The 1975 Brisbane Rugby League season was the 67th season of Brisbane Rugby League premiership. Eight rugby league teams from across Brisbane competed for the premiership, which culminated in a grand final match between the Western Suburbs and Redcliffe clubs.
Season summary Teams played each other three times, with 21 rounds of competition played. It resulted in a top five of Western Suburbs, Northern Suburbs, Redcliffe, Eastern Suburbs and Wynnum-Manly.
The 1975 season's Rothmans Medallist was Northern Suburbs player Steve Calder.QRL Media
With seconds remaining in the decider, Redcliffe were trailing 26–24 to minor premiers Western Suburbs. The Dolphins had the ball and launched a bomb hoping for the best. However, before the ball landed, fans had flooded Lang Park ensuring there was no chance for Redcliffe to pressure Wests' receiver into an error."Best 10 Brisbane or QRL grand finals in past 50 years" in Courier Mail, September 26, 2014 The ball ended up going into touch, ensuring that the fans did not ruin the final play of the game.
Teams
Club Home ground Coach Captain Eastern Suburbs Langlands Park Des Morris Des Morris Fortitude Valley Neumann Oval Henry Holloway Marty Scanlan Northern Suburbs Bishop Park Tommy Bishop Tommy Bishop Past Brothers Corbett Park Brian Fitzsimmons Wayne Bennett Redcliffe Redcliffe Showgrounds Barry Muir Ian Pearce Southern Suburbs Davies Park Harry Bath Gary Dobrich Western Suburbs Purtell Park Ron Raper Harry Cameron Wynnum-Manly Kougari Oval T. Berry Nev Hornery
Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Western Suburbs211605473296+177322 Northern Suburbs211317467346+121273 Redcliffe211308387337+50264 Eastern Suburbs211128390338+52245 Wynnum-Manly2110110352342+10216 Past Brothers218112347385-38177 Southern Suburbs216015331490-159128 Fortitude Valley214116289495-2069
Finals HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Qualifying Finals Eastern Suburbs7-9 Wynnum-Manly30 August 1975Lang ParkEddie Ward8,000 Northern Suburbs15–2 Redcliffe31 August 1975Lang ParkIan Smith Semi-finals Redcliffe22-15 Wynnum-Manly6 September 1975Lang ParkIan Smith Western Suburbs21-11 Northern Suburbs7 September 1975Lang ParkEddie Ward Preliminary Final Northern Suburbs2-25 Redcliffe13 September 1975Lang ParkEddie Ward Grand Final Western Suburbs26-24 Redcliffe21 September 1975Lang ParkIan Smith41,000
Grand Final
Western SuburbsPositionRedcliffe Greg McCarthyFB Tony Obst 2. Michael Flesser WG 2. Brian Gardiner 3. Harry Cameron (c) CE 3. Peter Flanders 4. Greg Heading CE 4. Ian Pearce (c) 5. Wayne Stewart WG 5. Victor Tighe 6. Geoff Richardson FE 6. Steve Williams 7. Greg Oliphant HB 7. Brian Winney 8. Norm Carr LK 8. Ian Thinee 9. Rod Bradshaw SR 9. Rod Halley 10. Henry Williamson SR 10. Forrester Grayson 11. Max Williamson PR 11. Bevan Bleakley 12. Kel Brown HK 12. Bob Jones 13. John Young PR 13. Steve Bullow 14. Bob Green Reserves 14. Chris Mason 19. Carlo Costa Reserves 15. Geoff Russell 20. C Anderson Reserves 16. Peter Leis Reserves 19. Brad McArthur Ron Raper Coach Barry Muir
Redcliffe's storming finish was not enough, as Western Suburbs held on to claim its first premiership in 21 years.
Redcliffe were coming home strong 26–24, but Panthers held on, to win their ninth premiership and first since 1954. Redcliffe won the scrum count 7–4, the Dolphins winning the penalties 11-7 as well.
Western Suburbs 26 (Tries: H. Cameron, R. Bradshaw, G. McCarthy, G. Heading. Goals: W. Stewart)
Redcliffe 24 (Tries: T. Obst, I. Pearce, G. Russell, B. Bleakley. Goals: I. Pearce 6)1975 BRL Grand Final Highlights Wests 26 v Redcliffe 24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBHXh5M4icY1975 Brisbane Rugby League Grand Final https://web.archive.org/web/20060214040520/http://queensland.rleague.com/flashback/1975gf.php
References