The rich history of Queensland league is littered with stories and players. Maybe one of the best Brisbane stories is John Elias.
Elias came to Brisbane for just one year but left with a man of the match award from the grand final and a place in Souths Magpies history.
John Elias Q&A
How did a Sydney boy come to Brisbane Souths?
It was my brother. I wasn’t exactly leading a clean-living life in Sydney and my brother is a lawyer and he suggested that Souths and Brisbane might be the best place for me. He rang Wayne Bennett and asked if I could be a given a chance and I was on my way to Souths. Loved it, loved Brisbane and Souths.
What did you know about Brisbane?
I knew nothing, didn’t know Souths had been beaten in the grand final, didn’t know the whole team was police. If I had known Souths were all police, I wouldn’t have come, trust me. It was high quality and equal of anything I had played in Sydney.
How did you hit it off with Wayne Bennett?
I lost my father before I was born and remember when I came to Souths, Wayne didn’t say anything to me for months, just left me alone and watched me train. I remember a team dinner and the only seat was next to me so he had to sit next to me. We got to talking and I told him about my father and we bonded straight away. We were close from then on. I still talk to him all the time.
You start the year in reserve grade, how did you handle that?
I was pretty dirty on Wayne. I rang him at home and I am giving it to him about how I shouldn’t be in reserve grade and I didn’t come here to play reserve grade. He said: 'Can I talk now?' I said, 'sure Wayne. He said your tackling is great but there is another side to the game. From there I started to look to do more than just tackle.
Two Brisbane greats, Norm Carr and Chris Phelan - what did you learn from them?
I learned that you need to do things, not talk about it. Both those men I got on with really well and they were just winners. Tough men that knew their job and did it no matter what was going on.
Grand final time, to keep Wynnum to eight is one of the great defensive efforts of all time.
Forty years next year and I can’t wait to catch up with my Magpies mates. It was a great effort, we were pretty busted, Mal was on one leg and needled up, but Mal is just Mal, an absolute champion. Wayne gave the best speech I have ever heard before the game, I cried like a baby. My prep for the grand final wasn’t ideal, I went to the trots the night before and had a late night, I didn’t drink but I was selfish and I arrived for training an hour late the day before the grand final. Wayne and the players wouldn’t talk to me no one said a word. I assumed Wayne wasn’t going to change the team the day before the grand final. I said to Wayne I had a reason; 'Did you hear those sirens? My neighbour was having a heart attack and I had to break in and give him CPR, that’s why I was late. Everyone laughed, but not Wayne.
When did you think you had it won?
Three weeks before the finals we played Dolphins and won 14-4 and that meant they didn’t make finals and they were packed with stars.
Were you surprised you were man of the match?
I think I was surprised, two immortals and eight internationals on the field and I get man of the match.
Where is your 1985 grand final jumper?
Jim McClelland has it, he was saying he is looking after it. It’s my favourite ever jumper, but I have never asked for it back.
Who is your favourite ever Magpie?
Peter Jackson and Scott Tronc, I got on really well with. I think I got on with everyone, but those two were my favourites.
What was your job?
The only time I had a job was my year in Brisbane, I was a brickie. I wore gloves because I didn’t want to hurt my hands. I used to get made fun of on the site for wearing gloves, but I wanted to be able to tackle on Sunday.
Why did you never come back to Brisbane?
I nearly did, John Ribot came to see me to offer a Broncos deal for 1988 and I said I will think about it. I was keen, but the Roosters rang too and mum wanted me to stay in Sydney, so I took the Roosters offer, but I could have been back and an original Bronco.
