Queensland Country again a force in rugby league

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 15

Queensland Country again a force in rugby league

By

JOHN COFFEY

Queensland Country, no longer the poor relation of Australian rugby league, will try to continue a spectacular resurgence when it meets South Island at the Show Grounds tomorrow. Only a few months ago the image of the code in the rural districts of Queensland was very low. From Townsville to Toowoomba, Mackay to Mt Isa, there was lingering embarrassment at Country’s 78-4 loss to the Sydney club, ManlyWarringah, in a 1983 KB Cup match. Officials moved swiftly to ensure there would be no repetition, and they have been rewarded with a series of stunning results already this season.

North Queensland became the first country combination to qualify for the semifinals of the Queensland State League, finishing third and ahead of six of the Brisbane clubs. Toowoomba was also in sight of the top four, Central Queensland, Ipswich and Wide Bay had their successors, and only Gold Coast went without a win. Individually, the Country players attracted the attention of spectators and, no doubt, the ever-alert talent scouts of the big city sides. One Country wing, Dale Shearer, was the top tryscorer, and another Steve Gibson, was equal second with the Kangaroo centre, Gene Miles. Col Lindenberg,

the Country scrum-half, was the prolific goal-kicker.

It was with some confidence, and a whole new team from last year, that Country encountered Auckland in the preliminary round of the National Panasonic Cup tournament nine days ago. Four tries by the outside backs, a solid forward effort, accurate kicking by Lindenberg and, ultimately, a field goal by Robert Tew provided Country with a 2518 victory. When the present tour was arranged — Country has a rematch with Auckland next Wednesday night and a game against Northern Districts at Rotorua on June 2— it was probably looked up Country administrators as a stepping stone towards higher standards. But Country has achieved a place of prominence ahead of schedule, and will be using the fixtures in New Zealand as preparation for its next cup commitment. It has been drawn against Sydney Eastern Suburbs in Sydney on June 6. Not only did Country find a whole new representative squad from its vast hinterland, it also enlisted the services of a coach from outside its own domain. Alan Fitzgibbon, a former Balmain (Sydney) forward who coached Illawarra during its first two seasons in the Sydney premiership, has taken leave from his work as manager of the Wollongong Leagues Club to guide Country this season. Another boost for Country was the transfer of the 1982 Kangaroo hooker, Greg Conescu, from Brisbane to Central Queensland, and a statewide search for youthful talent has reaped a rich harvest.

The high-scoring deeds of Shearer, aged 18, and Gibson, 21, caught the imagination even of the hard-nosed Brisfane media during the Statr League. Shearer has been burdened by compari-

sons with Kerry Boustead — not surprisingly, for Boustead was of similar age and also from North Queensland when he made his Australian debut against the 1978 Kiwis — but seems to have survived them. A former state age-group sprint champion, Shearer has also played representative baseball. Gibson, whose club is the exotically named AlloraClifton Wattles, was a 1.60 m scrum-half just two years ago. Now he is a 1.91 m wing with a memorable first State League campaign behind him.

The first-choice full-back, Peter Gill, 20, claimed two tries against Auckland, and he and Lindenburg, 21, have had some experience of New Zealand conditions as members of Darling Downs junior teams. Lindenberg spent last winter with Brisbane Easts and is an astute tactical kicker.

Tew, a 22-year-old standoff half, captained Queensland secondary schools and was named in an Australian merit side. A club-mate of Gibson, Tew has a fine understanding with Lindenberg. The centres against Auckland, Harry Deemal (Cairns) and Robert Armstrong (Gold Coast), are from opposite ends of the state. Deemal was for five seasons in the contradictory situation of being the only coloured player in the Nambour All Whites club team, and the Queensland-born Armstrong has played for New South Wales schoolboys and spent some time alongside tbe Kangaroo centre, Mai Meninga, with Brisbane Souths.

Country is captained by a former Queensland prop, Marshall Colwell, who, at 28, is the senior member of the squad. Both Colwell and another front-rower, Neil Cullagh, have bad tqgms in Brisbane. Of the younger forwards.

the progress of Les Morrissey, 18, and Danny Stains, 19, will be monitored carefully by the touring management. Morrissey was originally a reserve for North Queensland and had a rapid rise through tbe rankings when given his chance, while Stains’s promise has already drawn the interest

of clubs in his home city, Toowoomba, and from Brisbane Valleys and North Sydney. By nature, Country teams from Australia favour an open style of football. This particular team is well equipped to maintain that tradition.