought I'd post an old one from a couple of years ago. Feel free to comment, suggest changes, whatever .......
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Below is my "dream team" and my dream series .... not necessarily all the "best-ever" players, but players I have seen, or would like to have seen play, and play together. The two squads were constructed from personal opinion, news clippings, match reports, books, video footage and word-of-mouth. I could very easily come up with another two squads that would no doubt rival these as well !!! On that basis, yes - there are many "greats" which didn't make the cut, especially in the pre-1950 side (ie Purtell, Webster, McAllister, Broadfoot, Crouch, Stanley - just to name a few) If I sat down and started this process again tomorrow, I'm sure my sides would be different YET again.
Secondly, I've given some thought to many of the original rules which are now long-gone. (unlimited tackle, scoring, marking, scrummaging etc) I think there were plenty of playing styles which would not be out of place today, but sadly we'll never see. Thus, the differing match rules.
The dream
This series is to be played under a 4-match series concept, between teams comprising of players who made their club debut either pre- or post- 1950. Criteria included having played a minimum of two seasons in the senior Brisbane competition. The teams are as follows:
Post-1950 Team
Fullback: Norm Pope (Valleys)
Wings: Frank Melit (Brothers) and Lionel Morgan (Wynnum-Manly)
Centres: John Gleeson (Brothers, W/Manly) and Mal Meninga (Souths)
Five-eighth: Wally Lewis (Valleys, Wynnum-Manly)
Half-back: Barry Muir (Wests)
Lock: Ian Massie (Norths)
2nd Row: Des Morris (Easts, W/Manly) and Bob Lindner (Souths, W/Manly)
Props: Brian Davies (Souths) and Arthur Beetson (Redcliffe)
Hooker: John Lang (Easts)
Reserves:
Forwards: Peter Gallagher (Brothers) and Duncan Hall (Wests)
Backs: Chris Close (Valleys, Redcliffe) and Bill Pearson (Norths)
Coach: Bob Bax
Captain: Arthur Beetson
Pre-1950 Team
Fullback: Dan O'Connor (Valleys)
Wings: Ron O'Malley (Brothers) and Cec Aynsley (Wests)
Centres: Jack Reardon (Brothers, Norths) and Tom Gorman (Brothers)
Five-eighth: Jack Stapleton (Norths)
Half-back: Ron Stanton (Souths, Easts, Brothers)
Lock: Bill Tyquin (Souths)
2nd Row: Harry Bath (Souths) and Vic Armbruster (Valleys)
Props: Les Heidke (Brothers) and "Babe" Collins (Norths)
Hooker: Jack Little (Brothers, Valleys)
Reserves:
Forwards: Norm Potter (Wests) and Tom Drysdale (Easts)
Backs: Hugh Melrose (Norths, Wests) and Col Thorogood (Coorparoo)
Coach: "Firpo" Neumann
Captain: "Babe" Collins
Match Officials
David Manson, Eddie Ward, Henry Albert, S.W. "Digger" Chambers
(Three appointed per match - each centring one)
Match schedule
Game 1: Brisbane Cricket Ground - Gabba (Day match)
Game 2: Davies Park (Day match)
Game 3: Exhibition Grounds (Floodlit night match)
Game 4: Lang Park (Floodlit night match)
Special series rules
Game 1: 3-point tries, 2-point goals & field goals, unlimited tackle, 5-yard defence, single penalty-kick
Game 2: 3-point tries, 2-point goals, 1-point field goals, six-tackle & scrum, 5-metre defence, single penalty-kick
Game 3: 4-point tries, 2-point goals, 1-point field goals, six-tackle & scrum, double penalty-kick, 10-metre defence
Game 4: 4-point tries, 2-point goals, 1-point field goals, six-tackle & changeover, 10-metre defence
Media Coverage
Radio: George Lovejoy and John McCoy (assisted by Fonda Metassa and Bernie Pramberg)
Television: David Wright, George Doniger, and Alan Thomas
Any thoughts, amendments, things missed, suggestions .....
****************************************
Below is my "dream team" and my dream series .... not necessarily all the "best-ever" players, but players I have seen, or would like to have seen play, and play together. The two squads were constructed from personal opinion, news clippings, match reports, books, video footage and word-of-mouth. I could very easily come up with another two squads that would no doubt rival these as well !!! On that basis, yes - there are many "greats" which didn't make the cut, especially in the pre-1950 side (ie Purtell, Webster, McAllister, Broadfoot, Crouch, Stanley - just to name a few) If I sat down and started this process again tomorrow, I'm sure my sides would be different YET again.
Secondly, I've given some thought to many of the original rules which are now long-gone. (unlimited tackle, scoring, marking, scrummaging etc) I think there were plenty of playing styles which would not be out of place today, but sadly we'll never see. Thus, the differing match rules.
The dream
This series is to be played under a 4-match series concept, between teams comprising of players who made their club debut either pre- or post- 1950. Criteria included having played a minimum of two seasons in the senior Brisbane competition. The teams are as follows:
Post-1950 Team
Fullback: Norm Pope (Valleys)
Wings: Frank Melit (Brothers) and Lionel Morgan (Wynnum-Manly)
Centres: John Gleeson (Brothers, W/Manly) and Mal Meninga (Souths)
Five-eighth: Wally Lewis (Valleys, Wynnum-Manly)
Half-back: Barry Muir (Wests)
Lock: Ian Massie (Norths)
2nd Row: Des Morris (Easts, W/Manly) and Bob Lindner (Souths, W/Manly)
Props: Brian Davies (Souths) and Arthur Beetson (Redcliffe)
Hooker: John Lang (Easts)
Reserves:
Forwards: Peter Gallagher (Brothers) and Duncan Hall (Wests)
Backs: Chris Close (Valleys, Redcliffe) and Bill Pearson (Norths)
Coach: Bob Bax
Captain: Arthur Beetson
Pre-1950 Team
Fullback: Dan O'Connor (Valleys)
Wings: Ron O'Malley (Brothers) and Cec Aynsley (Wests)
Centres: Jack Reardon (Brothers, Norths) and Tom Gorman (Brothers)
Five-eighth: Jack Stapleton (Norths)
Half-back: Ron Stanton (Souths, Easts, Brothers)
Lock: Bill Tyquin (Souths)
2nd Row: Harry Bath (Souths) and Vic Armbruster (Valleys)
Props: Les Heidke (Brothers) and "Babe" Collins (Norths)
Hooker: Jack Little (Brothers, Valleys)
Reserves:
Forwards: Norm Potter (Wests) and Tom Drysdale (Easts)
Backs: Hugh Melrose (Norths, Wests) and Col Thorogood (Coorparoo)
Coach: "Firpo" Neumann
Captain: "Babe" Collins
Match Officials
David Manson, Eddie Ward, Henry Albert, S.W. "Digger" Chambers
(Three appointed per match - each centring one)
Match schedule
Game 1: Brisbane Cricket Ground - Gabba (Day match)
Game 2: Davies Park (Day match)
Game 3: Exhibition Grounds (Floodlit night match)
Game 4: Lang Park (Floodlit night match)
Special series rules
Game 1: 3-point tries, 2-point goals & field goals, unlimited tackle, 5-yard defence, single penalty-kick
Game 2: 3-point tries, 2-point goals, 1-point field goals, six-tackle & scrum, 5-metre defence, single penalty-kick
Game 3: 4-point tries, 2-point goals, 1-point field goals, six-tackle & scrum, double penalty-kick, 10-metre defence
Game 4: 4-point tries, 2-point goals, 1-point field goals, six-tackle & changeover, 10-metre defence
Media Coverage
Radio: George Lovejoy and John McCoy (assisted by Fonda Metassa and Bernie Pramberg)
Television: David Wright, George Doniger, and Alan Thomas
Any thoughts, amendments, things missed, suggestions .....