Baby Broncos and local legends named in all star Clydesdales side

For a decade the Toowoomba Clydesdales were a force to be reckoned with in the Queensland Cup. Focusing on the 1996 to 2006 era we have named our greatest Clydesdales side. Find out who made our starting 13.

Toowoomba Clydesdales players celebrate winning the first ever Queensland Cup in 1996. Picture: Tony Martin

The Toowoomba Clydesdales were a forced to be reckoned in the Queensland Cup.

Playing in the inaugural season (1996) the galloping Clydesdales secured the double – winning the minor premiership before going on to beat Redcliffe Dolphins 8-6 in the grand final.

Between 1996 and 2006 the Clydesdales won three minor premierships, two premierships and featured in multiple semi-finals.

Ahead of the 1999 season the Clydesdales signed a feeder club deal with the Brisbane Broncos that bought some of the club’s most promising young stars to the Garden City.

The move paid instant dividends with the Clydesdales improving from 15th place in 1998 to fourth in 1999.

In 2015 Queensland Rugby League named its Queensland Cup 20th Year Anniversary team which featured Clydesdales superstar Nick Parfitt.

Countless other QRL and NRL stars have also worn the sky blue Clydesdales jersey.

Focusing on the 1996 to 2006 era we’ve named our greatest Toowoomba Clydesdales team.

Tony Duggan in action for the Clydesdales against North Qld. Picture: David Kapernick

1. Tony Duggan

A poster received at age 10 (1988) sparked Duggan’s Brisbane Broncos dream.

In 2003 his dream became a reality when made his NRL debut for the Broncos but that proved to be his one and only NRL appearance with one of the game’s greatest ever fullbacks, Darren Lockyer, holding down the No. 1 jersey at the time.

Duggan still enjoyed a career many league players would envy though.

He is one of only two players to play more than 100 games for the Clydesdales and played professionally for more than a decade in Europe.

Duggan scored 68 tries in 115 games for the Clydesdales and is second only to Nick Parfitt on the club’s try and points scorer list.

Chris Walker takes on the Brisbane Broncos line.

2. Chris Walker

Chris, Ben and Shane Walker all lined up for the club but it was Chris who had the biggest impact.

The NRL and Queensland Maroons flyer scored 31 tries in just 20 games for the Clydesdales.

Walker also shares a Queensland Cup record having scored seven tries in the one match against Wests in 2000.

Craig Frawley in action against the Cronulla Sharks. Picture: Adam Gardini.

3. Craig Frawley

Frawley did prefer life on the wing, but his performances for the Clydesdales over 42 games made it nearly impossible to leave him out of the starting side.

The Broncos young gun knew how to find the try line scoring 39 tries in 42 games.

4. Steve Irwin

We contemplated naming Justin Hodges here but his 2001 appearances for the Clydesdales only came about after he was ‘dropped’ by Broncos coach Wayne Bennett who felt ‘betrayed’ when the centre signed with Sydney Roosters the same year.

Instead we’ve named the man affectionately known as Croc.

Irwin, who played four NRL games for the Broncos, scored 35 tries in 45 games for the Clydesdales.

He lined up at centre in the Clydesdales’ 2001 premiership win – a grand final considered to be one of the greatest Queensland Cup matches of all time,

Burleigh Bears’ Scott Cooke is tackled by Toowoomba players Nick Parfitt and Joe Clarke. Picture: Paul Riley

5. Nick Parfitt

Parfitt was the second name on our list behind Clydesdales legend Don Saunders.

He is the Queensland cup’s greatest ever points scorer amassing 1421 points (13 tries, 483 goals and three field goals) in 173 games.

Parfitt is also the Clydesdales’ greatest ever points (660) and try scorer (72).

He also holds Clydesdales records for most tries in a single season (22 in 2004), most points in a single game (30 vs Ipswich in 2006) and equal most goals in a game (11 vs vs Ipswich in 2006).

Parfitt played 81 games for the Clydesdales.

6. Damien Quinn

He played on the wing in the 2001 grand final against Redcliffe Dolphins but did his best work as a playmaker.

Quinn kicked the conversion that sealed 28-26 win for the Clydesdales in that 2001 final.

He crossed the line 17 times in 40 games for the Clydesdales and holds the club record for most points in a season after notching up 258 points in 2001.

Toowoomba Clydesdales Brett Seymour lines up a kick.

7. Brett Seymour

His career was marked by off-field controversy but there’s no questioning his on-field ability.

Seymour was a crafty and talented playmaker who featured in more than 120 NRL games for the Brisbane Broncos, Cronulla Sharks and New Zealand Warriors.

For the Clydesdales he scored nine tries and amassed 152 points in 26 games.

He shares the record for most goals in a game, 11, with Nick Parfitt.

8. Damon Keating

The first of two premiership winning skippers in our starting side.

Keating, who captained the 2001 premiership winners, was a hard running prop who scored 11 tries in 65 games.

Clydesdales (from left) Tony Duggan, Darren Ingram and Nathan Friend celebrate their 2001 Queensland Cup win. Picture: Nev Madsen

9. Nathan Friend

There are probably more ‘fashionable’ No. 9s around but there’s a reason Friend played more than 240 NRL games.

Friend was a reliable, hard working hooker who left it all on the field.

He had a solid kicking game, expertly steered his pack around the field and worked hard on both sides of the ball.

In 53 games for the Clydesdales Friend scored nearly as many tries (4) as he did in his entire NRL career (7).

Friend was one of the first big signings made by the Gold Coast Titans when they joined the NRL in 2007.

Carl Webb was a star player at every level of the game.

10. Carl Webb

Few players were capable of striking fear in opposition like Webb.

The hard running, hard hitting prop played with his heart on his sleeve and inspired those around him.

Webb had a strike rate of better than 50 per cent, scoring 23 tries in his 43 games for the Clydesdales.

Corey Parker is wrapped up in a tackle. Picture: Derek Moore

11. Corey Parker

Parker played the bulk of his career at lock but we simply couldn’t name the Clydesdales inaugural captain and 1996 premiership winner Don Saunders out of his favoured position.

Like a number of players in this starting 13, Parker was one of the ‘Baby Broncos’ who were on the cusp of NRL selection but needed time and the opportunity to hone their skills.

Parker was a solid contributor for the Clydesdales scoring 19 tries in 43 games.

12. Darren Ingram

One of only two players to feature in more than 100 games for the Clydesdales, Ingram holds the club record (131) for most games played.

A fit, determined, hard working player he was an ever present for so long and is considered one of the club’s best players.

Clydesdales skipper Don Saunders celebrates after his side defeated Redcliffe 8-6 in the in the inaugural Queensland Cup grand final. Picture: Tony Martin

13. Don Saunders

Saunders was the first name on our list.

He captained the first ever Clydesdales Queensland Cup in 1996 steering them to a minor premiership – premiership double.

Saunders epitomises the Clydesdales’ spirit through his actions on and off the field as a player and now club legend.

Back in the QRL’s elite statewide competition after a more than decade long absence, the now Western Clydesdales named their Player of the Year medal after Saunders.

Bench

Justin Hodges: A brilliant centre who tormented opposition defences for years, Hodges scored 22 tries in 26 games.

Denan Kemp: The flying winger was good for a try a game scoring 27 in 27.

Scott Kuhnemann: Described by his teammates as a ‘genuine footballer and a genuine bloke’ Kuhnemann kicked two crucial goals in the side’s 1996 grand final win. A hardworking second row who could always be relied on to give it his all.

Greg Eastwood: The big forward was surprisingly effective for the Clydesdales scoring 15 tries in 20 games. His stint with the club was brief but memorable.