Nambour Souths old boys to reunite and celebrate 1971 title

Nambour old boys and present players will take a trip down memory lane remembering the past 50 years since Souths Magpies were the toast of Sunshine Coast Rugby League as dominant 1971 premiers.

Nambour Souths players past and present will come together in July to celebrate 50 years since the now-amalgamated club won the 1971 premiership.

It was a time when Nambour was the rugby league capital of the Sunshine Coast in a decade of dominance when seven of the 10 titles were split between Souths and All Whites.

Back then the town was divided by more than just tram tracks and the main watering holes were the stomping grounds for the rival clubs.

Souths out of the Royal George Hotel which was owned by superstar Ray Laird and All Whites out of the Club Hotel.

Queensland Concreting and General Construction and the Sugar Mill were the town’s biggest employers and behind the clubs.

It was the signing of the late Laird, who was fresh on the back of his solo match for Australia in 1970, which proved a revelation for Souths.

The fullback coached Souths in the early 1970s and led the Sunshine Coast as captain/coach to its first 47th Battalion Cup triumph in 1974.

Nambour Souths premiership winning squad from 1971. Picture: Leo Welsh

The Magpies side included Mick Plant who came to the Coast from Eastern Suburbs (now Sydney Roosters) where he was named in the Sunshine Coast Rugby League team of the century alongside Laird.

Wide Bay representatives were littered in 1971 line-up from Butch Stevens, Bryan Allen, Rex Eggmolesse and brothers Norm and Peter Law.

“The league was so strong, so much fun,” old boy and Sunshine Coast Hall of Famer Des Allen said.

“When Souths won those premierships they basically had the Wide Bay side. It was a gun side.”

Paul Rutledge, the son of George who the Crusher Park main field is named after, remembered the 1971 year well, save for the grand final score.

“That year we had an ongoing war with All Whites, but they were knocked out by Maleny,” Rutledge said.

“Maleny had Lee Hutchison at halfback and that was the year he played for Queensland. We were definitely favourites but they had Lee.

“That was the first premiership we’d won for a few years.”

Ray Laird came to Nambour Souths as an Australian representative.

Allen, whose family is Nambour rugby league royalty, said the town centre was alive with football the main talking point.

“It (Nambour) was just buzzing all the time,” Allen said.

“When Lairdy came, he one of the most highly regarded footballers, and his pub was always full. Always someone there.

“We had some ripper nights there.”

Rutledge said the hooking role in that era was a far cry from the modern game of today.

“It was tough, very hard and you had to protect your head, not like these days where you can’t go near it,” Rutledge said.

“If you could win the ball in the scrums and tackle, you did your job.

“Footy in Nambour was just a good time. It was great to drink at the Royal George, with the cane line in between, you could yell cheek at All Whites from the doors to the bar.”

Allen, and his older brother Graham, said it would be a celebration for all past and present players of the club to embrace.

It will not be restricted to Souths players only.

“We haven’t had a Souths reunion since 2003 or something,” Allen said.

“The Crushers played in Magpies jerseys that were made up. It was a great day.

“This one will be too. We’ve heard a lot of people are coming.”

The reunion is set for Saturday, July 17 at Crusher Park with Nambour A-graders set to don classic black and white Souths strips.