DIEHARD
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Valleys Diehards Rugby League Club
From the The Sun Book of Rugby League punblished 1983
The Fortitude Valley club is the oldest in Queensland and arguably the most famous.
The club formed in 1909 and won the first Rugby League competition conducted in Brisbane the same year.
Since its inception, Valleys have won a record 21 premierships - 14 since the formation of the Brisbane Rugby League in 1922.
Valleys were easily the most powerful club in the early days of the Brisbane competition, winning seven of the first eleven premierships.
The club has always boasted tradition and spirit with players, conscious of the "diehard" spirit synonomous with the famous royal blue jersey.
A member of the 1931 premiership side was Fred "Firpo" Neumann - later a long serving president of the club and the man Valley's home ground at Albion was named after.
Neumann's playing career spanned 18 years and included more than 250 first grade matches for the club.
He captained the side from 1934 to 1944, represented Queensland in 1932-33 and 34, and toured England and France with the 1933-34 Kangaroos.
Neumann is generally regarded as the Diehard's most famous son.
Valleys' met success soon after the second World War with a premiership victory in 1946 when they defeated hot favourites Easts by 5 points to 2.
Winger Les Kenny scored the only try of the match and notched a remarkable 42 tries for the season.
Outstanding players of the era were fullback Dan O'Conner - one of Valleys greatest ever players and Australian representatives, Roy Westaway, Jack Hourigan and Duncan Hall.
Valleys had to wait nine years to win another premiership, and what a performance they produced under captain Norm Pope.
The Diehards went through the season undefeated - a feat only achieved once previously in the history of Brisbane Rugby League.
Pope, an international and life member of the club, is probably Valleys' best known player.
In 1953 he scored more points than any other Queensland player in a season with a total of 330 from 10 tries and 150 goals.
He scored more than 200 points on three other occasions - 296 in 1957, 245 in 1955 and 224 in 1956.
Valleys won the last grand final played at the famous Gabba ground when they defeated Brothers in 1957, but then experienced an exasperating run of outs from 1958 to 1969 when they contested six grand finals and were beaten each time.
But the tide turned in 1970 when Valleys defeated hot favourites, Norths in a memorable grand final after extra time.
The scores were locked 8-all at fulltime after neither side was able to breach the other's defence for a try.
Norths hit the front in the third minute of extra time when lock Jim Adams scored in the corner but Valleys replied with a try to Jeff Gill which was converted from out wide by fullback Norm Clarke.
Noth sides had try-scoring opportunities in the remaining 13 minutes but Valleys retained their 13-11 lead until the final whistle after 100 minites of torrid football.
Sydney import Ross Strudwich was destined to become one of Valleys stars of the 1970s.
In the first year in the royal blue colours, Strudwick was a member of the side which defeated Redcliffe to take the 1973 premiership.
Five years later he captained a young side which proved the suprise packet of the competition although it went down to Easts in the grand final.
Valleys officials provided a major shock when they sacked former international John Rhodes as coach and appointed Strudwick for the following year.
The move proced a master stroke as Strudwick guided the Diehards to a 26-nil premiership win over Souths.
Valleys have not contested a grand final since, but with Strudwick as coach and on-field brilliance of Kangaroos vice captain Wally Lewis, the Diehards are a dominant force in the Brisbane competition.
A highlight of the club's 74th year was opening of a $900,000 clubhouse in June.
From the The Sun Book of Rugby League punblished 1983
The Fortitude Valley club is the oldest in Queensland and arguably the most famous.
The club formed in 1909 and won the first Rugby League competition conducted in Brisbane the same year.
Since its inception, Valleys have won a record 21 premierships - 14 since the formation of the Brisbane Rugby League in 1922.
Valleys were easily the most powerful club in the early days of the Brisbane competition, winning seven of the first eleven premierships.
The club has always boasted tradition and spirit with players, conscious of the "diehard" spirit synonomous with the famous royal blue jersey.
A member of the 1931 premiership side was Fred "Firpo" Neumann - later a long serving president of the club and the man Valley's home ground at Albion was named after.
Neumann's playing career spanned 18 years and included more than 250 first grade matches for the club.
He captained the side from 1934 to 1944, represented Queensland in 1932-33 and 34, and toured England and France with the 1933-34 Kangaroos.
Neumann is generally regarded as the Diehard's most famous son.
Valleys' met success soon after the second World War with a premiership victory in 1946 when they defeated hot favourites Easts by 5 points to 2.
Winger Les Kenny scored the only try of the match and notched a remarkable 42 tries for the season.
Outstanding players of the era were fullback Dan O'Conner - one of Valleys greatest ever players and Australian representatives, Roy Westaway, Jack Hourigan and Duncan Hall.
Valleys had to wait nine years to win another premiership, and what a performance they produced under captain Norm Pope.
The Diehards went through the season undefeated - a feat only achieved once previously in the history of Brisbane Rugby League.
Pope, an international and life member of the club, is probably Valleys' best known player.
In 1953 he scored more points than any other Queensland player in a season with a total of 330 from 10 tries and 150 goals.
He scored more than 200 points on three other occasions - 296 in 1957, 245 in 1955 and 224 in 1956.
Valleys won the last grand final played at the famous Gabba ground when they defeated Brothers in 1957, but then experienced an exasperating run of outs from 1958 to 1969 when they contested six grand finals and were beaten each time.
But the tide turned in 1970 when Valleys defeated hot favourites, Norths in a memorable grand final after extra time.
The scores were locked 8-all at fulltime after neither side was able to breach the other's defence for a try.
Norths hit the front in the third minute of extra time when lock Jim Adams scored in the corner but Valleys replied with a try to Jeff Gill which was converted from out wide by fullback Norm Clarke.
Noth sides had try-scoring opportunities in the remaining 13 minutes but Valleys retained their 13-11 lead until the final whistle after 100 minites of torrid football.
Sydney import Ross Strudwich was destined to become one of Valleys stars of the 1970s.
In the first year in the royal blue colours, Strudwick was a member of the side which defeated Redcliffe to take the 1973 premiership.
Five years later he captained a young side which proved the suprise packet of the competition although it went down to Easts in the grand final.
Valleys officials provided a major shock when they sacked former international John Rhodes as coach and appointed Strudwick for the following year.
The move proced a master stroke as Strudwick guided the Diehards to a 26-nil premiership win over Souths.
Valleys have not contested a grand final since, but with Strudwick as coach and on-field brilliance of Kangaroos vice captain Wally Lewis, the Diehards are a dominant force in the Brisbane competition.
A highlight of the club's 74th year was opening of a $900,000 clubhouse in June.
