WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name and an image of an Indigenous person who has died.
Lionel Morgan was a trail blazing rugby league player, who earned respect for his achievements, on and off the football field.
Morgan was the first Indigenous man to represent Australia in rugby league, playing two Tests in the 1960 home series against France, and then travelling to England at the end of the year for the World Cup.
A product of the Tweed Seagulls club, he was a one-club player in Queensland, staying loyal to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, where he turned out in 150 first grade matches, between 1959 and 1967.
He still holds the club record for the most tries in one match – six against Souths at Davies Park in 1964. He was Wynnum's captain-coach between 1965 and '67.
Morgan played 16 matches for Queensland, between 1960 and 1963, including games against touring French, British, New Zealand and South African sides.
In the 1994 book, 'Lang Park, The First 36 Years', the chapter on Lionel Morgan was headlined 'Footballer, Gentleman'. He was noted for playing the game in the right spirit; for always showing dignity, in the face of adversity; and for making time to help those in need.
As a boy living on the Tweed, he played for New South Wales Primary Schools, and a teammate was future 'Immortal', Reg Gasnier. Morgan played under-18s for Tweed Seagulls and then first grade for Tweed All Blacks, winning a premiership in 1958, when All Blacks defeated the Paul Broughton-coached Murwillumbah Brothers in the grand final.
He was subsequently recruited by Wynnum Manly, where he quickly made his mark as a try scoring freak, who could also kick goals. That year he also was selected for the Brisbane side to contest the inter-city, Bulimba Cup competition, against Ipswich and Toowoomba.
The following year he was chosen for Queensland, playing all four interstate games. He made his Test debut against France, on July 2, 1960, in Brisbane, scoring two tries in a resounding 56-6 win, before a crowd of 32,644. He was Wynnum's first ever Australian representative.
Morgan retained his spot for the third Test in Sydney, which France won 7-5. At the end of the domestic season, he toured England with Australia's World Cup side, playing in a 13-12 win over France at Wigan, as well as a 15-12 win over champion club side, St Helens.
In 1962, he scored five tries and kicked six goals in a Bulimba Cup match against Ipswich, a record 27 points. The following year he scored all Queensland's points – two tries and two goals – in the Maroons' 14-10 loss to the touring Kiwis.
He almost helped Queensland to a famous victory over New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1960, scoring a try in the corner for the Maroons to trail 20-19. Captain Barry Muir asked if Morgan could land the conversion, after first choice kicker, Kev Lohman had missed with his previous two shots.
"I said, 'no trouble. I'll put it through'," Morgan recalled.
"It was about a foot in from the touchline, on 'The Hill' side, and so I went bang, and guided it through. As I walked back, I heard this whistle coming through the air. This bloke had pelted a can of beer at me, for kicking the goal. Probably, if it had hit me, it would have opened me up."
Unfortunately, NSW got away with a 22-21 win, thanks to a late penalty goal.
Morgan and his wife, Laura were married for 63 years. He never drank or smoked, and remained a role model in the true sense of the word, helping Indigenous youth who were experiencing hard times, while always setting a good example.
When Kougari Oval was opened for its first match in 1967, Lionel had the distinction of scoring the first try at the famous ground.
On his retirement as a player, he remained an integral part of the Wynnum Manly Rugby League community, and his four sons - David, Bradley, Earl and Chris - all played for the club.
His stature in the game no doubt inspired many Indigenous sportsmen and women to go on and fulfil their dreams, either on the sporting fields, or in the broader community.
He coached Indigenous age teams, and was an integral part of the establishment of the Indigenous All Stars concept, being appointed a mentor for the Indigenous under-16 teams.
In 2008, Morgan was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century. Last year he was named on the wing in the Brisbane Rugby League Team of the Century, selected by members of the Queensland Rugby League History Committee.
Edward Monaei, member of the QRL Indigenous Advisory Committee, said: “Uncle Lionel was a great leader, mentor, and elder of our community, an inspiration for many. His legacy must never be forgotten but continued for future First Nation generations to follow."
Morgan and former Queensland Rugby League chairman, and fellow Test representative, John McDonald, were honoured with a minute's silence before the Hostplus Cup grand final, between Brisbane Tigers and Burleigh Bears, at Redcliffe's Kayo Stadium yesterday.
McDonald had passed away on September 13, aged 79, while Morgan was 85 when he passed over the weekend.
