Who were rugby league’s best 40 tacklers in 40 years across BRL and Queensland Cup local footy?
Who were rugby league’s hardest hitters across the past 40 years of local BRL and Queensland Cup rugby league? Some of league’s legends are helping us count down the toughest tacklers. Today, it’s numbers 40-31.
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Who were rugby league’s best 40 bone crunching big hitters across the last 40 years of local BRL or Queensland Cup rugby league?
After canvassing an array of past players and coaches, including one current coach, we presented the first in a four-part series. Today, Nos. 40-31.
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No. 40
RICHARD BOYS
The Valleys hardman gave opponents plenty of curry in his career – both illegally and legally – and was one of the BRL’s most feared men. But he was not immune to coping big hits himself. Former State of Origin referee David Manson remembers officiating in a BRL match between Wynnum-Manly and Valleys and hearing a thud behind play. Manson turned to see Boys on his backside and the great Gene Miles running back into position. Manson, knowing Boys’ was a marked man for the punishment he handed out, told Miles on the run that his late hit on Boys was his get square, but next time he would send him off.
No. 39
STEVE CARTER
The nuggety former policeman from the Wests’ Panthers cranked up his reputation when he moved to the stronger Brothers club in the mid-1980s. It was in the 1986 grand final loss to Wynnum-Manly that Carter, playing for the Brethren, hit Wynnum’s Test prop Greg Dowling with the kitchen sink in one of the tackles of the decade. Another amped up performance 12 months later in Brothers’ 1987 premiership win earned him a contract with St George in Sydney.
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No. 38 and No. 37
RAY DUNCAN and AL MURDOCH
Ray “Tank” Duncan (Wynnum-Manly) and Al Murdoch (Brothers) make the list together for 80 minutes mayhem while confronting each other one winter’s afternoon at Corbett Park. The respective props had a running battle all day in one of the great afternoon’s of BRL entertainment. On one occasion they hit each other so hard, both hit the deck requiring attention from the trainers. On another occasion, having revived themselves after sucking on their respective magic sponges, they came together again after Duncan had taken a tap penalty. Murdoch, having just risen to his feet after recovering from a clash with Duncan a moment earlier, rejoined the Brothers defensive line and timed his run just as Duncan was receiving the ball for the restart. Murdoch sprinted up to meet Duncan and whacko, they hit each other with the ferocity of a car accident, flying backwards off each other and, again, into the hands of the respective trainers. It was a wonderful BRL donnybrook and both deserve top 40 big hit nominations for their efforts against each other that match alone.
No. 36
JIM STAFFORD
Jim Stafford’s career was like a comet blazing across the sky. It was memorable while you were watching it, but gone in an instant. Stafford broke into the Brisbane Brothers 1987 premiership winning side and did plenty of damage as a rookie on the scene, launching his long frame into the ribs of opponents. In fact so impressive was he, Sydney club Parramatta, coming off four premierships in seven seasons, made him one of their No. 1 recruits for the 1988 season. Unfortunately Stafford snapped his Achilles heel in pre-season training with the Eels and never played again, but those on the end of his driving tackles in the 1987 season rate him highly.
No. 35
DARRYL DUNCAN
The robust Duncan was a well known ball carrier who was the cornerstone of the Devils in the 1980s. The Norths stalwart was not gym strong, rather footie strong and he was hard to handle when he carried the ball. So skilful was he, he was a target for opposition big hitters but he could knock a bloke backwards himself in defence when he wanted to. Deserves mention in this company.
No. 34
DARREN BELL
The Devils’ 1990 grand final lock was not a big man, but he could pack a punch. Bell is remembered for strongarm tactics against Kahu Tweedie in the BRL decider that year, but across his career Bell could find the bullseye, particularly if his coach Tom Raudonikis had whispered in his ear for an extra effort. Strong BRL hitter.
No. 33
STEVE MALT
“Mousy Malt’’, as he was affectionately known, carried the ball strongly and could cop a big tackle, but on his day Malt could produce a bell ringer of his own. Malt was a great club man who was the cornerstone of the Seagulls pack.
No. 32
PETERO CIVONICEVA
The Broncos, Queensland and Australia front row ironman, Petero Civoniceva makes this list because of his finale season for his beloved Redcliffe Dolphins. If this was a NRL hit list, big Petero would be in the top 10, but his Queensland Cup career was fleeting and at the end of his career, hence his ranking down the list of Q-Cup big hitters. Regardless, the Broncos great still had ample petrol left in the tank for his swan song season where he left his mark with stinging defence.
No. 31
NORM CARR
Norm Carr was a 10 year veteran with the famous Wests Panthers who finished his career with Souths, including as captain of the Magpies 1985 premiership side. He was a renowned cover defender, but FOG Mark Murray insists he could hit. When Murray first came down from the Darling Downs to play in the NRL, one of the first bloke to shorten him up was Carr. Murray insisted Carr be included in Queensland’s bone crunching tacklers of the last 40 years.