Intrust Super Cup 25-year team: Best centre?

Author: Colleen Edwards
Timestamp: Tue 14 Apr 2020, 05:35 AM

A strong defensive ability, as well as the skills to create space and opportunity for their wingers to score, are some of the key attributes that make good centres crucial to a team's overall success.

During 25 years of the competition, there have been a number of players who have stood out in this position due to their tough defensive work and their game-breaking skills.

To acknowledge the Intrust Super Cup reaching a milestone 25 years and to highlight some of the amazing talent the competition has helped foster and unearth, fans are being encouraged to vote on a 25-year team.

This team is not an official team, but rather, a chance for fans to have their say on who they think has lit up the competition during its 25 years.

Members of the Queensland Rugby League staff have helped select a shortlist of players for each position.

The criteria for selection:

Players to have played in at least two seasons, ideally 50 games
The ‘game impact’ of players has been taken into account, with players who have made key contributions to winning results
Entertainment value – when they play, does it help bring fans through the gates?

The next position to select for the fan-picked 25-year team is centre.

Intrust Super Cup 25-year team centre nominees

1. Donald Malone

It's hard to name a greater sight in rugby league than Donald 'the Duck' Malone making a break, with his deceptive speed and footwork earning him cult status with fans. He played across the competition with five different clubs, featuring for Mackay, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Easts Tigers, where he made his debut, and Ipswich Jets, where he made his name in the game. In his career, Malone scored 752 points, including 119 tries, placing him third on the ladder for most tries scored in the competition.

2. James Wood

An ever-reliable presence on the field for Tweed, Wood not only captained his club, he has also played the most games. Wood finished his career having played 242 games, placing him in the top five for the competition overall. Also a former skipper of Vanuatu, Wood scored 107 tries in the competition and was part of a successful period in Seagulls’ history that included their premiership win in 2007 and grand final appearance in 2011.

3. Brett Anderson

The first time Brett Anderson tried retirement in 2015, it didn't stick, with the highly respected veteran of the game called on once more to don the Northern Pride colours and help guide the young side in 2018. Anderson, who also played for the North Queensland Young Guns, was co-captain of the 2014 premiership and inaugural National State Championship-winning Pride side and when he eventually hung up the boots, he had scored the most tries for his club, crossing for 77.

4. Shane Neumann

Neumann, who played for the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles as well as Easts Tigers over his extensive career, became only the 18th player to reach the 200-game milestone. A five-eighth during his junior days, Neumann quickly made a name for himself as a damaging centre and won a premiership with the Sea Eagles in 2009, scoring a hat-trick in the final. He also made his mark at Easts and scored a club-record 83 tries in his 183 games.

5. Justin Olam

Justin Olam is an exciting and powerful player whose journey has inspired many - both inside and outside of Papua New Guinea. Olam made his Cup debut with the PNG Hunters where he started out on the wing, before moving inside to the centres. He came into his own in the position while playing with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, taking home the Centre of the Year award in 2017 to feature in that season's Cup Team of the Year honour roll.