Photos: Supplied.
The Wynnum Manly Football Club is planning for one of their biggest days of the year, when the Wynnum Manly Seagulls take on the Brisbane Tigers in round 21 of the Queensland Cup on August 25 at Kougari Oval.
Prior to the match, a 40-year 1984 Premiership Reunion will be held inside the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club to coincide with Paul Green Medal Day. Players from the premiership-winning team will be in attendance to chat about their memories of this incredible time in the club’s history. The lunch will incorporate an auction and raffles, with half the funds raised to be directed to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) research through the Australian Sports Brain Bank, in remembrance of Seagulls legend Paul Green.
After winning the first premiership in 1982, the Seagulls missed the finals finishing a disappointing fifth in 1983. The club was desperate to turn things around for the 1984 season and was just about to get the best news any club could receive.
One of the biggest rugby league stories was just about to unfold, with Queensland captain and soon-to-be Australian captain Wally Lewis signing with the Seagulls for the 1984 season.
Once Lewis had signed with the club, Wynnum Manly had assembled arguably one of the best club sides ever seen in the Brisbane Rugby League competition and were able to win every possible trophy including the Winfield State League, Presidents Cup and the Grand Final.
The 1984 Grand Final team was not just one of the best sides in Queensland; it was one of the best sides in the world. The QRL president and former senator Ron McAuliffe wanted to challenge Sydney Rugby League premiers Canterbury Bulldogs in a BRL versus NSWRL Grand Final, however they declined the invitation.
The 1984 side contained nine Queensland players and four Internationals. This side is known as the best team Wynnum Manly assembled to date.
The 1984 grand final team included:
1. Brian Walsh
2. Terry Butler
3. Brett French
4. Gene Miles
5. Warren Green
6. Wally Lewis
7. Peter Dawes
8. Ian French
9. Mal Green
10. Greg Dowling
11. Tony Kajewski
12. David Green
13. Gary Coyne
Reserves
14. Brad Morgan
15. Wayne Bullock
Suspended
Colin Scott
This team played Souths in the Grand Final and won the match by a record 42 points to 8 in front of 40,000 people.
The Wynnum Manly Football Club looks forward to welcoming our 1984 Seagulls.
For tickets to the reunion lunch, visit https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/18f47774-4c4e-4067-b5a1-3c04e5984b7f
