Wally
Lewis: The King
Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

Wally
Lewis |
In
the early 1980s there were those who acclaimed
Wally Lewis as the best player the game had ever
seen.
Others,
particularly the NSW press, portrayed him as a
controversial figure that should be cut down to
size.
A
decade later Wally Lewis had them all in agreement
after a playing career of countless highlights
for his clubs, Queensland and Australia.
Wally
Lewis first came to wider attention as a member
of the famed Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union
side that toured Europe, Britain and Japan in
1977-78.
His
team mates included the Ella brothers (Mark, Glen
and Gary), Michael O'Connor, Tony Melrose and
Michael Hawker. Lewis had repeated his final school
year at Brisbane State High to gain selection
in the team but his opportunities were limited
once the tour was underway due to injury.
Lewis
though was far from a disciple to the 15-man game.
Growing up in a rugby league family, he played
junior rugby league in Brisbane and represented
Queensland rugby league throughout his teenage
years.
With
a Wallabies Test centre spot in his sights, Lewis
continued to play league for Valleys lower grades
as an ‘amateur'. The QRU though decided for itself
that Lewis had no intention of remaining "loyal"
and Wally was informed indirectly that he would
not be considered for selection. That was enough
for Wally to end his flirtation with the 15-man
game.
In
April 1978 Lewis made his first grade debut for
Valleys when he came on from the bench at half-time
in an Amco Cup tie against Illawarra.
Playing lock-forward he remained in firsts throughout
the season and earned the Brisbane Colt of the
Year Award as Valleys made the Grand Final. Lewis
was then made his first offer to move to Sydney,
from Norths.
Lewis continued to represent Brisbane in 1979
Amco Cup matches and against the touring British
Lions, but couldn't oust Norm Carr from the starting
line-up.
He
made his Queensland debut in the final match against
NSW when chosen as a replacement. On the club
scene he led Valleys to a 26-0 Grand Final win
over the Wayne Bennett coached Souths in front
of 35,000 fans.
Through
this period Wally spent hours training with Valleys
team mate Ross Strudwick perfecting the delivery
of 30 yard passes, to match his already impressive
ball skills.
Queensland
finally selected Lewis in their starting side
in 1980 - at half back. Lewis was lost in the
unfamiliar position and the Maroons lost to NSW
again. Ironically, it meant that the next state
game would be the first to be played under Origin
rules.
Lewis
was chosen at lock, the only man in the pack who
hadn't played for Australia. But coach John McDonald
put it plainly: "He'll be the best player we've
had...ever!" Lewis didn't have a significant impact
in that first Origin game, but he watched and
learned much from Arthur Beetson on and off the
field. It would pay dividends in the future.
In
Brisbane club football, Lewis was becoming the
target of opponents in off-the-ball incidents,
in tackles and verbally. He soon responded to
what he was being served-up and the Brisbane crowds
started to enjoy seeing a player with obvious
talent who was prepared to fully demonstrate his
emotions.
When
he took this approach with him to Origin football,
and combined it with on field success, it gave
the disheartened NSW media and supporters a focus
point.
In
1981, now playing five-eighth, Lewis made his
Test debut in two matches against a disappointing
French side. He was the only Queensland based
player in the side.
After
the Tests he was made captain of Queensland for
the one-off Origin game. Lewis then produced his
finest moment in his career to that point when
he turned a 15-0 deficit into a 22-15 win for
the Maroons on the back of a powerful running
game and smart passing.
In the deciding game of the 1982 Origin series
Lewis again played NSW out of the match, but this
time he did it with huge 50m kicks that frustrated
the Blues. He also introduced for the first time
his long passing game that completely mesmerised
NSW and sent tacticians scurrying to devise a
means to defend against this new weapon.
Lewis
was selected for the 1982 Tests against New Zealand
before being included in the Kangaroos as vice-captain
for the end of season tour to England and France.
The
tour was frustrating for Lewis who, despite being
the incumbent Test five-eighth and leading Queensland
to domination over NSW, was overlooked for the
starting side in all three Tests against Great
Britain.
He
came on from the reserves bench in the final two
Tests at half-time. At Wigan in the 2nd Test he
produced arguably the most incredible pass yet
seen in international rugby league. Australia
was down to 12 men and only ahead by 17-6 as Lewis
held the ball outside the British quarter.
The
British defensive line had the situation well
in hand and were converging on Lewis and his attackers.
In a blink Lewis threw the ball 25m across the
field to hit a rampaging Mal Meninga on the chest
who crashed over to score a try.
Even
his team mates shook their heads in disbelief
at what they had witnessed. In one play Lewis
had forever changed the way rugby league was to
be played.
Lewis gained some revenge from his displacement
from the Test side in the opening game of the
1983 Origin series when he lead Queensland to
a 24-12 win over NSW. The Blues were (aside from
Meninga) virtually the ‘Invincibles' and were
completely humbled by Lewis.
For
the 1983 series against New Zealand Lewis was
reinstated as Test five-eighth, a position he
would hold until 1991 apart from injury. In 1984
he was granted the Test captaincy, which continued
on the undefeated 1986 Kangaroo tour and the 1988
World Cup. He was denied a third Kangaroo tour
(1990) after being ruled out with injury in doubtful
circumstances.
In a busy off-season at the end of 1983 Lewis
lead Queensland on a short UK tour, before he
took on a 10 match stint with Wakefield Trinity.
Back home in 1984 Queensland continued their domination
of Origin under Lewis' on-field leadership.
During
the 1984 series the Sydney media finally started
admitting Lewis' supreme talent. They started
delivering the accolades that his performances
deserved. Not so the NSW fans though, they still
weren't convinced or couldn't get over their state
bias (a criticism usually bestowed upon Queensland
fans!).
After
leading Australia to a 3-0 series win over Britain
at the SCG, Wally proudly lifted the Ashes trophy
- he was booed by his ‘home' crowd. A few weeks
later he was back in Sydney to lead Brisbane in
a KB Cup Final win over Easts, ensuring another
trophy headed over the northern border.
Back
in Brisbane a beer company produced a TV add that
paid tribute to Lewis, immortalising the phrase
"he's the Emperor of Lang Park" - the add was
never shown in NSW.
Lewis
continued his domination in State of Origin throughout
the rest of his Queensland career (ending in 1991)
with countless examples of his match-winning plays.
One that most recall as the best, was in Origin
II of 1989 in Sydney. Scores were locked at 12-all
but the Maroons were in trouble - there were down
to 12 men after being ravaged by injury and sinking
fast.
From
40m out Lewis took the ball and made an angled
run in the direction of the NSW corner. Lewis
beat the tackles of Chris Mortimer and Laurie
Daley before carrying Test fullback Garry Jack
over the line. In a single play, Lewis took Queensland
to the lead, inspired his team, silenced the crowd
and stunned the Blues. It was, as they say, "pure
Lewis".
Origin
was Lewis' domain - he missed just two games for
the Maroons in 11 seasons and won 8 man of the
match awards.
On
the club scene Lewis enjoyed Grand Final success
with Wynnum-Manly before the arrival of the Brisbane
Broncos into the NSWRL premiership in 1988. The
push for a Brisbane team in the Sydney competition
had grown on the back of Queensland's Origin success
built by Lewis.
While
Lewis continued to have his moments that silenced
the last of the critics that he "wouldn't cut
it in Sydney", his Broncos team found the week
to week grind too much. However, Lewis did lead
the Broncos to their first title in 1989 when
they won the Panasonic Cup over Illawarra.
Wally
Lewis spent his final two seasons at the Gold
Coast in 1991 and 1992 after the Broncos decided
their future lay with younger players. The Seagulls
gave Lewis few opportunities to shine, with most
games being a frustration to Wally and his fans.
Lewis would create the big-plays, but most of
his team mates weren't playing the same game.
Lewis
will always be remembered for his ability to control
a football game, conjure tries from the inconceivable,
inspire his team mates, frustrate the opposition,
infuriate opposing fans, bullish tackling, classic
cover defence and a passing game that redefined
the sport.
Two of the institutions of rugby league in the
modern era - State of Origin and the Brisbane
Broncos - can be directly attributed to Wally
Lewis' presence.
Its
hard to imagine how different the game of rugby
league would be today if Wally Lewis had not strode
its stage.
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