The famous Brisbane rugby league club Norths Devils greatest ever team revealed
The galaxy of stars who have worn the colours of the famous Norths Devils over the years make for one almighty greatest ever team. Clive Churchill, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis are in, see who else made the cut.
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The galaxy of stars who have worn the colours of the famous Norths Devils over the years make for one almighty greatest ever team.
Who is the fullback – the immortal Clive Churchill or the immortal in waiting Billy Slater?
What about the halfback. Queensland and Australian No. 7, and premiership wining captain Mark Murray or Cooper Cronk?
At hooker you have Cameron Smith and Steve Walters – and behind them two other Test hookers Nick Geiger and Greg Conescu.
The playing talent is ridiculously good and the task of naming an all-time side near impossible, but here goes.
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FULLBACK
CLIVE CHURCHILL
The “Little Master’’ is a South Sydney legend who played just one season in 1959 with Norths. But in that season he was both captain and coach and helped Norths win the premiership. His contribution in that one winter makes him an automatic selection.
WING
BILLY SLATER:
Self made player from the league rich Innisfail region whose natural talent was matched by his work ethic and desire. Slater got his start when his dad phoned then Norths CEO Mark Murray one Thursday night to say his son was keen to trial. Murray told him that Billy must get from Innisfail to Brisbane ASAP to attend weekend trial matches. Slater then drove overnight from FNQ and impressed in the trial to earn a position at the Devils. Of course he was a fullback, but don’t forget that great individual State of Origin try, the chip and chase, was performed when he roved in from wing as Darren Lockyer was the Maroons No. 1 that night.
CENTRE
GREG INGLIS
Lets keep this short and sweet. Mal Meninga was last year inducted as an immortal and believe me the long striding Inglis was every bit as good, if not even more athletic. No more needs to be said other than this bloke should one day be an immortal.
CENTRE
JACK REARDON, vice-captain:
Reardon was a remarkable contributor to rugby league on and off the field. On the field he was good enough to be named vice-captain of a Kangaroo tour (1937-38), play for both his native New South Wales and his adopted Queensland, and also spearheaded Norths to premierships. Reardon, who also played with the Brisbane Brothers club, was a Queensland State of Origin selector and esteemed sporting journalist.
WING
FONDA METASSA
Try-scoring machine with a big personality to match. We’ve heard the stories about Metassa carrying a comb around in his sock or only wanting to play down the Frank Burke Grandstand at Lang Park because it had the shade. Then there is the yarn about him scoring a try for Norths and after placing the ball, saying to a group of kids watching on. “Did you like that? Well hang around and I’ll be back in a minute (to score again)’’.
And of course the most famous of all yarns, him bursting out the back of an ambulance to continue playing after being carried off the field is legendary. And guess what? They are all true stories according to veteran BRL referee Almon Gadd. But what Gadd said should not be diminished was his playing ability. “He was a good footballer. He scored a lot of tries,’’ Gadd said. Hence Metassa’s inclusion in the 2020 version of Norths’ dream team.
FIVE-EIGHT
BILL PEARSON
Like so many of the greats of his era (1950s-60s), the Queensland representative was a journeyman who had success wherever he went, including captaining Norths to the 1961 premiership. Edged out Mark Murray by the skin of his teeth, although Murray is one of the first reserves chosen having captained the Devils to the upset premiership win from No. 6 in 1980.
HALFBACK
COOPER CRONK
Not unlike his long-time teammate Billy Slater, work ethic was the foundation on which Cronk built his career. Scouted by St Laurence’s College teacher Gavin Darwin to then Melbourne talent scout Anthony Griffin, Cronk spent three seasons across 70-odd first grade games playing in a number of positions – but rarely, if ever, at halfback. It will surprise many to learn he was a try-scoring sensation as a centre. Claims the No. 7 jumper from the great old-timer Jack Stapleton.
LOCK
EDWARD COLLINS
A player from esteemed Bulimba Cup era which old-timers swear was the hardest football this side of the black stump. That “Babe” Collins is etched in time as a prolific tryscorer in Cup clashes speaks volumes. A Norths premiership winning captain, he mixed skill with cast iron defence in the 1930ss and 1940s. His running game was supreme and one season he scored 39 tries across all matches – including three for Queensland in a rare interstate series win.
SECOND ROW
TREVOR GILLMEISTER
Truly remarkable forward who took advantage to his height (178cm) to make a career out of cutting blokes in half in defence. Easts’ Sydney premiership winner Bunny Reilly was the original axeman, and Gilly the axeman No.2. With a heart the size of Tasmania, Gillmeister became a Queensland State of Origin treasure across 22 games. The three-Test veteran could also unload in a tackle. The most unassuming champion you would meet and a great bloke to share a beer with.
SECOND ROWER
MARK GRAHAM
Tall, long-striding, Mark Graham was named New Zealand’s player of the century in 2007. Was instrumental in leading the Devils to the 1980 upset premiership win. Like the immortal Arthur Beetson, if Graham planted his legs apart, you’d need a team of lumber jacks to bring him down. Fast and tough, Graham was the mainstay of North Sydney in the 1980s after leaving the Devils. Retired to the Tannum Sands area of Queensland where he still looks fit enough to play a match.
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FRONT ROW
LLOYD WEIER
An automatic selection. The Kangaroo tourist played in the toughest position on the field in an era where the first 10 minutes resembled mug ball, and then a ball was thrown onto the field to play with. The Queensland country product also had a long career in Sydney.
HOOKER
CAMERON SMITH, captain
Arguably the greatest week to week footballer of all-time. Like Wally Lewis, Smith can dictate the speed of a match. Ex-Broncos and Penrith coach Anthony Griffin scouted Smith from Logan Brothers, recalling “he had what all great players have – time’’. Remarkable all-round player whose strength belies his frame. Smith has an amazing work ethic emphasised when he was a junior at Logan Brothers and refused to cut corners when coaches ordered a lap of the oval. He would captain this Norths’ greatest ever side.
FRONT ROW
JOHN SATTLER .
The South Sydney legend was recruited to Queensland by the QRL in the mid-1970s. Tough as nails, he imparted valuable knowledge on a redeveloping Norths side that went on to produce three players – Steve Calder, Neville Draper and Darryl Brohman – who were Rothman’s Medallists. Sattler inches out Vic Rudd for a starting berth. Rudd was a Test front rower who played alongside “Babe’’ Collins and Jack Stapleton in the pre-World War II.
RESERVES FROM :
Jack Stapelton, Mark Murray, Joe Kilroy, Henry Hegarty, Greg Conescu, Ian Massie, Harry Bates, Matt King. Steve Walters, Vic Rudd, Nick Geiger.
COACH:
BOB BAX
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