The humble rugby tie has largely disappeared as a rugby tradition yet this old-school icon had a key role in the drought-breaking triumph of the Queensland Country Heelers.
The spin-offs are ongoing from the Heelers’ 31-19 victory over arch-rivals NSW Country in Caloundra to claim the Australian Rugby Shield for the first time in 24 years.
Heelers skipper Luke Kimber joyously distils the feeling: “Country rugby is well and truly alive.
“We had fellas from all over the joint, both from regions of Queensland and overseas, yet we came together in quick time as a group with a real purpose.
“To be honest, it’s the best program I’ve been involved in.”
Coach Brad Tronc, a former Heeler himself in 2005 when working in Toowoomba, pulled the threads together perfectly off the field to get the huge result on the field.
Instead of a rushed Monday gathering just 48 hours before the tournament kick-off, he organised a a weekend camp at the Noosa Dolphins Rugby Club to get a headstart on the detail.
“It’s hard having players come in from everywhere and be expecting them to be new best mates immediately. The mini-camp in Noosa helped build those bonds and get everyone to understand what wearing the Queensland Country jersey means,” Tronc said.
“I told the boys that even playing 100-plus Premier Rugby games in Brisbane, the Heelers jersey is the favourite jersey I ever wore.
“It might be the highest level of jersey you ever wear.”
It was an old-school weekend right down to the accommodation for a night. “Got a Kennel for a Heeler?” was the catchcry because all players were billeted.
The players came from all points. Forward Andy Smyth and his accent have been playing for the Burdekin Cane Toads since he arrived from Northern Ireland.
Vili Nabole has proud Fijian roots just as reserve back Landry Bezombes, who richly deserved a key try be in his name in the final rather than a penalty try, has French background. Levi Wairau is of Kiwi stock.
Back-up flyhalf Darcy McKenzie is from a cattle property outside remote Duaringa and plays for the Dawson Valley Drovers. Kimber is a schoolteacher at Coolum State High. On it goes.
Players were drawn from all over Queensland, North, Central, and out West, as well as the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. Coming together as the Heelers had to have some common link.
Tronc struck on the idea of presenting each player with a blue Heelers tie with the orchid logo. What made the ceremony special was family members coming in to present the ties and talking about their sons.
For those with family abroad, Tronc went the extra yard. The team watched videos sent in from player families in Northern Ireland, the bush, New Zealand and so on.
“I was almost tearing up listening to the messages that came in for the boys. Brad is a great coach and a real people person. He really went the extra yard for this team,” backrower Kimber said.
The victory in the final over NSW Country was sweet.
“Every time we play them I like to make sure those b*** know they are in second place,” Kimber said.
The pro-Queensland crowd in Caloundra made a difference, Kimber said: “A word or two from the crowd reminds you what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for.”
A few knew the history. The Heelers won the first Australian Rugby Shield in 2000 with a 23-17 upset of NSW Country at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
The ground would fill with more than 100,000 fans by the time the main event between the Wallabies and All Blacks kicked off later that night.
In 2000, the Heelers were down 17-16 with time almost up when halfback Paul Stitt kicked from the ruckbase 20m from his own line. It was well directed down the left touchline and the chasing effort for nearly 60m by fullback Mark Leech was exceptional. He harassed the NSW Country player attempting to gather the ball just enough to turn it into a loose ball which he toed ahead.
Try! The conversion from the sideline by 20-year-old winger Kris Burton earned a famous win. The Heelers have waited 24 long years for something as grand again and it took another huge effort play to turn the 2024 match.
A pivotal moment came midway through the second half when the Cockatoos had just scored a try to swing momentum in their favour. As they lined up for the conversion, Heelers centre Gideon Kautai, from the Noosa Dolphins, charged down the kick.
It was another extra effort Leech moment.
It immediately put the pressure back on the Cockatoos and energised his own team.
“It was the turning point. It knocked a bit of belief out of the Cockatoos and gave us more to control the back end of the game,” Tronc said.
“The bond we built off the field to really give meaning to the jersey helped get us home. Luke was the right guy as a true leader for his players and I went old school. I made an old-fashioned phone call to let blokes know they were in the team rather than just wait for them to see some list on social media.”
It flowed into the dressing room after the game when Tronc briefly had control of the music. The players belted out a rendition of Daryl Braithwaite’s The Horses rather than some hip-hop number.
The tie was Tronc’s idea: “I know I still have my tie from back in the day even if it does need a good dry-clean.”
Flyhalf McKenzie drives 90 minutes just to train for the Drovers. He doesn’t have much use for a tie when mustering and branding on the family property but that Heelers tie is now one of his most treasured possessions.
“There wasn’t a bad bloke in the side. We had blokes from all country regions as well as other countries. We were put through the history of the Heelers and I couldn’t be more proud,” McKenzie said.
“The tie is hanging up in a safe place. No one else at Duaringa has one.
“I’ve never experienced the structure and style that we played with. It was simple things like exit plays and some passing skills that set the team up for better success and I’ll bring that into the Drovers.”
The Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton and now the Shield success are serving as a pathway.
Noosa Dolphins backrower Jock Hansson is going to have a crack at the Shute Shield with Sydney club Warringah. Other players are thinking of a Brisbane move.
The history-making Shield is more than just a win on the field. It represents Queensland Country’s grit, unity, and the strength of a team that has risen through years of perseverance to claim the mantle as the top regional rugby province in Australia.
Queensland Country President Rod Hohn added: "This is a great outcome not only for the players but for the game in Country Queensland.
“Our finish at the Australian Rugby Shield demonstrates the strength of our Country programs, from our Juniors Heelers and Junior Orchids programs to our Colts. The identification of some of our Junior Orchids Under-18s as part of the Reds women’s development squad shows the bright future ahead for Queensland Country Rugby."
It is flowing through the Reds U16s. Innisfail-bred Jack Calleja is a fixture in the U16s, fellow lock Rupeni Baravilala had his start in Hervey Bay and Townsville Grammar boarder Roldan Waike is in training.
The pathway is evident from the Queensland Country Orchids.
In last weekend’s Reds Development XV game, Caboolture Snake Olivia Fidow was given her chance based on her ARS performances.
Former Orchids Dillyn Blackburn (Gympie), Tess Littleton (Toowoomba) and Tess Evans (Noosa) were also part of the team as well as Ipswich State High’s Skye Faimalie.
The Orchids demonstrated tremendous determination in a 15-10 loss to the ACT & SNSW Kestrels in their Shield grand final.
Wave after wave of late attacks from the Orchids gave the home team hope until the end. Reeghyn Beardmore, from the St George Rugby Union in the Downs competition, scored the two tries for the Orchids.
Captain Lily Black, from Toowoomba, praised standout Julia Douglas, a Brothers Townsville product.
Looking ahead, Black expressed excitement about the future, highlighting the talented young players coming through Queensland Country’s pathways and programs. With key players returning and promising new faces emerging, the Orchids are eager to regroup, learn from the Caloundra experience and come back stronger in 2025.
As Kimber said, Country rugby is well and truly alive.
