Tribute to Mutto, a long-time carnival 'good bloke'

GOOD bloke makes great friends in Warwick over a carnival cricket team.

GOOD MATES: (From left) Brad Mutton, Tony Small, Don Warrener, Greg McMahon and Peter Rutledge pictured in 2011 after playing in 20 successive Warwick cricket carnivals for Bears/Small's XI. Picture: Gerard Walsh

SportsView Column with Gerard Walsh

IT ONLY takes one weekend a year for a player to become well known at a cricket carnival.

That was definitely the case for the late Brad "Mutto” Mutton who was one of the five originals from the Bears/Small's XI who were still playing two decades later in 2011 when I took a photo of the five at the Warwick Australia Day Cricket Carnival.

He was working for Transport and Main Roads at Barcaldine where he suffered a heart attack.

The five who didn't miss an early carnival were Tony Small, Don Warrener, Greg McMahon and Peter Rutledge and Mutto

Mutto played pennants tennis and A-grade rugby league in Brisbane as well as cricket.

He is the only Bears player to hit sixes off three successive balls at Slade Park during an Australia Day Cricket Carnival.

An attacking batsman and off spin bowler, he won a couple of carnival bowling awards down the years and player a major role in the eight Bears/Small's XI carnival wins down the years.

Mutto was just a good bloke who loved coming to Warwick once a year for cricket. For him, the camaraderie of team sport was what was important. He will be missed by wife Jeanie, two children and extended family and friends.

Origin team

THERE was really only one position I was worried about in the Queensland State of Origin team, halfback.

I wanted Daly Cherry Evans in the No.7 jersey.

He showed last season in State of Origin he was up for it and as the 15th Maroons captain is certain to lead the way by example next week.

Originally published as Tribute to Mutto, a long-time carnival 'good bloke'