Back Row: Eric Deveney, Eddie Otago, Col Cowley, Jack Otago, Roy Schultz, George Day, ‘Bluey’ Millar, Athol Hogan, Felix Creedy. Front Row: Terry Thomsen, Ivan Clerk, Jack Clark, Eddie Brosnan, Inspector Horace O’Brien (Patron and President), Alan Kirkwood (Manager), Merv Callaghan, Frank McNamara, Stan Edmonds
Sporting competitions have always been an important part of Queensland Police life, and none more so those representing Rugby League. In the 1940s Police teams regularly played games against regional teams in places such as Ipswich and Toowoomba, as well as against army teams. In 1946 the Queensland Police Club applied to field first, reserve and third grade Queensland Police Teams in the Brisbane Rugby League competition but their bid was refused.
In 1947, the very first Queensland Police Representative side was chosen to travel to Sydney to play the NSW police, this game stemming from a rivalry that had developed through the war years. The side was a true state representative squad with players coming from country, as well as city stations, and was captained by 1948 Kangaroo, Eddie Brosnan. Despite losing this match 42-18, the Queenslander’s could hold their heads high, as they were reportedly “grossly double crossed” by New South Wales who did not stick to accepted rules of selection. The NSW team having included four non-police players, all Sydney 1st Grader’s, one of which was an international player. The following years saw many exceptional police footballers playing in both country and city teams. However it was not until the late 1960’s that Queensland Police entered their own side in the B.R.L. competition. At one stage fielding two grades, but could only manage mixed results due to the unpredictable nature of police shifts and the transfer system.
Several Queensland Police officers have played Rugby League at State and National levels. The most well known of which is Malcolm Meninga, the current Queensland Origin Coach. Mal joined as a Police Cadet in 1976 and was sworn in as a Constable on February 15, 1980. He worked at the Traffic Branch, City Police Station and the Police Academy before resigning in September 1985 to follow his football career. Mal played 32 origin games, 13 of which while a serving police officer (between 1980 and 1985).
Other notable Queensland Police origin players were Constable Peter Jackson, sworn in August 1983 who played two games of the 1986 origin series before retiring from the Queensland Police in July 1986 to continue his football career.
Constable Paul Hauff was sworn in July of 1989 and was graded with the Brisbane Broncos in 1990. He made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in 1991 when Queensland beat NSW 2-1. Hauff then earned selection for Australia in the First Test against New Zealand at Olympic Park in Melbourne, when Australia was beaten by the Kiwis, 24-8. Sergeant Paul Hauff is still a serving Queensland police officer.
This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum.
Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street.
“FROM the VAULT – When the Maroons Wore Blue” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode