Phil Mooney - this sporting life

Dean Tuckwell | May 12, 2024

As the son and grandson of Wallabies, Phil Mooney was destined to be a rugby player. That he was also an accomplished first grade batsman with Western Suburbs was testament to his prodigious sporting talent and he fortunately played in an era where he was able to juggle both sports without having to choose one over the other. 

A skilled and intelligent fly half or fullback with Wests in the Brisbane Premier competition, many judges believe that Phil would have played Super Rugby in the modern era but with Australian rugby only having 2 provinces and players of the calibre of Michael Lynagh, Brian Smith, Greg Martin & Rod Latham standing in his way, he never played for Queensland at senior level. 

So highly was he regarded however, Mooney coached the Queensland Reds in 2008 & 2009 after having previously coached the Australian under 19 team and subsequently has coached first class teams in New Zealand and Japan. 

His sport has taken him around the world, playing in the World Club Rugby championships in France in 1996 and a cricket season in The Central Lancashire League in 1990 and Phil remains a very popular man in Brisbane sporting circles, I know you will enjoy reading his story.

What year you were born?

1965

Can you remember you first game of cricket? How old and do you remember how you went?

I was 7 and playing for the Wests under 11’s, which at that time was the youngest age division. I didn’t bat or bowl, took a catch and was rotated out of the team the following week.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing & rugby journeys?

I played cricket and rugby for Wests. I first played rugby as a 5-year-old and cricket as a 7-year-old. I did my primary schooling at Graceville State and played all sports on offer before attending Brisbane Grammar for high school. It was at Grammar where I concentrated on cricket and rugby. After high school, I returned to both Wests clubs. Other than the odd game for Colts in First Grade cricket and a season for Royton in the Central Lancashire League – it’s been Wests.

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket & senior club rugby?

I’m not certain about grade cricket – I think I was around 15 or 16 when I first played Third or Fourth Grade cricket – I was 19 when I made my senior rugby debut.

At what age did you make your First-Grade debut in club cricket & rugby and can you remember how you performed in debut?

Once again, my recollections of the cricket are a little hazy – I think I was 18 years old. I came in for day 2 of the match (I think I was replacing Chris Smart who was playing a Shield match). We played Souths and I made 10 not out before we declared having passed them 1 down. I had a bat in our second innings and was stumped by Rocket Rice…I can’t remember for how many. My First-Grade rugby debut was against University. I played fullback, scored a try and we won well…happy days!

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer & rugby player? 

I was a top order batsman and loved my fielding. I played most of my rugby at flyhalf followed by fullback. I’d like to think I was reasonably competitive and loved playing with my mates.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

I gave cricket away in my mid 20’s to concentrate on my rugby. The year after I retired, I was selected in Third Grade to play Easts as a day 2 replacement at Bottomley Park. It worked out well as the boys fielded on day 1 so I only had to turn up and bat. I got a few away early and ended up making 200. I then went back into retirement. I scored a First Grade 100 against Norths at Windsor Park a few years earlier.

What was your highest points tally in a game of senior rugby?

I not sure - I initially goal kicked however gave that away as I got older as I played in teams with far better kickers than me.

Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

I played against some great fast bowlers: Norths had Polzin, Charles, Mainhardt, Mullins, Souths had Twible and the Hammelmans, there was also Scott Muller, Brendan Creevey, Peter McPhee, Bobby McGhee, Craig Jesberg and many more…I’ll go with the following:

Mick Polzin was always challenging, particularly over at Windsor Park. He had the knack of always hitting me on the back inner thigh…still makes my eyes water when I think about it today.

I played against Thommo when I was about 19 years old and didn’t particularly enjoy that experience.

The third guy was a West Indian named Ken McLeod who I played in the Central Lancashire League. He was a tall, left handed quick who loved bowling at your ribs and that wasn’t enjoyable, particularly on a freezing day.

Who have been the best three backs you have played against?

Michael Lynagh – he was one of those players who had great skill and time. Tactically, he always seemed one step ahead.

Tim Horan and Jason Little as a combination – Great athletes who complimented each other so well. Power, balance and skill.

Peter Slattery – Slatts was a Wests boy who moved to University as we also had another Wallaby halfback in Brian Smith. Slatts had an unbelievable pass and was brave in defence. If not for Nick Farr-Jones, he would have played way more test rugby.

Michael Lynagh

Who have been the best three forwards you have played against?

Toutai Kefu – a man mountain who possessed a real mean streak when he crossed the white line.

Tom Lawton – another mobile, big man. He was excellent at the set piece with skills belying his size.

Brendan Nasser – He had legs like tree trunks and used them to great effect, particularly when he came at you off the back of a scrum.

Who did you least want to look up and see bearing down on you just after you received the ball?

That list is too long to document!

Who has been the best three spinners you have played against? 

Trevor Hohns – I’d never seen a flipper before and can remember one cannoning into my pads. I couldn’t pick it so after that, went forward to every short ball he bowled to me.

Phil Tufnell – I played against him when he had a season for University. He had great flight and variation of his speed. I’m sure he was an even better bowler when he was sober.

Easts always had great spinners, particularly over at Bottomley Park and they all bowled exceptionally well into the wet patches produced by Graham Holt.

Trevor Hohns

Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

Stuart Law – he made batting look so easy with his range of shots.

Michael Ephraims – Always seemed to score runs against Wests and very quickly.

Glenn Trimble could dismantle attacks. I can recall having to cross Oxley Road to collect balls on more than a handful of occasions.

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

I remember Stuart Law scoring about 160 against Wests* when we had Big Carl Rackemann and Dirk Tazelaar. I also batted with Stu for Colts when he was only 16 or 17 years old and he scored 140 odd against Wynnum. His shot selection and timing was impeccable.

Stuey may still be batting had Phil not taken a spectacular diving catch in front of the sightscreen – a catch that Carl Rackemann rates as the best he has ever seen. No mean feat! - editor

Stuart Law

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

There were some great wicketkeepers over my time. Peter Anderson, Ian Healy, Ray Phillips, Gavin Fitness to name a few. To be honest, better judges than me have nominated Ando as the best.

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played in both cricket & rugby?

That’s a tough one - Brett Stephensen was a great all-rounder for Wests and highly competitive. He really used to put in when he bowled and was never short of advice to batsmen. He also scored some quality runs when we were under the pump.

I played a lot of rugby with Mark Catchpole. He was the son of Ken and toured with the Wallabies in 1993. Like his father, he was a halfback although had a forward’s mentality – he loved the physical aspect of rugby and used to keep referees on their toes!

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with in each sport?

In rugby, it was Julian Gardner. Julian played for both the Wallabies and Italy and was a highly skilled backrower. He was also a very handy batsman for Norths prior to choosing rugby. He captained Wests to a First-Grade premiership when he was only 21 – uncompromising player who always backed his team mates.

I played under some great cricket captains – John Bell taught all of us about preparation, Chris Smart was very good tactically, Brett Stephensen never believed we would be beaten and Jon Dooley was a fine tactician – also highly competitive.

John Bell

Who have been your funniest team mates?

Gee, that’s a hard one Tucky - the late, great Gavin Maslen used to come out with some real gems, Michael Maranta was always very quick witted as were you.

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the field that still makes you laugh today?

I played rugby with a guy named David Hay. He was caught at the bottom of a ruck and found a watch on the ground. Whilst the ball was in play, he buried the watch. After fulltime, he searched for the mound of dirt, recovered the watch, placed it on his wrist and walked back into the dressing room for a beer!

I can also recall opening the batting with you in a league game in England against Oldham and their pro was the West Indian Ezra Moseley. You expressly told me that we were going to milk Moseley and look to score runs from the other end – do not get him angry. That plan turned to shit when you hit the first ball from Moseley for six over cover followed by consecutive hook shots for 4. Needless to say, I was happy to stay at the non-strikers’ end whilst he ripped in. 

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket & most embarrassing moment on the rugby field?

I think anyone who has played sport has been embarrassed at some point in time. Nothing comes to mind – maybe you should ask some of my old team mates!

Who were your childhood heroes?

Rugby, they were Paul McLean and Mark Loane and cricket, Greg Chappell, DK Lillee and Thommo. I also loved Sam Trimble. I used to attend his camps at the Gabba – he always remembered every boys name and had an incredible passion for the game.

Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?

Virat Kohli, Michael Phelps, Mike Tyson

Michael Phelps

Who’s your favourite sports commentator?

I enjoy all the kiwi rugby commentators and love Warney’s insight into cricket.

What were your favourite grounds to play at?

Ballymore on a Sunday afternoon was hard to beat and I enjoyed playing at all the suburban cricket grounds as they all had their own unique qualities.

Were there particular teams that you looked forward to playing against?

After the ‘Rebels’ went to South Africa in the mid 80’s and were banned from First Class cricket, we had Mocca and Moose Maguire every week as well as Dirk Tazelaar when he wasn’t playing for Queensland. I enjoyed playing every team that year!

What do you enjoy most about both sports?

I think you are drawn to sports for the contest. I just loved playing with my mates and working towards a common goal. You didn’t always achieve it however you learned plenty along the way.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket & rugby?

As a young boy growing up around both Wests cricket and rugby, it was a real thrill when I was first selected to play First Grade. One moment you’re the young kid running the scoreboard or the ball boy and then very quickly you’re playing. It seems players are very quick to change clubs now so representing my junior clubs at senior level was great.

Phil Mooney - rugby

What are the best wins you’ve been involved with?

I was fortunate to win premierships in both sports. Club competitions, no matter what the sport, are difficult to win so to achieve that was very satisfying. I have had some memorable moments as a rugby coach – winning a World Under 19 championships against NZ is up there.

Who are the three teammates from each sport from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?

I wouldn’t narrow it to – too many good blokes to leave off the list!

What are your hobbies?

Does sport count? I am married with 2 sport loving sons – that takes up most of my spare time.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

My father was always a font of knowledge. As you know, dad called a spade a shovel. The first time I was ever dropped from a rugby team was when I was 20. I was living at home and arrived from training obviously feeling sorry for myself. Dad asked me words to the effect “Why the long face?”. When I told him I was dropped, he basically called me a sook and told me “better players than me had played reserve grade!” When I started coaching, he told me “Remember son, when you win, it is about the players and when you lose it’s about the coach”. He wasn’t the type of parent who carried my cricket bag from the car to the nets like some parents of today.

Phil Mooney coaching Qld Reds

What is your current occupation?

I’m currently Director of Rugby and a cricket coach at Brisbane Grammar School.

Are you still involved in sport and if so, in what capacity?

As mentioned above, I am still actively involved with sport at grassroots level. When my school commitments permit, I also coach cricket at Wests and help out at the rugby club.

If you were running Cricket QLD & QLD Rugby what would be your 2 priorities be to ensure the sports in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?

Young, aspiring sportsmen should be playing club sport and not warehoused in academies. Both sports need to place more value in their grade competitions. I know when I coached the Reds, I insisted that players outside the match day 23 go back and play for their clubs.

With regards to cricket, I understand the need to monitor the loads of adolescent fast bowlers. If you’re a senior cricketer and you’re told you can only bowl 4 overs in a day (Or some other arbitrary number) you should jump up and down and say no, I’m a bowler and I need to bowl.

Ultimately, it is the players and the parents in grassroots, who pay the wages of the professionals. I have the utmost admiration for these people who put their hands in their pockets, pay subs to play, score, prepare pitches, work in canteens and all the other roles required to run a club. These same people should have a voice in how their sports are run.