Wynnum Manly and Queensland prop tragically killed in Canada

Former Wynnum Manly and Queensland Rugby League player Trevor Niebling aged 30, was tragically killed after taking part in a canoeing trip in Canada.  Australian Police received a call to relay the news from Canada last night.  

Trevor Niebling a science teacher played A grade for Wynnum Manly between 1961 to 1970.  Niebling spent one season at Souths when he moved to West End to take up a teaching post at Brisbane State High School.  Due to district boundaries in place Trevor played for Souths in the 1965 season.

He represented Queensland in 1963, 1966 and 1969 when playing for the Seagulls, he also excelled in cricket where he had the potential to be a state player.  The former Wynnum State High School student could turn his hand to any sport and flourish.

This was Trevor’s third teaching trip to Canada, after already returning twice to play for his beloved Wynnum Manly.  His final season was in 1970 and he left for Houston, British Columbia in this year to teach school in the small rural town, he always enjoyed the backwoods rural lifestyle.

Niebling was a colourful player standing at 188 cm and weighing 96 kg.  He was one of the first players to adopt the headband with the long hair style.  He was a crowd favourite and was very well known in the Wynnum Manly district.  

A Wynnum Manly Club Official said, “Trevor was a gentleman on and off the field.”  “Whenever there was a group of people enjoying themselves you would find Trevor, he was extremely popular.”  “He was a very strong man and everyone is shocked by his death,” he said.

Trevor Niebling one of the first players to adopt the long hair style with the taped headband, here seen playing against Norths in 1969 at Kougari Oval.

 

Story Source: Paul Comber

Photo Source: David Dalzell (Wynnum Manly resident)