If your weapon of choice was speed, then Robert Grogan might be the gun you draw.
The Brothers outside back came into grade in 1980 and stayed there for a premiership and a season at the Giants in 1990, touring with the Queensland side to New Zealand in 1987 and playing for Brisbane along the way.
Robert Grogan Q&A
Queensland Under 18 in 1979, plenty of Brothers mates in that side?
We had five future Brothers A graders in that under 18 side, we lost in Sydney 16-11. There was myself, Trevor Bailey, John McGraw, Shane McErlean and Craig McAlpine.
Can you remember your first grade debut in 1980?
I can’t remember who it was against, but I can remember Wayne Bennett picking me and sticking with me longer in first grade than he should have. Eventually he sent me back to reserve grade. We had a good reserve grade side in 1980 and made the grand final against Souths and lost 20-13.
Tommy, Struddy and Muir - you were coached by some good halves?
They were all so different. I only had Barry Muir for a week with Brisbane, but Tommy was great, he was such a character and Struddy was so smart. Tommy was great at getting us altogether. Our battles with Ipswich were great. Tommy and Pat Shepherdson went to Ipswich and Tommy and Struddy were at each other. I was great mates with Shepo, but we used to call out at each other before kickoff and say how we were going to bash each other. Struddy defensively was very smart - he understood how to stop teams. We focused a lot on defence.
You were up against some monsters out in the backs at the time in Brisbane, some great centres.
I was only 80kg, so Mal and Miles were a considerable challenge for me, but it was all about not giving them space. You had to get up and try and take them side on. I found with Mal it was best not to get him cranky, too. Some people took the opposite approach and would try and upset him off his game. I never saw that as particularly smart move. Miles was big and fast; he could reach top speed faster than Mal and would carry the ball away from you so you’d think 'gee done alright there, I stopped him' and you’d look around and the winger is 40 metres down field. I found French hard work too, and Astill. All big men.
You played for Brisbane v Penrith in 1987 - you got to play with Lewis, Langer, Miles, Dowling, Niebling and went to New Zealand with the Queensland team.
Playing for Brisbane was terrific and I got two tries in the game against Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, which we won 72-6. They scored the first try too. I remember that it was after about five minutes and then we scored the next 15.
1987 grand final - what is your favourite memory of that day?
I think it was the days after, Peter Gill had a gorilla mask I am not sure why or how, but he wore it and it still makes me smile. I thought we would always play Wynnum in 1987 but Redcliffe beat them the first week. I always thought our attack would be too good for anyone we played. I just didn’t feel like we would get outscored.
Who is your favourite Brother?
I have to say Clint Mohr, he was young but you just had to put him in a bit of a hole and he was gone. No one would catch him. He was professional before his time. We used to give him stick about doing weights and stretching but he was ahead of everyone. He was studying law, so he had plenty of free time. We all had to work.
One year at the Giants - did you always want a crack at Sydney?
I think it’s something I always wanted to do and I really enjoyed playing for the Giants. The thing that got me down was going to Sydney every second weekend. We had young children and I wasn’t making any money so it was time away from my family, so I was signed for two years but stopped after one year.
Give me your favourite Joe Kilroy story?
Joe came to Brothers in 1984 and we were playing Norths and they were pretty keen to get back at him for leaving Norths. We had to run through the Devils to get to our end and Norths were giving it to Joe about what they are going to do poor Joe. Norths have kicked off and Joe has gone 100m and scored.
