GPS First XV Rugby: McReight – another BGS Wallaby captain?
Brisbane Grammar School has seven Wallaby captains – but could they have another in Fraser McReight? We answer that question, while reflecting on BGS’s greatest First XV players.
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No other GPS rugby school has produced more Wallaby captains than Brisbane Grammar School.
They have seven on the honour board, plus an English captain LG Brown who led his adopted nation in three Tests.
But could this most famous of famous Wallaby nurseries produce another Test captain? GPS school doyen Ron Cochrane says yes.
“Fraser McReight has that indefinable presence,’’ Cochrane said. “He captained the 13As, the 14s, the 15s and the Firsts. And captained the Australian 20s to the under 20 World Cup.
“He is one of those guys passionate about the team doing well and has those leadership qualities.
“He is still a young guy and he has things to learn, but he has all the attributes.’’
This from a man, Cochrane, who once predicted Stephen Moore would play for the Wallabies by age 20 – and end up as captain. “Fraser is a bit like Stephen Moore – they know what is required and how to get the job done. Some guys have that aura about them and he has got that’’
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An old boy from 2017, McReight is a modern day marvel of BGS. But who is BGS’s greatest player – and who is the best of the rest?
We have asked this question in recent days in relation to Nudgee, Terrace and Churchie.
How can you split Tom Lawton Sr, Stephen Moore, Dick Marks, Andy McIntyre Alex Evans and Chills Wilson as BGS’s greatest?
My gut feeling is Moore, but how can you single him out when you have such a high class field to choose from?
Look at what Evans did on and off the field at Grammar, McIntyre was the best player in his position in the world, Marks was a sensation on the field and an innovator off it.
But Moore, with 129 Test caps, my goodness, it is a record.
Regardless, let’s enjoy this trip down memory lane.
OTTO NOTHLING
Otto Nothling goes straight to the head of the class as a Brisbane Grammar School immortal.Only one person can boast they replaced Sir Donald Bradman in the Australian cricket Test team – Otto Nothling.
The extraordinary turn of events came in 1928-29 when Bradman was dropped for the first and only time from the Australian side.
But the outstanding cricket all-rounder was an even better rugby fullback, playing in 19 Tests between 1921 and 1924.
He was a magnificent defender and astute tactical kicker, who also play centre and kick goals – the complete package really.
TOM LAWTON
The great Ron Cochrane has often said former Test cricketer David Ogilvie was BGS’s greatest athlete he saw.
Indeed former Wallaby and BGS First XV coach Alan Jones referred to Ogilvie as human’s equal to Tobin Bronze, the great Melbourne Cup winner.
But Tom Lawton senior and Otto Nothling would be in the greatest ever sportsman debate.
Lawton was a Firsts rugby, cricket, rower and tennis player – who was also a track and field champion.
The grandfather of the legendary Queensland hooker Tom Lawton, Lawton senior then went on to play 44 Tests. Unlike his grandson, a huge, mobile hooker, Lawton senior was a lovely ball playing fly half.
Another outstanding BGS prop who did not rise to Wallaby honours, but who was an outstanding club and provincial prop of his era, was Bruce Davies who deserves recognition.
DICK MARKS
Marks is a Queensland and Wallaby great, and one of the finest coaching minds of his time.
But did you know he was also one of the country’s great after dinner speakers?
For decades his dry wit entertained the port drinking rugby old boys, meandering stories which moved slowly, all the while having different sections of the rooms chuckling before delivering a punch line which would have the function in an uproar.
All this from one of our finest centres, a 17 Test veteran who was a fixture in the Wallaby squad throughout the 1960s.
Indeed he was a great coaching innovator and many an aspiring club coach or player knocked on his door for advice.
STEPHEN MOORE
With 129 Test caps in his cupboard, the bloke is a living legend.
He was an elite schoolboy who learned his craft in two Australian under 21 campaigns before playing in his first Test in 2005, before growing in statue to establish himself as the Wallabies’ first choice hooker in 2008 when he played all 14 Tests.
By 2014 the rugged, mobile Moore he was the Australian captain and by the end of his career he had overseen 97 Wallaby victories, an extraordinary achievement.
ANDY McINTRYE
There is no argument McIntyre was the finest tighthead prop of the 1980s.
Blooded on a gruelling tour of New Zealand in 1980, he was a quick learner who played a key role in the Wallabies famous 1984 Grand Slam clean sweep.
Was there a more satisfying moment on that remarkable tour than seeing the Wallaby eight push the Welsh scrum backwards on the way to scoringat Cardiff Arms Park? No.
And McIntyre was in the thick of that extraordinary moment that silenced the singing crowd.
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CAMERON LILLICRAP
If Any McIntyre was the best tight-head, it could be argued his club (University) and schoolboy Cameron Lillicrap was the most gifted loose-head.
He was a wonderful scrummager and mauler who swept off possession won by tall timber in the lineout.
He was at his best against NSW, and only injury prevented him playing more than seven Tests.
Fortunately for Queensland, upon his retirement, he became the squad’s physio, but he was also a coach and mentor to old and new players alike.
He is currently part of Phil Mooney’s First XV coaching staff.
Mooney, although not rising to representative honours, deserves a mention as an outstanding, matchwinning fly half with the Wests Bulldogs under the coaching of Alex Evans in the 1980s.
ALEX EVANS
A great mate of Dick Marks, Evans was the original captain courageous.
He was a remarkable leader, a tough, unrelenting type who was intimidated by no one.
He played with injury, and he caused injury across 11 seasons wearing the Queensland jumper.
The joy it must have given him to see, just three years after his retirement, Queensland emerge to thump New South Wales in 1976 and go on to become the best provincial rugby team in the world.
Evans was also an elite coach, and the mastermind of the 1984 Grand Slam clean sweep when he was assistant to Alan Jones, and a magnificent coach at Brisbane Grammar School and the Souths Magpies.
Alex, who also answers to Alec, remains to this day one of the great rugby minds – and one of Queensland’s finest ever.
JULIAN GARDNER
A veteran of four-Tests for the Wallabies and 20 for Italy, Gardner was a fierce backrower who took his game to another level under the legendary Alex Evans at both school and club level.
An excellent third lineout option for his hookers, Gardner’s aggression was well suited to the 15-a-man game, but he was also skilful enough and fast enough to play 7s.
DAVID NUCIFORA
They say good things come to those that wait, and so it was the case with University stalwart David Nucifora.A hooker, he found himself pinned behind Tom Lawton and Mark McBain when the Queensland selectors met to discuss team selection.
But the gritty University No.2 was a defiant soul who was consistency and reliability in the rough and tumble front row was renowned.
He represented Queensland aged 27, and then the Wallabies in 1991 when, mercifully, the national selectors rewarded his stellar efforts for Queensland in provincial rugby when he was named for the World Cup touring squad.
GREG MARTIN
Courage was the cornerstone of Greg Martin’s senior career, with the tall fullback bravely standing his ground despite the approaching danger of thunderous opposition forwards. He could also kick his team out of trouble, launching his towering left foot kicks down field in a thank you for the efforts of his hard working forwards. But devotees of schoolboy rugby will also remember Martin as a wonderful ball-playing centre with quick hands and vision.
BILL ROSS
Yet another Wallaby from the Brisbane Grammar School stable, Ross was an outstanding Queensland hooker and dependable campaigner for Australia who saved the Wallabies bacon with a famous scrum win against the feed in 1979. Indeed Ross’ as a rake he had no peer in that era, and even though Chris Carberry and Peter Horton moved to Queensland as challengers. Ross also had the distinction of actually having the wood on the mighty All Blacks in the season of 1980. Firstly, he helped Queensland to a historic victory over New Zealand, and then helped Australia claim the 1980 Bledisloe Cup series.
GUY SANDERS
Sanders is arguably BGS’s greatest No.9, edging out the highly rated Ross Finnamore.
A Queensland representative, Sanders could carry the ball forward in heavy traffic if he received dirty ball from his pack, or fling it wide with style and skill if it had been presented on a platter.
GRAHAM NOON
Noon is revered within the hallways of Brisbane Grammar School – and it is little wonder.A player with silken handling skills, attacking vision and a booming kick, Noon was a schoolboy prodigy who progressed from captaining the 1973 Australian schoolboys into the Queensland team. He could play fly half with ease, but was best suited in the Queensland side as a fullback where he performed with distinction before ultimately being squeezed out by two greats – Paul McLean and Roger Gould. But he was so highly thought of, 1984 Wallaby coach Alan Jones tried to lure him out of retirement with a promise of taking him on the Grand Slam tour.
CHILLA WILSON
One of BGS’s seven Wallaby captains, Wilson was in the true tradition of brave Queensland flankers who put their bodies where others did not dare. Capped four times, his career spanned the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, but his playing career was only a part of the story.
Firstly as a coach at Wests Bulldogs, Wilson gave back to the code before becoming a club, state and Wallaby manager, including on the tour to New Zealand (1982), Europe (1983) and the famous ‘Grand Slam’ tour of 1984.
ROB LAWTON
The grandson of the legendary Tom Lawton senior, and the brother of Wallaby hooking great Tom junior, Rob was an outstanding prop who etched out a career to be proud of.
This included a golden 1988 season when, on Test debut at Ballymore, he was one of the stories of the match as a home grown kid helping down the might of England.
The loose head prop also played twice against the All Blacks, and helped the Wallabies to a rousing win over Scotland at Murrayfield.
BOB McCOWEN
Bob McCowan was Brisbane Grammar School’s first Wallaby captain, achieving the honour against Britain just before the turn of the century 1899. It was the same year the bicycle frame was created, and the first motor-driven vacuum cleaner was used.McCowan was an elite player of his era, with speed and subtle handling skills that could turn defence into attack – as a fullback, centre or winger.
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FRANK NICHOLSON
A Queensland teammate of Bob McCowen (mentioned above), Frank Nicholson is yet another Wallaby captain (1904).
A dairy farmer from Herston, just over the ridge from Brisbane Grammar School, he was a rugged forward who played 13 matches for Queensland – which was a lot in that era.
Capped twice for the Wallabies, Nicholson may have played more had he not enlisted to fight in the Boer War (1989-1092).
GORDON McGHIE
Another grand old-timer from the 1920s, McGhie drew the short straw when it came to playing in Tests – all three caps were against either the British Lions and the All Blacks.
He is so highly thought of at Brisbane Grammar School, there is an honour board named in his honour.
KEITH WINNING
Winning by name, a winner by nature, Keith Winning has the rare distinction of captaining his country in his Test debut – and never playing another Test.
A flanker, he led Australia in 1951 when New Zealand defeated the Wallabies 8-0.
From the GPS club, he was a teenage sensation who first played for Queensland aged just 19 years.
MITCHELL CHAPMAN and TOM MURDAY
Two outstanding BGS old boys – both locks who while never playing in a Test match, were elite footballers in their position.
Chapman got close – he sat on the bench for a Wallaby Test against Ireland but never got on the field.
Murday was a raw-boned country boy who absorbed the training at BGS which helped transform him into an outstanding provincial player.
Originally published as GPS First XV Rugby: McReight – another BGS Wallaby captain?
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