Almanac Rugby League: Vale Johnny Gleeson, Kangaroo No. 391

 

Johnny Gleeson – one of those magical rugby league names that catapults me back to my pre-teen and teenage years. Toowoomba, Wynnum-Manly, Brisbane Brothers, Brisbane, Queensland and Australian five-eighth (sometimes halfback).

 

In the late 60s I was a boarder at Concordia College in Toowoomba. One afternoon at footy training, our coach, the much admired and respected Vince Klingberg, brought along a surprise guest – JOHNNY GLEESON!!! I have no idea what the connection was but there, in front of our eyes, was the Queensland and Australian five-eighth. I don’t remember anything other than being star struck! Unforgettable! On reflection, given the sectarian attitudes of the time, it was all the more unusual because here was a good Catholic man attending a training session at a staunchly Lutheran school.

 

Born in Chinchilla out on the Darling Downs, Gleeson was a short man (168cms) with powerful legs, a step off either foot, deceptive speed, a canny sense of the game, a superbly honed tackling technique that allowed him to easily account for much bigger opponents, and a totally fearless attitude. But, more than anything, he loved the game and played it with a passion second to none. He played for All Whites, Wynnum-Manly, Brisbane Brothers, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Queensland and Australia. That was about as much as a man could achieve in those days.

 

As Brad Walker writes, ‘Arguably his greatest moment was in the Kangaroos jersey when Gleeson helped a depleted Australian team to a 17-11 victory in the second Test of the 1967-68 tour of Britain to keep the Ashes series alive after England had won the first Test. Deputising for the injured Billy Smith, Gleeson filled in superbly at halfback to steer the Kangaroos to one of their greatest upset wins.’ His captain on the day? None other than his Brisbane Brothers captain and team-mate, the great Peter ‘Pedro’ Gallagher.

 

Such was Gleeson’s prowess that he was consistently targeted by opposing teams using all the weapons of that brutal era. In the current setting, there would have been any number of times when Gleeson would have failed an HIA test and been removed from the field. His face, nose, jaw and teeth bore the brunt of many physical attacks – but he played on and, more often than not, led his teams to victory.

 

My Noosa friend Grahame Cronk had the privilege of playing with Gleeson for Brisbane Brothers in the late 1960s. Grahame speaks with nothing less than the greatest respect for one of the outstanding players of that era. Gleeson had it all, he says – leadership, scintillating attack, strong defence well above his weight, limitless courage, and a scheming brain.

 

Perhaps the best testament to Gleeson’s career can be found in Murray Bennett’s For the Love of the Game (Booralong Press 2015). Get a hold of it if you possible can to read about a player and a man much to be admired.

 

We’ve lost a few good ‘uns this year – Tommy, Sticks, Bozo – and now the great Johnny Gleeson.

 

Two read a tribute by Steve Ricketts on nrl.com click here.

 

To read Brad Walker’s NRL.com tribute to Gleeson click here.

 

To see a record of Gleeson’s statistics for Australia and Queensland click here.

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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