Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century

The Queensland Rugby League Team of the Century is a hypothetical team comprising the best players who have played for Queensland to form a team for 1909 until 2008. Rugby league in Queensland was initiated in 1909 with the Queensland Rugby Football League competition, which evolved into the Brisbane Rugby Football League in 1922. In 1988, a national competition encompassing all Australian states including Queensland meant that the Brisbane Rugby Football League competition became a second tier to the national competition. Today, four Queensland clubs participate in the national competition while two formerly did so.

The team was announced at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 10 June 2008, ahead of the second State of Origin game in Brisbane. The players eligible for the team are players originally from Queensland and even though some players went to New South Wales and played for them under residential selection rules, these players could be chosen under their place of origin. The team was picked by a team of six judges in 2008 from a list of 100 nominated players. The judges were former administrator Kevin Brasch, former Queensland halfback Cyril Connell, writer Ian Heads, historian Professor Max Howell, commentator John McCoy and historian Greg Shannon.

The team No.Name Position Clubs Queensland Australia Source 1.Darren Lockyerborn24 March 1977 Brisbane Broncos31 matches (1997–2009)29 State of Origin matches2 Super League matches50 matches (1997–2009)37 Test matches9 World Cup matches4 Super League matches 2.Cecil Aynsleyborn1902died1975Brisbane WestsStarlights, IpswichRochdale Hornets, England34 matches (1922–1930)34 regular matches4 matches (1924–1928)4 Test matches 3.Tom Gormanborn1 June 1901died22 June 1978Toowoomba Past Christian BrothersBrisbane Christian BrothersBrisbane Past Christian Brothers43 matches (1920–1930)43 regular matches32 matches (1924–1930)10 Test matches22 Tour matches 4.Mal Meningaborn8 July 1960Brisbane SouthsCanberra Raiders43 matches (1979–1994)32 State of Origin matches11 regular games46 matches (1982–1994)33 Test matches13 World Cup matches 5.Denis Flannery born2 April 1928died12 February 2012Ipswich Brothers27 matches (1948–1956)27 regular matches45 matches (1950–1957)13 Test matches2 World Cup matches30 Tour matches 6.Wally Lewis (c)born1 December 1959Fortitude ValleyWynnum-ManlyBrisbane BroncosGold Coast40 matches31 State of Origin matches9 regular games35 matches25 Test matches9 World Cup matches1 regular match 7.Allan Langerborn30 July 1966Ipswich JetsBrisbane Broncos38 matches (1987–2002)34 State of Origin matches3 Super League match1 regular match26 matches (1988–1999)17 Test matches7 World Cup matches1 Super League match1 regular match 8.Duncan Hall born24 August 1925died18 January 2011Brisbane ValleysToowoomba BrothersHome HillBrisbane Wests24 matches (1948–1955)24 regular matches69 matches (1948–1955)22 Test matches1 World Cup match46 Tour matches 9. Noel Kellyborn22 January 1936died14 June 2020Ipswich BrothersAyrSydney WestsWollongong7 matches7 regular matches81 matches25 Test matches3 World Cup matches53 Tour matches 10. Peter Madsenborn16 September 1901died2 February 1979Toowoomba ValleysToowoomba BrothersStanthorpe41 matches (1928–1937)41 regular matches51 matches (1929–1936)9 Test matches42 Tour matches 11.Arthur Beetsonborn22 January 1945died1 December 2011RedcliffeBalmainSydney EastsParramatta3 matches (1980–1981)1 State of Origin match2 regular matches28 matches (1966–1977)14 Test matches14 World Cup matches 12. Brian Davies born16 May 1930died14 November 2012Brisbane BrothersCanterbury-BankstownSt. George38 matches (1950–1958)38 regular matches33 matches (1951–1958)33 Test matches6 World Cup matches 13.Bob Lindnerborn10 November 1962Brisbane SouthsWynnum-ManlyCastleford, EnglandParramatta EelsGold CoastWestern Suburbs MagpiesIllawarra SteelersOldham, England27 matches (1983–1993)25 State of Origin matches2 regular matches24 matches (1986–1993)15 Test matches9 World Cup matches 14. Jimmy Craigborn1895died1959ReserveBalmainSydney UniversityIpswich StarlightsSydney Wests33 matches (1923–1928)33 regular matches7 matches (1921–1928)7 Test matches 15.Duncan Thompsonborn14 March 1895died27 May 1980ReserveIpswich St. PaulsNorth SydneyToowoomba Valleys17 matches17 regular matches35 matches9 Test matches26 Tour matches 16. Gene Milesborn21 July 1959ReserveSouth TownsvilleWynnum-ManlyBrisbane Broncos27 matches (1982–1989)20 State of Origin matches7 regular matches14 matches (1983–1988)10 Test matches4 World Cup matches 17. Herb Steinohrtborn21 October 1899died27 December 1985ReserveWarraToowoomba Valleys51 matches (1924–1933)51 regular matches9 matches (1928–1932)9 Test matches CoachWayne Bennettborn1 January 1950Toowoomba All WhitesBrisbane SouthsBrisbane BrothersCanberra RaidersBrisbane BroncosSt. George Illawarra DragonsNewcastle KnightsBrisbane BroncosSouth Sydney Rabbitohs24 matches (1986–2003)as coach11 wins1 draw12 losses16 matches (1998–2005)as coach12 wins1 draw3 losses [Redcliffe Dolphins]

Notes

The position the player were chosen in the Team of the Century. The Australian clubs/teams the player played for during his career. The number of games he played at state level for Queensland during his career. The number of games he played at national level for Australia during his career. The Clubs, Queensland and Australia columns are in terms of his coaching career, not his playing career.

References