Post by England 3 Lions on Dec 21, 2008 0:30:03 GMT 10
Reviving league’s glory days
MATT NICHOLLS
19/12/2008 7:57:00 AM
The North West Star
THE mighty Mount Isa Miners.
It’s not a team you hear of much these days, but back in the “good old days”, Mount Isa’s representative rugby league team was not only the talk of the town, but also the state.
Considering rugby league has dropped off dramatically at club level in Mount Isa in recent years, it’s probably hard for the younger generation to believe the city was once considered a powerhouse in the sport.
But it’s true, and some of the former greats of the Miners are desperate to see Mount Isa return to its glory days.
Former Foley Shield great Mel Brosnan is certainly one of those.
The 65-year-old is considered one of the all-time greats of rugby league in this district, and is glad Mount Isa will return to the Foley Shield tournament in 2009.
“It’ll hopefully install some pride back into the players. Give them something to play for,” he said.
Brosnan blames the mines for rugby league’s downwards spiral in Mount Isa. All sports for that matter.
“They used to run three eight-hour shifts, which used to give blokes a chance to train and play,” he said.
“Now it’s nearly impossible for some players.”
Brosnan moved from Toowoomba to Mount Isa as a 20-year-old in 1964 and was immediately thrust into rugby league.
He joined the Brothers, and became a career-long player with the club, playing right through to his forties.
Mount Isa first joined the Foley Shield competition in 1968. In 1969 the Miners won the tournament, where they beat Townsville 12-9 in front of a massive home crowd.
Brosnan, who played in the second row at that stage of his career, said it was a huge thrill.
“There was no greater honour at the time. It was a really proud moment,” he said.
The rugby league legend said representing Mount Isa in the Foley Shield was the pinnacle for all players in the club competition.
“There was always controversy over the selection as everyone wanted to be in the side. We would have blokes showing up at the airport with their gear hoping someone from the team didn’t arrive in time,” he said.
Such was the dominance of Mount Isa rugby league at the time, the Miners played matches against the England and France national teams.
Brosnan was the only person to play in both matches as well as Mount Isa’s first Foley Shield win.
Although they lost both matches, Brosnan said they gave each team a real run for their money.
Now he hopes the new generation can revive the old spirit of the Miners.
“It’s a good opportunity for the current players, especially the younger ones to step up and aim to represent
MATT NICHOLLS
19/12/2008 7:57:00 AM
The North West Star
THE mighty Mount Isa Miners.
It’s not a team you hear of much these days, but back in the “good old days”, Mount Isa’s representative rugby league team was not only the talk of the town, but also the state.
Considering rugby league has dropped off dramatically at club level in Mount Isa in recent years, it’s probably hard for the younger generation to believe the city was once considered a powerhouse in the sport.
But it’s true, and some of the former greats of the Miners are desperate to see Mount Isa return to its glory days.
Former Foley Shield great Mel Brosnan is certainly one of those.
The 65-year-old is considered one of the all-time greats of rugby league in this district, and is glad Mount Isa will return to the Foley Shield tournament in 2009.
“It’ll hopefully install some pride back into the players. Give them something to play for,” he said.
Brosnan blames the mines for rugby league’s downwards spiral in Mount Isa. All sports for that matter.
“They used to run three eight-hour shifts, which used to give blokes a chance to train and play,” he said.
“Now it’s nearly impossible for some players.”
Brosnan moved from Toowoomba to Mount Isa as a 20-year-old in 1964 and was immediately thrust into rugby league.
He joined the Brothers, and became a career-long player with the club, playing right through to his forties.
Mount Isa first joined the Foley Shield competition in 1968. In 1969 the Miners won the tournament, where they beat Townsville 12-9 in front of a massive home crowd.
Brosnan, who played in the second row at that stage of his career, said it was a huge thrill.
“There was no greater honour at the time. It was a really proud moment,” he said.
The rugby league legend said representing Mount Isa in the Foley Shield was the pinnacle for all players in the club competition.
“There was always controversy over the selection as everyone wanted to be in the side. We would have blokes showing up at the airport with their gear hoping someone from the team didn’t arrive in time,” he said.
Such was the dominance of Mount Isa rugby league at the time, the Miners played matches against the England and France national teams.
Brosnan was the only person to play in both matches as well as Mount Isa’s first Foley Shield win.
Although they lost both matches, Brosnan said they gave each team a real run for their money.
Now he hopes the new generation can revive the old spirit of the Miners.
“It’s a good opportunity for the current players, especially the younger ones to step up and aim to represent