What Brisbane’s potential new NRL team can learn from the South Queensland Crushers
With a second Brisbane team likely to be admitted to the NRL in 2023, the former chief of the South Queensland Crushers explains why it will be a boon for footy fans.
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NO ONE is quite sure what happened to the football jersey which signified the greatest rugby league signing that never was.
It was meant to be worn by Brisbane rugby union great Jason Little when he announced his signing with the South Queensland Crushers for the 1995 season.
It even had his name printed on the back of it. But at five minutes to midnight it was all off.
“Jason rang me around 6.30 or 7am the day we were going to announce it and said: “I just can’t do it mate so he stayed with rugby (union),’’ recalls former Crushers chief executive Darryl Van de Velde.
“He had signed a contract and I was also keen to sign Tim Horan as well. They were the premier centres in the world at that stage’’.
The Little story is one of many which float around about the Crushers, who only lasted three years in the national competition (1995-97) before being squeezed out after the Super League war, but they left a mark nonetheless despite winning two wooden spoons.
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The second Brisbane team likely to be admitted for the 2023 NRL competition can learn a lot from the Crushers, who were introduced at the toughest possible time as rugby league split into two warring competitions.
“We had the Western Reds and Adelaide Rams and Auckland Warriors come in around the same time,” Van de Velde said.
“You can imagine it was always going to be a battle that is why we brought some hardheads like Mario Fenech and Trevor Gillmeister.
“It was not easy for us. We had an 18-month window but all the clubs signed up their players to contracts beyond that 18 months.
“People don’t remember but the under-20s team we put in the Sydney competition won the premiership. I went around Queensland and signed kids like Travis Norton and Clinton Schifcofske’’.
The first Crushers-Broncos derby at Suncorp Stadium attracted 49,000 fans and Scott Sattler, who was part of the club, believes that potential can be milked again with a new team.
“I knew a lot of people who were Broncos fans who also became Crushers fans because they knew they could go to a rugby league game every week.
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“There is a great opportunity for one or both of the clubs to have a dual pass for both teams.’’
“Mario Fenech was so intense. Every training session was life and death. We learnt a lot off Mario as young players. Gilly (Trevor Gillmeister) was this quiet unassuming guy who would cut people in half come game-time.
Van de Velde is adamant a second team can work.
“Without a doubt it can. Look at State of Origin. You can be down 2-0 and you will still pack out State of Origin at Suncorp. People say NSW is rugby league heartland but it is really up here.
“The only thing I am concerned about is the quality of player. I liked the idea of a relocation of a Sydney side but it appears the clubs just do not have the appetite for it.
“You have to make sure the comp is strong. People won’t go and watch crap footy any more.
“Redcliffe to me are the prime team to go in because they have the facilities, infrastructure and supporters. My only concern is Redcliffe is not a growth area. Redcliffe might join with the Sunshine Coast and play one game a month on the Coast.
“Brisbane can support another team’’.
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