Easts Tigers’ best all-time players
While the Easts Tigers are putting together a bid to enter the NRL, we take a look at the historic club’s best ever players and come up with a team that would match up with anyone. What a backline! Tell us what you think of the team.
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THE Easts Tigers have a long and rich history of producing star players which would make one star team if all brought together.
Despite going through a 29-year premiership drought at the moment, the Tigers all-time team would be boosted by their recent affiliate relationship with the Melbourne Storm.
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Having had multiple Rothman’s Medal winners in Paul Green and Cavill Heugh represent the orange and black, as well as State of Origin legends such as Martin Bella, Steve Renouf and several others, Tigers representatives have featured at the top level of rugby league for decades.
And if you mix those names with modern talents like your Cody Walkers, Felise Kaufusi and Cameron Munsters of the world, the Tigers would feature one of the best teams across Queensland.
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BACKS
Fullback - Cameron Munster: An absolute star of the modern game whose journey to being one of the Melbourne Storm’s key players began at the Easts Tigers, where he helped lead the team to the 2013 Intrust Super Cup grand final. A dynamic player, who can play at fullback, centre or in the halves and has starred at the top level of the game in State of Origin and for Australia.
Wing - Brad Backer: A former Queensland State of Origin winger who starred during the 1980s for the Easts Tigers and Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Won a premiership with Easts in 1978, played in the inaugural State of Origin match and went onto make 11 more appearances for his state, scoring a try along the way.
Centre - Steve Renouf: One of the great centres in rugby league history, Steve Renouf could not be stopped when given any space and was a powerful runner who could also make something out of nothing. Played 189 games for the Brisbane Broncos and crossed the line 142 times, played 13 games for Queensland and 12 for Australia.
Centre - Darren Smith: Another great centre, who played for both Queensland and Australia in the 1990s and early 200s. Was also a tough defensive centre who could play at lock and in the second row. Played 321 professional games along with 27 games for Queensland and 12 for Australia.
Wing - Steve Stacey: Another State of Origin winger, who spent time at Easts and scored a try in his two appearances for Queensland in 1983.
Five-eighth - Cody Walker: One of the stars of the current NRL who burst onto the scene when playing in the Intrust Super Cup for the Easts Tigers, leading the team to two grand finals in 2013 and 2014. Earned an NRL call up from the Melbourne Storm but made his mark on the competition with the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs, becoming one of the best players in the competition and made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales last year.
Halfback - Paul Green: A State of Origin and Australian representative who won the Rothman’s Medal in 1993 while with the Easts Tigers. Became a star in the NRL during his time with the Cronulla Sharks and would go onto play for the North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos.
FORWARDS
Prop - Martin Bella: A tough forward who led from the front line during the heated State of Origin battles in the 1980s and 1990s and played for the Tigers from 1983-85. Played 21 games for Queensland and nine for Australia and was a player who wasn’t afraid of the dirty work required to play State of Origin and Test football.
Hooker - John Lang: A great hooker from the glory days of the 1960s and 1970s, when he helped lead Easts to three premierships in 1972, 1977 and 1978 before coaching the club to premierships in 1983 and 1991.
Prop - Rod Morris: An Australian and Queensland representative forward, who played for the Easts Tigers before playing for Balmain and the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Made 10 appearances for Queensland and 16 for Australia.
Second Row - Felise Kaufusi: A hardworking and talented forward, who does damage with the ball and also in defence. Has been a key part of the Melbourne Storm’s success in recent years, which has resulted in State of Origin appearances for Queensland as well as Australia. One of the best players in the current NRL.
Second Row - Tim Glasby: Another star forward currently in the NRL starring for the Melbourne Storm, having also played in consecutive grand finals for the Easts Tigers in 2013 and 2014. A forward who doesn’t do anything flashy but gets all the hard work done.
Lock - Kenny Bromwich: Continuing the theme of the other forwards named in this team, Bromwich is a physical, tough and gritty player, who was also part of the Tigers’ back-to-back grand final appearances in 2013 and 2014. Has gone onto become a star in the NRL as well as a Test player with New Zealand.
RESERVES
Tommy Butterfield: A utility who can play at both dummyhalf as well as in the halves and was one of the stars of the Intrust Super Cup in the last decade. A gritty defender, who has also represented his home country in Papua New Guinea at international level.
Mitch Garbutt: One of the most damaging runners during his time in the Intrust Super Cup before a stint with the Meblourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos. Has now gone onto have a successful career in the English Super League.
Paul Kahn: A State of Origin prop who played for both the Easts Tigers and Norths in the BRL competition. Played 120 games for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL.
Cavill Heugh: An absolute Easts Tigers legend, having made 111 appearances for the club and won the Rothman’s Medal with the club in 1984. The prop would also go onto play three State of Origin games.
COACH
Des Morris: A legendary coach and player in the BRL with both the Easts Tigers and Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Played for and coached Queensland and won two premierships with the Seagulls in 1982 and 1984. Later on became a State of Origin selector and CEO for the Easts Tigers.
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