Redcliffe Dolphins dream teams: Our best Super Cup side v the best ever BRL team. Who would win?
Redcliffe Dolphins dream teams: We name our best Super Cup side v the best ever BRL team. Who do you think would win?
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At a time when the Redcliffe Dolphins busily start constructing an NRL debut from scratch ahead of its entry into the league in 2023, we peer into the past - and the not so recent past - at some of the ex-champions.
Just as the Redcliffe region has produced current junior talent like Rob Toia, Ben Te Kura, Michael Waqa, Karl Oloapu, Dre Pakeho, Ben Uini and the Pouniu boys, Redcliffe also fielded champion BRL and Super Cup sides.
In this article we name our best Redcliffe BRL (pre-1988) and Super Cup (post 1988) teams.
When it came to the BRL side, players must have played at least three seasons, ruling out BRL internationals John Ribot, Chris Close and Tony Currie.
But we included Danny Nutley because although he had a brief Super Cup career before heading south to Cronulla (three seasons), he was a true blue Redcliffe junior.
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The omission of Currie - who I am sure everyone would agree was a Wests Panthers player at heart - and Close enables two Redcliffe legends - Steve Cherry and Peter Leis - to be the centres.
Another centre contender, hardman Tony Obst, was named in the second row.
In the Super Cup side, premiership winning fullback Ryan Cullen is the unlucky omission while Brian Gardner almost made the BRL side.
Gardner was a beach sprint champion who played for Queensland in the 1970s and was a grand final winger for Redcliffe.
Ourfavourite players from the respective teams were Ian “Bunny’’ Pearce (BRL) and Danny Burke (Super Cup).
Pearce was a thorough gentleman, much loved on the Peninsula before his shocking death in a car accident.
A goal kicking fullback, Pearce was a fixture in the Queensland teams during the 1970s.
Once at Lang Park he famously scored a 20m try after fooling the opposition into thinking he was about to take a penalty goal kick.
After Redcliffe had been given a penalty, he approached the mark like he had hundreds of times looking toward the posts, put the ball on the ground, and as he pulled up his socks he said to the ref” “I’ll take the tap’’.
With the backs of the opposition turned, he ran through unchallenged.
Burke must have been a coach’s dream.
Originally from Mitchell, he was a centre but soon found himself in the second rower where he helped his beloved Dolphins to four premierships.
If he was around today, he is the type of player Wayne Bennett would usher into his 30 man squad.
In terms of excitement machines, the Super Cup side is well covered with flair players Liam Georgetown and Aaron Barba in the First XIII.
The Dolphins BRL flair player would be Mitch Brennan who was a try scoring machine, a class player.
Who would you pick? Please comment or make suggestions on who you would have in either team in the comment’s section.
Redcliffe’s best NRL side:
1. Ian “Bunny” Pearce, 2. Vic Tighe, 3. Steve Cherry, 4. Peter Leis, 5. Mitch Brennan, 6. Trevor Benson, 7. Mark Murray, 8. Bryan Neibling, 9. Greg Conescu, 10. Arthur Beetson, 11. Tony Obst, 12. Wally Fullerton-Smith, 13. Ian Thinee. Reserves: 14. Ken McCrohon, 15. Kevin Yow Yeh, 16. Bevan Bleakley, 17. Steve Williams, 18. Bob Jones, 19. Forrester Grayson. Coach. Arthur Beetson
Redcliffe’s best Super Cup side:
1. Adam Mogg, 2. Liam Georgetown, 3. Damian Richters, 4. Nick Emmett, 5. Aaron Barba, 6. Shane Perry, 7. Cameron Cullen, 8. Troy Lindsay, 9. Mick Roberts, 10. Petero Civoniceva, 11. James Hinchey, 12. Ian Graham, 13. Danny Burke. Reserves: 14. Grant Flugge, 15. Russell Lahiff, 16. Marty Turner, 17. Nick Slyney, 18. Jake Turpin, 19. Danny Nutley.
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