Queensland State Secondary Schools Association 100 year Centenary team selected
Queensland State Secondary School Association 100 year Centenary team selection Steve Renouf has revealed how he could have been a Newcastle Knight. Renouf is one of 13 Broncos named in the QSSSA greatest ever team to be unveiled at today.
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Queensland State Secondary School Association 100 year Centenary team selection Steve Renouf has revealed how he could have been a Newcastle Knight instead of being a Brisbane Broncos multiple premiership player.
Renouf is one of 13 Broncos named in the QSSSA greatest ever team to be unveiled at today’s Queensland schoolboys Phil Hall Cup grand final between Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and reigning champions Kirwan SHS in Townsville.
The grand final will be livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au
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Darren Lockyer has been named captain of a team which is so powerful, Test great Kerry Boustead, Brisbane legend Michael Hancock, Andrew Gee, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn, Tigers legend Benji Marshall and brilliant ballplayer Jason Smith had to be satisfied with bench selection.
The team plus seven reserves was selected by the doyen of schoolboy football Phil Hall, coaching ace Rod Patison, ex-BRL player Matt O’Hanlon, Greg Smith and Paul Canning
Renouf said he was honoured to be in the side after making the 1987 Queensland schoolboys team from Murgon State High School.
Renouf said he made the Wide Bay team to play at the state titles in Bundaberg, and from there earned Queensland selection.
The Pearl also revealed after he could have been a Knight after being approached on the way home from the national titles which were held in Perth.
“It was all about timing. In 1988 the Broncos and Newcastle were starting (in the NRL) and I actually had an offer from Newcastle.
“We had our nationals in Perth and we were coming back on the plane and the CEO and coach of the Knights were on the plane and I got an offer from the Knights first.
“But I sat on that for a while. I also had a couple of other offers, but low and behold the Broncos came in with an offer.’’
Renouf’s centre partner in the QSSSA Centenary team, Justin Hodges, recalled the joy of playing with his mates and then being given an opportunity to further his football career.
“You played with your mates and got recognised as you went on further with your footy career,’’ said Hodges, who played a lot of schoolboy football with Tate and Parker.
“Whether you played for Queensland at secondary schools or at the top level, it is always a proud moment.
“It gave you a massive opportunity. You realised you had a different talent to everybody else. And it is how you choose to use that opportunity.’’
Parker said he came out of a struggling Beaudesert SHS side but the memories “still live with you today’’.
“When you are a young kid, at no stage did I dream I would go on and do what we have done.
“I was very fortunate to have some good friends (Hodges, Tate) off the back of that who are still lifelong friends.’’
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Michael Hancock was eligible for selection in the Centenary side because he was last reserve chosen in the Queensland schoolboys side.
“I was No. 19,’’ the wing great recalled.
Indeed he said one of his fondest memories was being billeted with a family while on tour for the state schoolboys side, saying his mother still receives a Christmas card from the family which housed him.
Hancock said his Queensland team played a curtain raiser to the State of Origin and the school side stayed at the same hotel as the Maroons.
“Those memories are long lasting. I was 15 and mingling with them.’’
Hancock said it was an honour to be named in any team of this century, and this selection was “fantastic’’
Head selector Phil Hall praised the Brisbane Broncos for its support of schoolboy rugby league.
He said Grant Bell was chosen as the team coach, and he and Rod Patison were the “best two schoolboy coaches I have seen’’.
THE TEAM
1. Greg Inglis (Wavell SHS)
2. Brent Tate (Clontarf Beach SHS)
3. Steve Renouf (Murgon SHS)
4. Justin Hodges (Trinity Bay/Cairns/Ferny Grove SHS)
5. Darius Boyd (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS)
6. Darren Lockyer, captain (College of the South West)
7. Alan Langer (Ipswich SHS)
8. Petero Civoniceva (Southern Cross CC)
9. Cameron Smith (Marsden SHS)
10. Steve Price (Harristown SHS)
11. Corey Parker (Beaudesert SHS)
12. Tonie Carroll (Beenleigh SHS)
13. Jason Taumalolo (Kirwan SHS)
14. Brad Thorn (Aspley SHS)
15. Sam Thaiday (Kirwan SHS)
16. Jason Smith (Clairvaux MacKillop College)
17. Andrew Gee (Beaudesert SHS)
18. Kerry Boustead (Innisfail SHS)
19. Michael Hancock (Banyo SHS)
20. Benji Marshall (Keebra Park SHS)
Coach: Grant Bell (Kirwan SHS)