John Ribot

Equally at home at lock or on the wing, John Ribot was a prolific try scorer and a more than handy goal kicker.

He represented Queensland, New South Wales and Australia, and was inaugural chief executive of the Brisbane Broncos, as well as being the public face of Super League, before helping to found the Melbourne Storm. 

Ribot, a Wests Mitchelton junior, won Brisbane A Grade premierships with Wests in 1975 and 1976, before switching to Valleys.

After one season at the Diehards, he accepted a big money offer from Newtown Jets' backer, John Singleton and headed to Sydney.

Ribot played for Wests Magpies in 1980-81, before joining Manly-Warringah, playing in the 1982 and 1983 grand final losses to Parramatta.

Tommy Raudonikis was going off about how much he hated Queenslanders. I thought, 'hang on a minute. I'm a Queenslander! What's going on?'

John Ribot FOG #23 on when he played with NSW

He made his Queensland debut under the residential rules in 1977, playing two games against New South Wales and one against Great Britain.

He played three times for NSW, and made his Test debut against France, in Sydney, in 1981, after starring in two matches against Queensland, scoring both Blues' tries in a 10-2 win at Lang Park.

Ribot was chosen for Queensland for the one-off Origin match that year, but was forced out, following wisdom tooth surgery.

He played all three Origin matches in 1982; represented Australia against the touring Kiwis, and then toured Papua New Guinea, Britain and France with the Kangaroos.

He returned to Queensland in 1984 to play for Redcliffe, and in his farewell season - 1985 - bowed out in style, with a starring role in Australia's series win over New Zealand.

He played all three Origin matches for Queensland that year, taking his tally of games to eight.

He played nine Tests for Australia.

When Ribot first played for Queensland and NSW, in the 1970s, he was a lock, but in the 1980s his representative football was played on the wing, with Wests' coach, Roy Masters having moved him from the pack.

Ribot joined the QRL as coaching director in 1986, before accepting the post as Broncos CEO.

He was crucial in the formation of the Melbourne Storm, a club which made the finals its initial season, 1998.

Ribot is a Life Member of the Broncos and Storm, and is a former independent director on the QRL Board.

He became executive chairman of Queensland Clubs Management Group, with the Norths Devils and Ipswich Jets coming under the company's umbrella.