Greg Dowling

They don’t get much tougher than Greg Dowling – a true Maroons enforcer, who first played for his state under the residential rules in 1980, after representing Innisfail-Eacham in the Foley Shield, and Queensland Country.

Dowling also had played for Country in rugby union. He made his Origin debut from Wynnum Manly in 1984, after having toured England with the Maroons at the end of the 1983 season.

Dowling played all three Tests against the touring Great Britain side in 1984, and was a mainstay of the Australian side for another three years, playing his final Test against New Zealand at Lang Park in 1987.

The highlight of his international career was his part in the Kangaroos' undefeated tour of Britain and France in 1986, when he played all five Tests. All up, he played 12 Tests for his country.

The most controversial moment of his career was a sideline brawl with Kiwi enforcer, Kevin Tamati in the first Test of the 1985 Trans-Tasman series, at Lang Park.

Dowling played 11 Origin games between 1983 and 1987, his last appearance the exhibition game at Long Beach California. 

Game II of the 1984 series provided Dowling with his most famous moment in Origin. On a muddy Sydney Cricket Ground pitch, Wally Lewis chip-kicked towards the in-goal. The ball struck the crossbar and Dowling showed the skills of a slips fieldsman to catch the ball and slide over for a try which broke the hearts of the Blues, and set the Maroons on the way to a series clinching win.

It was always do or die when you were picked for Queensland.

Greg Dowling FOG #41

Dowling's early club career in Brisbane, with Wynnum Manly, was hit by injury, and he missed the 1982 premiership triumph. But he was there for the 1984 and 1986 grand final wins.

Dowling finished his Brisbane club football career with Norths at Bishop Park. He was an inaugural Bronco in 1988, signing for the Brisbane club after almost linking with Penrith.

Dowling played 69 matches for the Broncos over four seasons, before a hip injury forced him into retirement. In recent times, Dowling has dabbled in politics.