Brad Backer

Brad Backer earned a coveted wing position in the inaugural Queensland Origin side, a fine reward for a strong performer in the Brisbane Rugby League competition.

A Maryborough product, who debuted for Western Suburbs, it was a transfer to Brisbane Easts which propelled him to premiership success, in 1978 and 1983. 

Capable of try-scoring sprees, Backer also earned headlines with strong performances in the Amco Cup knockout competition, first playing for Easts, and then for Combined Brisbane.

It doesn’t get any better than pulling on that jersey and playing for the people of Queensland.

Brad Backer FOG #6

He made his Queensland debut against New South Wales in 1979, playing all three inter-state games under the old residential rules. He also played for Queensland against Great Britain in 1979, and then for Queensland against New Zealand in 1982.

It was Backer’s big-game experience which helped earn him the nod in Origin’s infancy, and his own place in Maroon history. Backer played in the inaugural Origin game in 1980; the stand-alone Origin fixture in 1981, and the second match of the inaugural Origin series in 1982.

Queensland won all three games in which he played, and he scored one of the Maroons' four tries in 1981.

Backer finished his club career with Wynnum Manly. Such is Backer’s standing in the sport, his former clubs, Wests and Brothers, play for the Brad Backer Shield in the Fraser Coast Rugby League competition.