Glen Hoppner and Warren Orr finishing the six-mile course over terrain previously only used by mountain goats that would make Mount Cootha look like a bowling green
The Rhodesians are a nation who are very reserved with their words of praise for things which they consider to be the best. Not for the Americanisms such as fabulous, terrific and fantastic, just one simple word covers everything and that word is “Super”.
If a Rhodesian was asked to comment on Wynnum-Manly chances for the forthcoming season the answer would be “Super”. So this year it won’t be the Seagulls who take to the field – but the “Super Gulls”.
With the Woolies pre-season competition to commence this Friday, each and every team in the Brisbane Rugby League have no doubt stepped up their training in the readiness for these games, most of which will be played in a sweatbox conditions and as has been seen in previous years it’s not always the best that wins, but the fittest, and in this department the Super Gulls will be up there with the best of them.
Although the training program has been intensified since the arrival of new coach Dennis Ward the bulk of players had been in serious training since the later part of 1976 under the guidance of ex Wynnum Manly player Kev McCurley and the benefit of this early start is now quite obvious, as one watches Ward put the team through their paces.
As an example, last week’s programme consisted of three-hour sessions on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings plus the torture trial on the mountains on Sunday afternoon. The six-mile course over terrain previously only used by mountain goats would make Mount Cootha look like a bowling green and has really altered the opinion of some players who thought they were in good shape.
Before the season gets under way and the backroom boys fade even further into the background, lets have a look at the people who are responsible for putting the three senior team on the field each weekend for seven months of the year.
THE COMMITTEE
For this willing band of 20 men, no honour and glory (nor $15,000 per year) just 12 months’ solid effort to ensure that the district is well represented in Brisbane’s premier spectator sport.
For them, grand final day is not the end of the year, but the start of the new year in which the public will always expect an improvement on the previous year. Apart from signing players and coaches who will try to top team honours, their main function is to raise the ever-increasing finance to pay these people.
In this day and age, the annual figure of $1000,000 is considered quite conservative and with top players demanding and unfortunately receiving higher payment, the job of the committee men becomes more difficult each year.
To assist President Jack Hansen and his team in this area the club is fortunate to have associated groups such as the Old Boys and Patrons Club. The Old Boys as the name implies is mainly comprised of ex-players who aim is to foster and assist Rugby League in our district. This assistance is not only been beneficial to the senior body, as many junior teams have found a “fairy godmother” in the Old Boys when help was needed.
The Old Boys are running a “meet the coach and players barbecue” at Manly Pool on Saturday the 26th of February. As admission is free it is hoped that there will be standing room only for this function. Anyone interested in joining this organisation is invited to contact Bunny Byrnes, Noel Adams or Jeff Mullins at the Clubhouse.
At training, coach Dennis Ward tried out a pack of forwards that could give the Seagulls plenty of ball possession – in front is Neil Crausaz, John Dowling and Doug Grimwood with the second row being Glen Hoppner and Lew Platz
PATRONS CLUB
Although still a fledgling, is growing into a powerful force within the club and is the prime mover in alterations and extensions t the clubhouse, which have been previously hampered by lack of finance.
Unlike other sporting and social clubs, a Rugby League club is faced with mammoth player payment each year so it is only the surplus funds which may be channelled into improvements to the clubhouse itself, hence the slow, but sure, change of appearance to our premises.
Due to the efforts of the Patron Club the dream of a clubhouse which will be a credit to the district could shortly become reality.
Patrons Club President Jim McCarthy offers a cordial invitation to anyone desirous of joining the Patrons Club to attend their weekly meeting held each Thursday at the club.
THE LEAGUES CLUB
The Leagues Club is the centre of activity of the Rugby League scene and comes under the control of an honorary board of directors. Chairman of the board Trevor Owens indicated that by the end of this season the Leagues Club will have a record membership and will be able to offer members the facilities expected from the club.
Unlike our rich relations in the South, the Queensland Rugby League clubs do not have the financial provided by the ”pokies” so the revenue must come via perennial chook raffles, bingo and club functions. Remembering that not so long ago, the site of the clubhouse and playing field was virtually a wasteland, it is a tribute to the countless volunteer workers over the years who have developed this excellent sporting complex.
This article may not contain too much actual football news, as in the months to come we shall be bombarded from all quarters with some, but if it encourages people to join the groups who actually promote “the greatest game of all” and has given an insight into the running of a football club, then it has served its purpose.
The Seagulls take off for a training run undertaking a few laps of Kougari Oval as a warm up before the serious training starts for the session
ACTION
With the 1977 season about to explode into action the whole district will take on a new look. Weekends will find Kougari and Kitchener ovals a hive of activity, mums and dads will be taking the kids to all points of Brisbane for their weekly footy games.
Local employers always found workers would take a little longer to settle down on a Monday morning
Mondays will find hundreds of clothes lines adorned with the familiar red and green jerseys and employers become frustrated as workers take that bit longer to settle down Monday as they discuss the merits of the performances of the Hornery, Platz, Orr and others, then the prospects for the following weekend.
There is no doubt that Rugby League football now occupies a very high position in our list of things to do for the year, but next time you attend a game, whether it be minor, junior, senior, school, commercial, church or metropolitan, spare a thought for those people behind the scenes and may be one of these days you may decide to pitch in and do something to keep this game at the top of the sporting ladder,
See you on the weekend when the Super Gulls meet with the powerful Panthers in their first clash of the year at Purtell Park.
