King Wally named captain of the BRL Team of the Century
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Wally Lewis has been honoured with a countless number of accolades in his lifetime, but he said his inclusion in the BRL Team of the Century leaves him feeling "10 foot tall and bulletproof".
The Queensland Rugby League History Committee unveiled the official BRL Team of the Century on Friday, August 19, at the competition's Centenary Lunch.
Lewis, who played for both Wynnum Manly and Fortitude Valley, was named at five-eighth and as captain of the side.
He was joined by a number of rugby league greats, including fellow Immortals Arthur Beetson and Mal Meninga, and pioneer players Cecil Aynsley, Tom Gorman and Norm Pope.
Lewis said to be named in the BRL Team of the Century was a "great honour".
"When you look at the quality of the players that have been named in that side - and not just that but the players who were considered for selection - you feel very proud to be selected," Lewis said.
"It’s a great honour, it really is. Not everyone will agree with the team and I'm sure there will be some interclub rivalry taking place around discussion of selections, but when you have a look at the standard of the players selected, you feel 10 foot tall and bulletproof.
"You feel greatly honoured. To be named among the best of those, boy, that’s something that leaves a lump in your throat."
Lewis, who was also named in the fan-voted Team of the Century, said he has very fond memories of his time not just in the BRL, but also growing up as a fan of the competition.
He said his highlight was winning the 1979 premiership with Valleys - trumping a Wayne Bennett-coached Souths 26-0.
But the memories he had growing up are something he also greatly cherishes.
"Every kid that grew up playing club football had a dream of playing first grade footy," Lewis said.
"You used to watch it on TV. We couldn’t see the Sydney games when I was growing up so it was all about following the Brisbane games.
"That really made it a magnetic attraction. You’d try to produce the skills that were on display in your own backyard and you wanted to be as good as that certain player.
"The best advice I ever got though was not to play someone else's game or style, but your own. It was all about living up to the standard set by those other players so wonderfully.
"Really, I owe everything to my father who got me started in rugby league. He played for Souths and Wests and coached at Wynnum Manly.
"He got me out in the backyard and was always there kicking or passing a ball. It was probably the last thing he wanted to do.
"I was always there saying, 'come on, Dad, let's go kick the footy' or 'watch me catch it'. He probably wanted to go upstairs, have a beer and sit down after a hard day’s work.
"But it was the relentless dedication he showed to his kids to see us succeed... I’m enormously grateful."
The voting criteria for the BRL Team of the Century, as determined by the QRL History Committee:
- All Queensland and Australian Team of the Century players who played in the BRL club competition were immediate selections.
- All players must have played a minimum three seasons in the BRL.
- All players prior to the inclusion of the Broncos in the NSWRL were eligible.
The BRL Team of the Century
1. Norm Pope - Fortitude Valley
2. Lionel Morgan - Wynnum Manly
3. Tom Gorman - Brothers
4. Mal Meninga - Souths
5. Cecil Aynsley - Wests
6. Wally Lewis - Fortitude Valley, Wynnum Manly (C)
7. Barry Muir - Wests
8. Brian Davies - Brothers
9. John Lang - Easts
10. Duncan Hall - Fortitude Valley, Wests
11. Arthur Beetson - Redcliffe
12. Peter Gallagher - Brothers
13. Harold 'Mick' Crocker - Souths
Reserves
14. John Gleeson - Brothers, Wynnum Manly
15. Des Morris - Easts, Wynnum Manly
16. Gene Miles - Wynnum Manly
17. Ignatius ‘Bill’ Tyquin - Souths
18. Greg Veivers - Souths
Coach
Bob Bax - Brothers, Norths
Referee
Eddie Ward
Administrator
Peter Scott Snr
