Herb Steinohrt: The Gentle Clydesdale

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

Herb Steinohrt

When tackling he had the hug of a grizzly bear.

Nat Silcock, the great front row forward of James Sullivan's 1932 English team, and Joe Thompson, of the 1924 and 1928 English sides, each voiced the opinion that Herb Steinohrt was one of the greatest forwards in the world.

Steinohrt played over 130 times for the famous Toowoomba Clydesdales in the 1920s and 30s.

From 1924 to 1933 he had ten seasons of unbroken Queensland selection - and that only ended when he stood himself down.

His glorious career was crowned with Test match status on nine occasions. He played in all Tests in Australia in 1928 against the Lions, three of the four Test matches in England with Tommy Gorman's 1929-30 Kangaroos and led Australia in all three of the 1932 home Tests.

Herb Steinohrt was born at Pittsworth, Queensland, on 21 October 1899. His father left Denmark at the age of 21 to live in Melbourne, moved to Queensland to operate a timber mill, before marrying and settling in the Darling Downs.

Herb played sport at school including rugby and cricket, showing adept skills in both. His first competition football came when he started playing Australian Rules in his mid-teens. There had been an influx of Victorians into the Tara area, most of whom were working on the land and organised games were regular events. Herb played for three years and developed his ball handling skills that were to be part of his rugby league assets later.

When rugby league started in the district after WW1, Herb was enticed by a keen supporter of the new game to play in a trial match for Warra. Reasonably successful, Steinohrt continued with rugby league - though at some cost. To play for Warra required Herb to ride horseback for 27 miles to get to the home ground, though many of his team mates rode even further.

In 1921 Warra played Toowoomba Valleys in Dalby - the Valleys side was one of the clubs in the Toowoomba competition. Herb performed so well in a beaten side, that Valley's officials encouraged him to move to their club for the 1922 season. After much consideration, Herb left his family home and settled into Toowoomba in an effort to further his football career.

Herb was found a job at the local sawmill alongside many other Valleys players. Starting the season as an outside back, his size and power quickly saw him moved into the forwards and before the season was out he was in the front row.

It was a talented Valleys side that included Matt Heisler, Harry Liebke, Fred Prouten, Nigger Brown, Bob Miebush, Tom Roberts, Les Upton and George Hawthorne. At Toowoomba's Athletic Oval the Valleys side won the 1922 Grand Final over the Brothers club, who were led by future Kangaroo captain Tom Gorman. Herb gained selection in the Toowoomba representative side that season for two games against Brisbane club sides, marking his rapid development.

In 1923 the tip was Steinohrt was headed for State selection, but it did not eventuate - mainly because the standard of players in Queensland was improving rapidly and competition for front row spots was particularly keen. His club side Valleys lost the grand final to Brothers, Herb was rewarded for another impressive season with his inclusion in the Toowoomba rep sides against Brisbane and Ipswich (who were led by 1921 Kangaroo Jimmy Craig).

The story of the next two seasons in Toowoomba rugby league shows a remarkable period in the history of rugby league. The Toowoomba rep side became arguably the greatest rugby league side in the world, and Herb Steinohrt was a big part of the reason for the success.

Herb had developed a dourness and tenacity that made him one of the most-feared forwards on the field - not just for Toowoomba but soon also for Queensland and Australia.

The Truth newspaper reported of his performances: "Steinohrt never gives or asks for quarter, whether winning or losing he is the same relentless foeman. He never spares himself nor his opponent."

"When Steinohrt fights his way through rucks or through tackling skirmishes, there is left in his wake a story of battered and bruised opponents. Never flouting the laws of the game, though living right up to the letter of the code. He does things that turn many opponents ashen from fright."

Steinohrt had matured into a tall, upright and particularly strong man, standing over six foot and weighing near 190 pds.

His tackling style was becoming ferocious, often alone lifting a player off the ground before heavily returning him to earth. All fair play, but hard, frighteningly hard.

In photographs of Herb tackling, his opponents seem to have almost always discarded the ball in favour of self-interest and surviving the tackle.

Led upfront by Steinohrt, the Toowoomba rep sides of 1924-25 were star studded and included Mick Madsen, Tom Gorman, Duncan Thompson and Vic Armbruster.

In the season of 1924 they defeated England 23-20, Ipswich 21-10, 31-8 and 33-18, NSW 16-0 and Victoria 47-18. Brisbane should also have made the list of the defeated, but they found it impossible to muster a side of acceptable quality and no match eventuated.

The 1925 season saw no let-up as Toowoomba again remained unbeaten at season's end: Brisbane fell 30-7 and 22-3, Ipswich 18-13, 51-7 and 3-all, New Zealand 16-4 and South Sydney 12-5. The Clydesdales, as Toowoomba had come to be known, had in one 18 month period defeated the best of Queensland, NSW, New Zealand and England - they stood alone atop the rugby league world.

Steinohrt later revealed some of Toowoomba's secrets: "....success often depends on the unexpectedness, suddenness, and speed of a team's initial attacks. I have seen many great sides beaten in the first few minutes of the game. I remember well how the Toowoomba team in 1924 dumbfounded England at the start of each half. If they don't know your strength, and the dice rolls your way, they may get a shock or two."

Herb gained selection for the 1924 Queensland side but as the back-up front rower in a successful side, he had to bide his time. The unbeaten Queensland side, built primarily around the Toowoomba and Ipswich competitions, went on a tour of North Queensland at the end of the 1924 season. Captained by former Balmain player Jimmy Craig (Ipswich), Herb and his team mates played, and won, games in Bundaberg, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns. On the local scene, Valleys won another grand final over Brothers.

In 1925 Herb forced his way into the Maroons side for four matches against NSW in Sydney and Newcastle - as a lock forward. Queensland won three of the games, before defeating the Blues twice again in Brisbane. Like many of the Queenslanders, Herb thought his chances were high for a berth in the 1925-26 Kangaroos tour to England - and was shocked to learn a few weeks later that there would be no tour, with the Kiwis going instead.

The QRL quickly negotiated a tour of New Zealand for the Maroons at the end of the 1925 season. After winning another title with Valleys, Herb went on the tour and played in nine of the eleven matches. At Auckland's Carlaw Park, Queensland defeated the Kiwis by 35-14.

It was a result that must have concerned the English Rugby League officials, as it was further proof that a Kangaroo side built around the best of Queensland (and therefore Toowoomba) would have made a much more formidable opponent. The Queenslanders mean time suspected the root cause of the "lost Kangaroo tour" lay in Sydney, home of the NSW officials who couldn't bare to see a Maroon dominated Australian touring party.

By 1927 Steinohrt had become a firmly established name in Australian rugby league - he was club captain, automatic selection for Toowoomba and Queensland, and seemingly certain for Test honours - except there were no Tests due until the arrival of the Lions in mid-1928.

By the time Jonty Parkin's English team shipped to Australia, Herb was a required inclusion in the Australian side. Wearing green and gold for the first time, Australia ran out on the Sydney Cricket Ground with Herb Steinohrt in the Test side. Despite Australia losing the first and second tests, Herb held his place and was part of the winning 3rd Test side.

Next in Steinohrt's sights was the 1929 Kangaroo tour. After strong performances in the state games, Herb was chosen in the Australian touring party - and given a week to get ready before sailing for England via the USA.

The Toowoomba community gave the four local players selected, including Herb, a farewell street parade and numerous public functions. It was somewhat of a relief to eventually be on the train for Brisbane. Herb though was excited and apprehensive - he was going from the Queensland bush, on his first long sea voyage, through the bright lights of America and then finally across the Atlantic to England.

When the first test arrived, big Herb was on his own - isolated from the team because of chicken pox! Not quite how he had envisaged his start to the tour. Steinohrt soon recovered and played in the remaining three tests, including the unscheduled "deciding" fourth test after Chimpy Busch's famous "no try" at Swinton. Though the Ashes were not won by the Kangaroos, Herb had played well on English soil and enjoyed the trip of a lifetime.

On his return to Australia Herb learnt that many players and officials in Toowoomba had been courted by the local rugby union in an effort to gain ascendancy over rugby league.

It was put to Steinohrt by the press that he had agreed to terms. It all seems a bit strange given the "amateur" status of rugby union that such events could hold any truth, but Herb soon put it to rest by stating there was no way he would be playing that game: "Nothing doing!" He then added "...and nor will anyone else be crossing over." Herb had spoken - and no one left.

In 1931 Herb became captain of the Maroons and despite the NSW side fielding a host of Kangaroos, he led the Queenslanders to a series win. At the end of the season, Steinohrt led an unbeaten South Queensland side on a representative tour of North Queensland, playing matches in Townsville and Cairns.

Despite the illustrious career that Steinohrt had so far enjoyed, in 1932 it got even better.

He again captained Valleys to a premiership win, led the Toowoomba Clydesdales to another Bulimba Cup title, retained leadership of the Queensland side, and gained the Australian Test captaincy for the Test series against the visiting Jim Sullivan's Lions.

In the First Test the Australian side included five Toowoomba players, including Herb as captain. Before a capacity SCG crowd Steinohrt proudly led out his team to resounding cheers. While Australia could hold the English in the forwards, the outside backs of the Lions were too fast for the locals - even though it was a close result, with the Lions winning 8-6, Steinohrt demanded changes in the backline for the remaining Tests.

Proud as he was in Sydney, Herb was elated at leading his team in Queensland territory at the Gabba (Brisbane Cricket Ground). What ensued made him even prouder as the famous Battle of Brisbane Test unfolded - his team of injury riddled players outstayed the pride of England to win 15 points to 6.

"After the game every player was carried head high from the field," recalled Steinohrt. "I remember, because I was dropped, none too gently onto the concrete at the dressing room door. But it was worth the pain, we'd beaten the Poms!"

While the Lions then toured through northern Queensland, Herb returned to Toowoomba and prepared his Clydesdales for another assault on the Englishmen. In the toughest match the Lions experienced outside of the Tests, Toowoomba pushed the Poms to the limit and the match ended in a fierce 7-all draw. Again the famous Toowoomba was unbowed.

It also gave Herb more cause for confidence for the deciding Test in Sydney, though he admitted to getting increasingly "edgy and irritable" as the game drew nearer. At halftime the SCG crowd, the team and Herb all felt good - Australia was in front by 9-3 and in control of the match. The lead was soon increased to 11-3 with less than a third of the game remaining.

Against the run of play, the English scored a converted try, then from the kick-off a shell shocked Aussie team let in another - the Australians were behind by 13-11 in the blink-of-an-eye. Steinohrt composed his team and led with some forceful runs into English territory, searching for a penalty to bring the scores level. Sure enough, it worked and Eric Weissel kicked the goal to tie the match with minutes left.

Further strong play by Herb and his fellow forwards gained Australia a last minute penalty shot from near the posts to win the game - and the Ashes.

Unable to watch, Steinohrt turned to face the crowd, knowing their reaction would tell the story - they let out a groan as Weissel missed.

The final play of the match saw Lions fullback Jim Sullivan take the drop-kick and he found touch on the Australian quarterline as the bell for time rang out.

But it wasn't over as the referee ordered the scrum. The Lions won the ball and running down the blindside was their winger Smith who broke through to score the winning try.

1933 was to be another Kangaroo tour year, and all eyes were on the experienced Steinohrt to lead the party to England. His season didn't get off to a good start - as a volunteer fire fighter in Toowoomba, Herb had stayed watch over an extinguished fire in a town theatre overnight to ensure it did not flare up again.

Soaking wet from the earlier action, Herb was found by morning to be suffering the early effects of pneumonia. The advice from the doctors was his football career was over, and Steinohrt knew it. Herb announced his retirement.

But Toowoomba coach Duncan Thompson convinced ‘Steiny' to fight back, and then make his decision again. After a month's training in secret, Herb returned to the field for Valleys, Toowoomba, then for Queensland.

With the health concerns behind him, Steinohrt was part of a remarkable event as the entire Toowoomba XIII was included in the Queensland squad for the trip to Sydney.

In the second match against NSW, an even rarer occurrence unveiled itself - the Toowoomba XIII took the field as the Queensland side!

Steinohrt's performances in the state games was praised by the NSW selectors and he was pressured hard to make himself available for the Kangaroo tour. Herb had been given the captaincy of the 1933 Kangaroos!

Steinohrt though knew that his chest condition would ensure his visit to England would be in vain, even perhaps dangerous. On returning to Brisbane he announced that he was retiring immediately from all State and Test football, unselfishly leaving his place in the Queensland team vacant for other aspiring tourists.

He continued to play for Valleys and Toowoomba in 1934 and 1935 before considering retiring, Herb was now 36. But the thought of playing for the Clydesdales against the 1936 Lions saw Steinohrt continue on.

When the English arrived the Toowoomba side included Fred Gilbert and Vic Hey, along with Steinohrt and may fine players. Fearing another loss to Toowoomba, the Lions chose a near Test side.

Excitement was high in the region, and special charter trains were put on to transport fans from Brisbane who wanted to see the game. No one was disappointed as both teams put on a thrilling two-try each performance.

A wayward conversion attempt by Toowoomba ultimately let the Lions off as the visitors hung on to record a 10-8 win. A week later the Lions thrashed Brisbane 35-13, proving again where the power in the Queensland rugby league resided.

Herb Steinohrt retired in 1938 ending a grand rugby league playing career. But for Herb that was not enough as he coached and selected Queensland sides over the decades that followed.

He also took a particular interest in developing junior players, and coached locally well into his later life.

In 1977 Steinohrt was coach of the Queensland U'18 team against NSW at the SCG - a side that included Paul Vautin, Mark Murray, Brad Tessman and future Immortal, Wally Lewis.

There are few men who have left a greater legacy upon rugby league in Queensland than Herb Steinohrt.

Thanks to the Steinohrt family for providing access to Herb Steinohrt's personal archive and to the biography: "The Gentle Clydesdale - The Story Of Herb Steinohrt" by Jim Sweeney (Cranbook Press - Toowoomba - 1975).