Michael Nunn is a school teacher and a rugby league tragic who still wishes he played for the Brisbane Broncos.
Michael, who writes articles for the Queensland Times and Queensland Rugby League websites sent this e-mail to FOGS today, recalling an interview he did with John McDonald sometime in 2020.
We thought it was worth running on our website in light of the passing of John McDonald in Toowoomba overnight.
John McDonald sadly passed away yesterday.
I got to talk to John in 2020. I wanted to know everything about that night (the first Origin game at Lang Park when he coached Queensland to a 20-10 upset over (NSW).
I couldn’t get enough detail.
He was patient and kind with me but I am sure by the end, he must have gotten off the phone thinking, lock up my tracksuit, that guy is crazy.
I never went in the old dressing rooms at Lang Park but I imagine it was cramped, old, and dusty. The noise from the Frank Burke Stand vibrating through you as the dust from the roof falls down.
Queensland Police v New South Wales Police is nearly finished outside.
I can see Queensland’s first Origin Coach John McDonald standing there, in front of 15 Queenslanders, on July 8, 1980, on a cold night in Brisbane. Tracksuit on; that big Q on the side.
History nearly made, feet shuffling, making that sound on concrete, last minute strapping. I can imagine Arthur, Smith, and Reddy saying exactly how this is going down. Warriors who are back to play for Queensland.
Young players like Chris Close, Mal Meninga, and Wally Lewis staring into space settling the nerves or at least trying to stay calm.
“I said that we had prepared well and tonight we just had to do our job,” McDonald recalled.
“I don’t think I said too much, it had all been said.
“We had a very good week and it had gone smoothly and Duncan Hall and Brian Davies had been tremendous.”
“Everyone was excited and then I remember giving it over to Arthur.”
“I was hopeful that it would become a yearly concept and it’s of course grown much beyond that.”
When McDonald handed the team over to Arthur Beetson he had complete confidence.
“Arthur was a fantastic captain; he made those players feel safe.”
Long before that night, John McDonald was Queensland league royalty having played for Queensland nine times, and Australia 13 times as well as captaining Manly and vice-captain of Australia.
McDonald made his Bulimba Cup debut against Brisbane in 1964, his Bulimba Cup days would soon bring him to Ipswich.
“It was the premier competition in Queensland and it was the way you got picked for Queensland,” McDonald remembered.
“You weren’t getting a maroon jumper until you could prove yourself against Ipswich and Brisbane.
“Ipswich was a hard city and they always had a bit of thing about beating Brisbane and Toowoomba.”
McDonald proved he could cut it playing Bulimba Cup and a Maroon jumper for Queensland followed in 1965.
Queensland was in the midst of dark days having gone 24 games in a row without a win.
Then in 1967, McDonald would score Queensland’s only try and Peter Lobegeiger would kick four goals to give Queensland a 13-11 win at Lang Park.
“I was so happy to be playing for Queensland; beating the Blues is nice too. They pinched our players for so long.”
McDonald would play the first of his 13 Tests that year in 1966 against England collaborating with Langlands in the centres.
It would be his second Test match that would show McDonald’s attacking flair with two tries and six goals against New Zeeland and a 35-22 win. A Test made famous by the sending off of Ipswich’s Noel Kelly.
“I preferred the centres but sometimes I had to play wing and you’re playing for Australia so that’s alright.”
“Some terrific players in those sides.”
“Captaining Manly from the wing was a challenge but we swapped around a bit too.”
McDonald would back his performance up again next Test match with two tries.
After three Test matches, McDonald was sitting on four tries and eight goals. A haul that earned him a trip to England with the 1967/68 Ashes squad.
McDonald would play his last Test for Australia in 1970 and return to Toowoomba at 27 years old after captaining Manly in the Grand Final loss to Souths.
Which would then lead to coaching and admiration of the Queensland Rugby League and NRL and a lifetime of dedication to rugby league.
Back to that night in July and that old dressing room.
“I still have my tracksuit, my son wore it not that long ago for a photo.”