Best BRL players of the 80s: Best halfbacks/five-eighths
The 1980s was a golden era for Brisbane club rugby league featuring some of the game’s biggest names (and moustaches). We’re looking back at the outstanding players in each position, culminating in the naming of a BRL team of the ‘80s. Today, it’s the five-eighths and halfbacks. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE
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Do you remember Brisbane club rugby league in the 1980s? Over the next week the outstanding players in their positions will be suggested, culminating in the naming of a BRL team of the ‘80s.
From Test veterans to club stalwarts, the biggest names with the biggest 80s moustaches will be considered.
And we want your input into the team, too. Vote for your favourite player in the polls below to decide the fans’ favourite team of the 80s
HAVE YOU VOTED FOR EVERY POSITION?
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: FULLBACKS
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: WINGERS AND CENTRES
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: FIVE-EIGHTHS AND HALFBACKS
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: SECOND ROWERS AND LOCKS
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: FRONT ROWERS AND HOOKERS
Redcliffe’s best all-time team
BRL’S BEST HALFBACKS OF THE 1980S
ALLAN LANGER (IPSWICH)
Together with the Walters’ brothers, hooker Kerrod and five-eight Kevin, formed an exciting ruck combination that had everyone guessing with the boys burst onto the scene under Tom Raudonikis playing for the Ipswich Jets. Langer was no bigger than a jockey, but soon proved his worth to win a place in the Queensland State of Origin team in 1987. Selection that day, the subsequent birth of the Broncos in 1988, was the trigger for a very, very special career.
LARRY BRIGGENSHAW (EASTS)
The father of current Australian, Queensland and Broncos’ women’s playmaker Ali, Larry was a tough, nuggety old school halfback. He came to prominence playing for Queensland Country and was then snapped up by the powerful Easts club whom he guided to the BRL premiership in 1983. Not too many outpointed Briggenshaw, who was a great competitor.
ROSS HENDRICK (NORTHS)
The “Angry Ant’’ could have ridden track work at Doomben, but instead matched it with grizzly, bigger opponents during a splendid rugby league career. Hendrick teamed with Mark Murray to guide Norths to a dramatic upset win in 1980. He also scored a try. A real talker in the true tradition of halfbacks, Hendrick was an excellent organiser with fast hands. He rose to partner Wally Lewis in Lewis’ first ever Origin match at five-eight in 1981, and was a squad member for another two series. Sadly died aged 50.
MARK MURRAY (NORTHS, VALLEYS, REDCLIFFE)
The boy from Millmerran on the western Darling Downs came to Brisbane with ambitions to be a schoolteacher and further his rugby league. Norths coach Graham Lowe saw great qualities in Murray, bestowing the honour of captaincy on him at a young age. Murray, playing five-eight, led Norths to the 1980 premiership and by 1981 had found himself on the bench for Queensland. With his path blocked as a representative five-eight because of Lewis, Murray moved to Valleys to play halfback alongside Lewis. It was a great career move. Murray played 17 games for Queensland and six Tests for Australia, and was a 1982 Kangaroo tourist.
GREG SMITH (BROTHERS)
One of the best cover defending footballers, in any position, one would wish to see. Smith was the glue in Brothers drive to the 1987 premiership victory. An excellent link man, good organiser and with enough pace to challenge the defensive line. Worth his weight in gold.
HENRY FOSTER (BROTHERS)
Foster’s time in the BRL was all too brief - just two seasons - but he made a huge impression before returning to the Penrith district in Sydney. He was the outstanding club player in 1984, no mean feat considering the quality of players in the BRL. Indeed so good was his form, the Brisbane selectors named him to partner Wally Lewis in the Brisbane side which went on to mid the prestigious midweek Cup (coached by Bob McCarthy). Strong runner, great organiser.
BRL’S BEST FIVE-EIGHTHS OF THE 1980S
WALLY LEWIS (VALLEYS, WYNNUM-MANLY)
Burst onto the scene as a whiz kid lock under the direction of Valley halfback Ross Strudwick. Had a target on his back and was knocked around a lot after passing or kicking, but stood up to the treatment. His path to rep football was originally blocked by Norm Carr of Wests, but Lewis was always a fixture on the bench because of his ability to cover lock and halves. After playing lock in Origin No. 1, he was shifted to No. 6 by Artie Beetson in a masterstroke. Cameron Smith or Johnathan Thurston may have been better week to week NRL players, but Lewis was Origin’s greatest player not only for his playing ability, but his leadership. He is The King and will always be The King.
WAYNE LINDENBERG (EASTS)
Linderberg was an absolute gun for Easts in the late 1970s and into the 1980s where he played five-eight in the club’s 1983 premiership. NSW may have had Steve Mortimer but Queensland had their own explosive No. 7 in Lindenberg. Then, when he lost his acceleration, he used the speed between his ears to shift teams around. He was special.
GREG HOLBEN (EASTS)
Holben was a Tigers stalwart despite a stint with Brothers. But he is a Tiger man. A real tough nut in an era when no prisoners were taken. Good link man, excellent tactical kicker and solid in defence. Excellent player who made it onto the bench for Queensland in 1982. He must have been a good player to be a member of the crack Easts teams of the 1970s and early 1980s.
PETER COYNE (VALLEYS)
Sublime skill. This bloke was an old fashioned ball-playing five-eight, the likes of which the younger generation sadly do not see these days. Such was his expertise, he was recruited to St George in Sydney where he played a leading role in guiding the Dragons to a grand final appearance. Great kicking game, timed his own runs, but was very, very good at moving his team around and setting players in motion.
GRANT RIX (VALLEYS)
Another from the league rich Darling Downs district. An Allora junior, Rix was to be the next big, big thing in league. But a knee injury halted his progress and he had retired by age 24. Excellent player with Valleys, then with Halifax in England and finally with the Brisbane Broncos.
KEVIN WALTERS (IPSWICH)
A cheeky little chops when he and Allan Langer started teasing hulking opposition forwards with footwork around the ruck. The Langer-Kevin Walters and Kerrod Walters had to be seen to be believed when they combined for the Jets. Although he debuted in the 1980s, Kevin’s time was to come as a Brisbane Bronco after an initial three season stint with the Canberra Raiders. A winner to the core.
PAT SHEPHERDSON (BROTHERS, IPSWICH)
Shepherdson was slow across the field but quick between the eyes. A Queensland country representative, Shepherdson led a Brothers revival in 1984 that was the start of the club building up to a premiership four seasons later. He was ahead of the game, always plotting and probing, passing and kicking his team into attack. He was also a gun goal-kicker who could boot a goal from halfway with ease. Very good player.
TERRY SAUNDERS (WYNNUM-MANLY)
A little like Grant Rix, Saunders’ career was over before it really got going. Injury cut short a very promising career for Saunders who was actually chosen in the 1981 Queensland Origin side, but had to withdraw.
COLIN PART (REDCLIFFE)
Part lit up Dolphin Oval with his electrifying running game off the back of a bruising forward pack. There was not much of him, but that was to his advantage when he tried to sneak between retreating or tired defence. Also an excellent cover defender sweeping across the ground.
HAVE YOU VOTED FOR EVERY POSITION?
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: FULLBACKS
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: WINGERS AND CENTRES
BRL BEST OF THE 80s: FIVE-EIGHTHS AND HALFBACKS
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