From the NRL, NSWRL and BRL, league has thrown up some great cult heroes: Who’s your favourite?
From the BRL days through to the NRL, we look back 45 years to some of the most colourful characters to lace on a rugby league boot. Vote for your favourite cult hero of each era.
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From the BRL days through the NRL, we look back 45 years to some of the most colourful characters to lace on a rugby league boot. Vote for your favourite cult heroes below.
From Lord Ted Goodwin, Smokin’ Joe Kilroy and giant Zulu Dews from the past to big Sam Thaiday and Fuifui Moi Moi we cover almost 50 years of fan favourites.
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FOOTY’S CULT HEROES OF THE 70s
TOMMY RAUDONIKIS (WESTS SYDNEY, NEWTOWN, BROTHERS BRISBANE)
You either hated him, or you loathed him. It really depends on whether he was playing for your team or against it. To Queenslanders, he was a rascal never to be forgiven for singling out Greg Oliphant in a brawl that turned the 1977 Lang Park interstate clash. But to the blood thirsty fibro crowd from Sydney’s western suburbs, he was an hero from head to toe. And the same for hardened Newtown fans when he helped them into a rare NSWRL grand final 1981. With cries of “bring back the biff’’ in more recent times, he is a character, old Tommy. When he ended his career as captain-coach of Brothers in the BRL, he put some steel down the club’s spin and it was from the foundations he built that Brothers rose to the premiership after he had gone. One moment never to be forgotten was Brothers second rower Danny Mander taking to the field with blood trickling down his face after, rumour has it, Tommy had clipped him for not paying attention. A character to the core.
JOHN DALLAS DONNELLY (WESTS)
Dallas was a huge front rower for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the 1970s and good enough to play a Test match at Lang Park into the bargain. He was tough, he was mean but for whatever reason, everyone seemed to love big Dallas.
TED GOODWIN (ST GEORGE)
They called him “Lord Ted’ at Kogarah and he sure did some amazing things. He was mercurial but when he was on, by heaven he was on. Scored one of the great grand final tries in the famous first drawn decider in 1977. A 1973 Kangaroo tourist, NSW rep and grand final winner. It was some career and Saints fans road his dramatic career ever step of the way.
TV TED ELLERY (WESTERN DIVISION, NSW)
TV Ted was so named because he was one of the very early cult heroes seen on television. In 1974 his Western Division country rugby league side went all the way to win the 1974 Amco Cup midweek competition which, in those days, was a very, very big thing. It was a major upset and to the fore was TV Ted who, by the end of the knockout tournament, had a legion of fans.
CHIPSY HARRINGTON (BROTHERS BRISBANE)
Rugby league followers have to think hard to recall Chips from the BRL days in the 1970s. But those that saw him, loved him. In his era, he was not unlike big George Rose of NRL fame, a big indigenous man who carried his weight with surprising balance and grace. There were times when he was used as a second half impact player. A real crowd favourite, was old Chipsy Harrington.
RUSSELL FAIRFAX (EASTS ROOSTERS)
With long flowing hair, Fairfax was well suited the bells and whistles eastern suburbs and the Roosters who, just as they are today, were a cashed up show with glamour galore. He’d come from representing NSW in rugby and while Easts supporters – particularly females – flocked to see him play, rival supporters just wanted to reach over the fence and pull his hair. But he was a cult hero, no doubt about it, and a very good footballer.
IAN DAUTH (BRISBANE BROTHERS)
BRL old-timers have to dust off the old cobwebs to remember Dauth, the champion goal-kicker of the 1970s. A toe-poker, Dauth would line-up his kick then, at the top of his mark as he about to approach the ball, he would raise his right knee waste high and then proceed with his stride toward the ball. Brothers’ supporters mimicked this action all around the streets and in parks throughout Brisbane’s inner north.
WHO WAS YOUR CULT HERO FROM THE 1980s
CAMPBELL “ZULU” DEWS (NORTHS BRISBANE)
Survivors from the BRL days in the 1980s will recall the Norths Devils cult hero igniting the crowd with his all-or-nothing charges into the teeth of the ruck. With a nickname Zulu, the bearded, towering prop would be spurred on by the chants of Zulu, Zulu. “He was a gentle giant and a great runner of the ball and when Norths won the premiership. He was a cult hero. The crowd used to cheer “Zulu, Zulu,’’ said Redcliffe’s Queensland State of Origin forward Wally Fullerton-Smith, who played against Dews.
TERRY REGAN (BALMAIN)
Do you know Matty Johns’ television character Reg Regan? Well that character was based around a rip ‘n tear NSW country and Balmain forward Terry Regan who went to places that angels’ feared to tread. When you have Matty Johns designing a character around you, then you are a cult hero whether you like it or not.
JOE KILROY (BROTHERS, NORTHS)
Smok’in Joe Kilroy was a thrill-a-minute, Haley Davidson driving bloke who had Norths and then Brothers and ultimately Brisbane Broncos’ fans roaring with approval. The Norths crowd, in particular, warmed to him. A two-time premiership winning player, Kilroy’s try from the kick-off for Brothers against Norths at Bishop Park lives in the memory.
WALLY LEWIS (VALLEYS, WYNNUM)
Believe me, when there are 35,000 people at a packed Lang Park on Origin night, and 33,000 of them are bowing to hail their King, you are a cult hero whether you like it or not. And so it was the case for King Wally Lewis, The Emperor of Lang Park.
GEOFF ROBINSON (CANTERBURY)
Not unlike Kerry Hemsley who was mentioned earlier, Robinson was bearded with long hair playing for the Bulldogs in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Robinson would run with the same gusto of former Queensland prop Martin Lang, except his charges were even more dramatic because he had shoulder length hair tailing behind him. When Robinson collided with defenders, his hair would spray everywhere. Canterbury fans loved Robo.
RAY ‘TANK’ DUNCAN
And while reflecting on front-rowers like NSWRL pair Hemsley and Geoff Robinson, the running battles of Duncan (Wynnum-Manly) and Al Murdoch (Brothers) were legendary in the BRL. It would be shoulder charges at 10 paces as the pair with rip into each other. Modern day players would be amazed to see what old players did to each other for nothing more than petrol money.
JOHN FERGUSON (NEWTOWN, CANBERRA)
Ferguson first came to prominence when he formed a wing-twin combination with Ray Blacklock under Warren Ryan’s coaching at Newtown in 1980. Newtown’s success in 1980 and 1981 when they reached the grand final was built around tough forwards, a tough halfback in Raudonikis and a tough centre in Mick Ryan. Do you get the picture? Newtown were tough. So the flair came from a brilliant Phil Sigsworth at fullback, Phil Gould’s ball play and two thrilling indigenous wingers in Ray Blacklock and Ferguson. When Newtown folded, Ferguson went to Easts briefly but his career really exploded at the all-star Raiders where he rose, at goodness knows what age, to play for NSW and Australia. Canberra fans loved him and Newtown fans adored him. A true cult hero.
AL MCINNES (VALLEYS)
Big Al McInnes was a BRL cult hero to supporters, but not so much if you were trying to tackle him. A huge prop, Big Al would use his hip to deflect would-be defenders. The queue outside the Neumann Park dressing room formed by autograph hunters would be after Wally Lewis as No. 1, but Big Al signed his share as well, don’t worry.
BEN ELIAS (BALMAIN TIGERS)
Elias was a bit like Russell Fairfax from the Roosters in that the supporters from the team he played for adored his every move, but opposition fans wanted to sledge him. And in the case of Queenslanders at Lang Park on Origin night, they wanted to can him which they did with tins of XXXX in 1988.
FOOTY’S CULT HEROES FROM THE 1990s-2010
NATHAN BLACKLOCK (ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA)
Although Greg Alexander did a one-off somersault after scoring a try against France at the end of the 1990 Kangaroo tour, the acrobatic Blacklock was the original backflip merchant – long, long before Parra’s Blake Ferguson started doing them. In 142 games for the Dragons he scored almost a try a match in the NRL, and celebrated many with gusto. The exciting Blacklock was very much a cult hero of the Dragons faithful.
PRESTON CAMPBELL (SHARKS, PENRITH, TITANS)
A mighty mite who was a real “catch me if you can type’’. Campbell once told me he learned his side stepping chasing rabbits down the creek beds around the north western NSW country town of Tingha. When the rabbits changed direction, so did he, hence the sidestep. Much loved wherever he went and was the man who started the indigenous-All Stars pre-season concept while at the Titans. A premiership winner under John Lang at Penrith and almost a premiership winner under John Lang at Cronulla as well.
WENDELL SAILOR (BRONCOS, DRAGONS)
I reckon The Dell might think he was a bigger cult hero than he really was, but there was no doubting Broncos fans loved his flair and personality. Absolutely a cult hero. He had a big backside, a big personalty and a big desire to score tries.
WILLIE MASON (CANTERBURY)
Played for a few clubs but will be regarded as a Canterbury boy. The Bulldogs fans loved the grunt he gave the side, with a long stride and the power of six horses. Supporters licked their lips in anticipation of a Mason ruck run and when he knocked a would-be defender over, a party would almost breakout among supporters.
TONY MARTIN (MELBOURNE STORM, WARRIORS)
Who’d have thought the seemingly low-key Storm centre from country Queensland would turn into a cult hero, but his orange hear-gear made him a crowd favourite at Melbourne home games. Thousands of supporters would come to ground wearing orange headgear and when he switched to the Warriors, their supporters did the same. Gave fans plenty to cheer about with heaps of tries. The great Johnathon Thurston also had his headgear wearing fan base, but not even he had the number of supporters that Martin enjoyed.
ALLAN LANGER (IPSWICH JETS, BRONCOS)
A fan favourite from the top of his head to the bottom of his toes. Everyone loved Alfie and with good reason. Just like his old coach Tommy Raudonikis (mentioned earlier), the thong wearing Alfie loved a bet, a beer and rugby league. What’s not to like about Alfie?
MARK PIGGY RIDDELL (DRAGONS, PARRAMATTA)
Riddell is famous for arguably the greatest try-scoring celebration of all time when, after scoring for the Dragons, he continued on over the deadline ball and jumped one bound into the seating area. There he sat and faced field, clapping his own try like he was a supporter. Funny man. Was an absolute cult hero when he would raise his left arm and point it toward the posts while preparing to kick for goal. A genuine contender for best cult hero of all.
MATT BOWEN (COWBOYS)
If Matt Bowen had put his name on a list of mayoral candidates on local election day in Townsville, he’d be wearing the Mayor’s glittering robe and have the keys to the city in his pocket. Fair dinkum, this bloke was that popular in North Queensland in his prime he almost needed a US presidential-type decoy in a trailing car with tinted windows to throw fans off his trail.
STEVE MENZIES (MANLY)
Just like Brett Stewart from the 2000s, Manly fans knew the head-gear clad Beaver Menzies would hit a hole off a Cliff Lyons’ pass and cross to score – whether it was from close range or long range. Fans just knew it was going to happen because that event was as frequent as the 192 city bound bus passing along Pittwater Rd. And when it did happen, fans celebrated like they had won the lottery. Menzies was certainly a cult hero to the Brookvale faithful.
STEVE RENOUF (BRONCOS)
The Pearl was a try-scoring sensation who ignited the NRL throughout the 1990s. Arrived at the Broncos from the South Burnett as a skinny kid, but would soon become a cult figure among Brisbane fans. Even to this day, it is rare for Renouf to walk into a bar and have to pay for a drink, such is his status. Now that is a cult hero.
CULT HEROES FROM 2010-19
SAM THAIDAY (BRONCOS)
Sammy would ignite the Suncorp faithful with fearless charges that, when met with defence, would send his curly hair rocking back like he had stuck his head out the window of a Japanese bullet train. His driving tackles would also get roaring Broncos – and Queensland fans – off their seats.
FUIFUI MOI MOI (PARRAMATTA EELS)
The crowd reaction from this popular Parramatta prop was almost a mirror-image of the reaction Campbell “Zulu’ Dews would get from the BRL fans 40 years earlier. Fast and furious, Moi Moi he would ignite supporters with his sheer effort. Was so popular, the well known Robertson brothers musicians from Sydney created a song which is played on the popular weekend radio show, Continuous Call Team.
GEORGE ROSE (MANLY)
Rose played for several clubs, but played his best football at Manly and loved the night matches at Brookvale. The crowd would roar as his grasped the ball against his figure hugging jersey and powered into the defence. For a man of his size, Rose was surprisingly nimble.
BRETT STEWART (MANLY)
The Brookvale faithful knew it was coming almost every home game during Stewart’s career – a try that is. Barely a match went by without Stewart flashing over to score and when he did, he’d bring the house down, such was his popularity. To this day could still pull a crowd if a parade of Manly’s most famous residents was held down the local beachside mall.
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