The people of Brisbane have many great qualities, and one of our most admirable is our willingness to get behind our sporting teams, athletes and events.
Here’s our list of Brisbane’s great sporting moments that will rekindle some glorious memories. Share your favourite sporting memories - leave a comment below.
Brisbane Broncos win their first NRL title (1992)
1992 was only the fifth year for the Broncos in the New South Wales-based rugby league competition.
The Broncos lost only one of their last 14 games in 1992, and took out the grand final against St George in emphatic fashion.
Brisbane celebrated for days on end. Images of Allan Langer and Wayne Bennett carried aloft by a sea of people at Red Hill live long in the memory.
Queensland wins Sheffield Shield for the first time (1995)
The 1995 Sheffield Shield final is one of those events that half of Brisbane claims to have been present for. After 68 years of trying (and a frustrating period as the perennial bridesmaid for much of the 1980s), Queensland’s 1995 triumph at The Gabba broke the longest running drought on the Australian sporting landscape.
Something of a mini-dynasty followed for Queensland cricket, winning on five more occasions (plus four times as runner-up) during the next eleven seasons.
Robert De Castella wins the Commonwealth Games marathon (1982)
The people of Brisbane lined the streets in their tens of thousands to watch the marathon event.
What unfolded before them was one of the great sporting duels between Australia’s Robert De Castella and Juma Ikangaa from Tanzania. With the crowd pushing ‘Deek’ on, he eventually broke away from his rival to claim one of the most memorable Commonwealth Games victories of all time.
The Tied Test at The Gabba (1960)
In the history of international test cricket there have only been two tied tests, and the first such occasion took place at The Gabba between Australia and the West Indies.
With four minutes left to play, West Indian paceman Wes Hall commenced the final over on the fifth day. Australia needed six runs to win and had three wickets in hand.
Australia levelled the scores with two balls remaining, but had lost two wickets in the process. On the second last ball of play, Australian tail-ender Lindsay Kline pushed the ball to square leg and attempted the winning run. West Indian Joe Solomon knocked down the stumps with a direct throw to run out Australia’s Ian Meckiff by inches.
Brisbane Lions win their first premiership flag (2001)
1996 saw the merger of the Fitzroy Lions and the Brisbane Bears. Just five years later, the Lions won their first AFL premiership by defeating the Essendon Bombers by 26 points.
The Lions went on to win three successive premierships before losing the grand final to Port Adelaide in 2004, signalling the end of the most dominant period by an Australian Rules team in recent history.
First State of Origin at Lang Park (1980)
At 35 years of age, rugby league immortal Arthur Beetson led a Queensland side onto Lang Park for the very first time in a State of Origin match.
Queensland won the match 20-10, and an integral part of the Australian sporting landscape was born.
Tulloch wins the Brisbane Cup (1961)
Generally recognised as one of the world’s great racehorses, Tulloch took all before him as a three year-old until he was struck down with a virus that kept him off the racetrack for nearly two years.
Tulloch was brought to Brisbane as a six year-old for the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm, his final race before retirement.
Carrying 62.5 kilograms, he won by nearly two lengths and brought the capacity crowd to tears.
Brisbane Bullets first win (1985)
Basketball went through an extraordinary surge of popularity in Australia in the 1980s, and for a number of years a seat at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for a Bullets game was the hottest ticket in town.
Led by Larry Sengstock, Ronnie ‘The Rat’ Radliff and Leroy Loggins, the Bullets defeated the Adelaide 36ers in the 1985 NBL final to win the first of three NBL titles.
Brisbane Strikers win the National Soccer League (1997)
Before we had the Qld Roar the Brisbane Strikers were our local soccer team in the national league. In the 1996/97 season the Frank Farina-led Strikers made it all the way to the Grand Final against Sydney United.
The Strikers claimed a 2-0 victory, in front of a record NSL crowd of 40,446 at Suncorp Stadium.
Matilda winks (1982)
Standing 13 metres tall, Matilda was a giant mechanical kangaroo that was the star of the 1982 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at the QEII Stadium at Nathan.
In keeping with Queensland’s personality and humour, Matilda turned to the Duke of Edinburgh and gave him a wink before continuing her circuit around the track.
Find out what sporting moment was voted Brisbane's favourite in our Best of Brisbane poll.
What is your favourite Brisbane sporting moment? Add your comments below.
