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 20-11.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
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, we present the third in a four-part instalment, the biggest hitters, No.11-20.
Part 1:Biggest hitters, No.31-40
Part 2: Biggest hitters, No.21-30
No.11
SHANE VIVIAN
Vivian was a Brisbane Broncos contracted player who twice did his shoulder, such was the ferocity of his defence. “He was not a big person, but was tough,’’ said former Wests player and coach Wayne Wayne Treleaven. “He had no respect for his body and used to whack them. They are the ones you liked. He was a quiet bloke, a typical bushie and good clubman. When he hit them, they would stay hit.’’
No.12
RUSSELL LAHIFF
“When he tackled you it was like being hit by a power pole. He was a big hitter,’’’ said former Brisbane representative front rower Peter Anderson about dynamic Redcliffe Dolphins defender Russell Lahiff. “He had a big, big reputation,’’ Anderson added. Former Panthers player and coach Wayne Wayne Treleaven agreed with Anderson, saying: “He used to sort them out. It was good to watch and I used to think “lucky that isn’t me’’.
No.13
WALLY LEWIS
The King could hit, don’t worry. Actually he could do anything he liked on the rugby league field. Lewis, when he wanted, hit like a front rower. The great Andrew Johns and Lewis were alike in so many ways, and that ability to mix it in defence was one trait they shared. I lost count of the number of times Lewis would wound a ball carrier with a big tackle, then stand over him at marker, stalking his winded opponent just waiting for half a chance to rake the ball back for his own side from the play the ball. Lewis easily makes the BRL hit parade listing.
No.14
ALAN WIELAND
Ex-Panthers coach Wayne Wayne Treleaven had nothing but the highest regard for Wieland. “He should have been a player of the 1970s,’’ Treleaven said in admiration. “One year he won the Rothman’s Medal and The Courier-Mail player of the year but could not crack it for the Queensland residents or Brisbane side. Work that out?’’ When Wieland became available after the great Fortitude Valley club started to crumble, Treleaven chased him hard to make sure he became a Wests’ Panthers player. Like so many good hitters, word went around the opposition dressing shed not to run near him.
No.15
TREVOR BENSON
Benson started as a classy Queensland centre who progressed from five-eight and to lock for Redcliffe where he was a deceptively big hitter according to ex-Brisbane prop Peter Anderson. “I thought I would run over him at Lang Park and he hit me under the sternum and I had to carry the injury for the rest of the season. He snapped me and he could really hurt you,’’ Anderson praised.
No.16
ADAM MAHER
The late Adam Maher was a Seagulls junior who went on to a glittering career in England with the famous Hull FC from 2000-2003. Maher made over 100 appearances for Hull FC where he was a crowd favourite. A tough backrower, Maher was a Wynnum-Manly kid who signed with Easts and then followed Tigers coach John Lang to Cronulla (43 games). One barrel chested tackle at Lang Park on Graham Strutton who, at the time, was the best player in the competition, lives in the memory.
No.17
IAN GRAHAM
Ian Graham’s defensive qualities were summed up in four words by Wayne Treleaven. “He was a smacker’’. The Redcliffe backrower’s defensive reputation in the Queensland Cup is legendary after initial stints with Canberra and the Gold Coast Giants. “He was a great fella and real good club man, and a good attacker as well. But he was a smacker,’’ Treleaven said.
No. 18.
PHIL DENNIS
You don’t go around the rugby league block as many times as Phil Dennis did and not be a tough defensive player. “His contact was unbelievable in the prime of his career,’’ said current Souths Logan coach Jon Buchanans. “In the prime of his career, I don’t think anyone hit harder than Phil Dennis. Chris Muckert was playing for Wynnum and his coach Shane McNally said I want you to run at Phil Dennis to tire him out. About 15 minutes into the game Muck ran at him and he snapped him in half. Muck said: “I have had run at Phil Dennis, so now someone else can run at Phil Dennis.’’
No.19
STEVE CHERRY
From the famous Cherry clan out of the western Queensland township of Roma, Cherry endured a fantastic career in the BRL, including representing the powerful Combined Brisbane side. He was a centre who, as the years rolled on, progressed past five-eighth and into the backrow where his defensive prowess came to the foe. “He was a good player and good, strong defender. He had a quiet, unassuming personality but he was really good defensively,’’ said former Wests player and coach Wayne Trelevean.
No.20
ANDREW TESSMAN
Andrew Tessman was a Wynnum-Manly junior who played 34 games with the Brisbane Broncos during the club’s inaugural seasons in the NSWRL. But it was in 1986, when Tessman was out of the limelight during an under 18 semi-final against Brothers at Kougari Oval, that he let loose on the Brothers pack which included Tony Rea and Jim Stafford. Anyone who played that day or who saw that match knows what I am talking about. Tessman progressed to first grade with the Seagulls the next season before becoming a foundation Broncos’ player.