Alan McIndoe

A lightning quick winger, Alan McIndoe became the first international for the Illawarra Steelers in 1988, when chosen for a Test against a Rest of the World side in Sydney.

The 'Emerald Express' had suffered an horrendous knee injury early in 1983 - his first season in Wollongong - and doctors doubted whether he would ever play again. But he proved them wrong, returning to the field in 1984, and by 1986 was stronger and faster than ever, showing all the ability he had promised as a member of the Queensland and Australian under 18 sides in 1982.

He was the Illawarra's leading try scorer in 1986, 1987 and 1988, and in addition to wearing the green and gold of his country for the first time in 1988, also made his Origin debut for Queensland, playing in all three matches, as Queensland made a clean sweep of the series. He even scored a try on debut.

McIndoe played all three matches again in 1989, when the Maroons made it back-to-back series whitewashes.

Nine games for Queensland, eight wins. And I’m still dirty about the one we lost!

Alan McIndoe FOG #54

By then he had moved to Penrith, where he played two seasons, doing enough to be named in the cub's '40 years Legends' team. McIndoe played in Penrith's 18-14 loss to Canberra Raiders in the 1990 NSWRL grand final, with the Panthers coached by Phil Gould.

He returned to Illawarra in 1991, and picked up 19 tries in 21 matches, to top the competition's try scoring list.

In one match against Gold Coast, he scored five tries. He was named in Illawarra's greatest ever team.

Following the 1993 season, he took up a captain-coach role with Tumut, in the Riverina.

Although not huge by current NRL standards, McIndoe (183cm, 96kg) possessed a robust build, and was always difficult to tackle.

Alan McIndoe Park in his town, Emerald, is a fitting tribute to a great rugby league warrior.