Dan Stains

Toowoomba Valleys junior Dan Stains thrived on hard work, and proved a true professional.

He played first grade with Valleys as a 17-year-old, and in 1984 helped his club end a 12-year premiership drought in the Toowoomba competition.

That same year, he represented Queensland Country on a tour of New Zealand, and also played for Country, at lock, in a win over the Auckland representative side, at Brisbane's Lang Park.

He was part of the Toowoomba Clydesdales' representative team which beat Great Britain in 1984, the Lions' first loss on tour.

The whole week was such an amazing experience for me.

Dan Stains FOG #59 on his debut Origin selection

Stains signed with Brisbane Brothers in 1985, and spent two seasons at the club, playing in the 1986 grand final.

He signed with Cronulla in 1987 and quickly became a key player in a powerful pack, with the Sharks winning the minor premiership in 1988. He captained the club at various stages in the 1990s,and even filled-in at hooker.

Stains debuted for Queensland in 1989, and played four games over two campaigns for the Maroons, two in the second row, one at lock and the other in the front row.

In 1989, he toured New Zealand with the Australian side, coached by Bob Fulton. At the end of the 1989 Australian season, he had a stint with Halifax in England.

Stains played with the Balmain Tigers in 1995 and 1996, and coached their reserve grade side in 1997. He later coached London Broncos in Super League.

His older brother, Ian, played for Easts in Brisbane, and represented Queensland Residents on a tour of New Zealand in 1988. He captained Easts to a Brisbane first grade premiership in 1991, under the coaching of inaugural Queensland Origin hooker, John Lang, who later coached Dan at Cronulla.