Mick Neill was a Valleys premiership winner, played for Brisbane and Queensland in a career that etched a love of the Royal Blue deep in his heart.
The goal kicking outside back left his mark in a great career in Brisbane.
Mick Neill Q&A
How did you end up at Valleys from Canberra in 1977?
Don 'Tiger' Tyson was my under 17 and under18 coach in Canberra and was also a former Diehard. His daughter, Donna, was my girlfriend and when Don moved his family back to Brisbane, I followed. I thought also playing for Valleys would be a wise move, so turned up at Valleys and got a run in C grade in 1977. Played C grade and reserve grade in '77 and then made A grade in 1978. I had my jaw broken my first game of C grade and I was working at a servo at the time. I couldn’t talk and everyone kept asking what was wrong with my jaw.
1978 finals, four goals v Wests and Valleys win 17-10 and on to the prelim final and another four goals Valleys win 17-13 against Redcliffe and another four goals. You scored a try in the grand final but lose to Easts 14-10. Grand final didn’t go to plan?
No, Easts had won the year before and were a very good team. 5-5 at half time. We hit the lead 8-7 and then 10-9 with eight minutes to go but Greg Holben scored and Easts won 14-10.
How did 1978 steel you for 1979?
It was heartbreaking to sit in the middle of Lang Park and watch John Lang and Des Morris win another one. Easts were terrific and had the experience of 12 months earlier and some players like Morris even further back.
226 points in 1979 with eight tries and 101 goals, highest point scorer and Wally most tries with 19 that’s handy attack too?
Yeah, I think I was playing better football in the first half of 1980, but as far as my goal kicking, that was my best year. I don’t even remember how the goal kicking started, didn’t really put my hand up for the job, it just happened. It used to stress me a lot, at times.
1979 would have to be one of the most perfect seasons in history, win the minor premiership by seven points, beat Easts in the finals, you get two tries and kick six goals and then win the grand final 26-0 and you kick another six goals - that’s a good year?
It was fantastic, and to knock out Easts was great too. Ross Strudwick took over coaching and did a great job at Valleys, refining our game and adding steel to our play. He was pretty smart 'The Rat', and to have him as captain coach was a tremendous lift for us. Ross would have one of the best footy brains going around -still. Add in a young Chris Close, a young Wally Lewis, combine that with experience like Alan Mills, Tom Duggan, Ian Sommer and Vic Wieland, and you have a potent outfit. Struddy used to say attack with your defence, and we did that. We only had two points scored against us in the finals series and won the grand final by 26. Souths were a good team and the grand final certainly wasn’t as one sided as it sounds, we had won the last eight games against Souths, 9-0 at half time and if Souths score first, they have a chance.
Two games for Queensland in 1980, a try and two goals in two games it wasn’t all bad despite the two losses?
Playing for Queensland was such a great achievement and I am very proud and thankful for the opportunity to do that. Your teammates get you there. Two games before Origin and then I broke my leg in 1980. I was picked again with a four-man bench in 1981 but dropped off the bench when they narrowed it down to two before the game. But I got to spend the week with Arthur in camp and that was a great time. Didn’t get a jumper in 1981 but got a tracksuit which I still have.
If you had to pick your favourite Valleys player?
I love them all, but Ian Sommer was a great vice-captain and probably the only one that could stand up to Struddy. Wally of course, Peter McWhirter was a great leader, Tom Duggan, Paul Richards and Al McInnes were solid and Peter Falvey, Vic Wieland and Marc Svenson were great to be around. We were such good mates; we would train on a Friday night and then it was compulsory for everyone to meet at the Crest Hotel to unwind before the weekend game.
Do you have your 1979 jumper? Or your Queensland jumper?
I have my 1979 grand final jumper and my Queensland jumper, my wife Donna has lovingly kept them all.
A player profile I read said 72kg, is that right?
I think one year I was 75kg, and thought 'gee, it may be time to move to the second row' but yeah that wouldn’t be too wrong. I remember you’d play Souths and be looking at Mal getting bigger every year thinking this is getting harder!
Who is someone that gave you plenty of trouble on the field?
Mal, of course, but Redcliffe were a big physical side, with Tony Obst, Forrester Grayson and company, add the class of Bunny Pearce and Peter Leis and you know you’ve got a challenge.
Who would be a superstar today?
Struddy I think, he would adapt. Football smarts are still football smarts in 2024 and Struddy had lots of that. He may have to change some behaviours to survive in 2024, but he would do it because of how he is. And it goes without saying, Wally of course. It’d be good to watch Wally dismantle the regimented, tight defences of the modern game.
