Brendan Moon is to be inducted into the Queensland Rugby Union Hall of Fame for his deeds as one of the state’s finest-ever wingers.
Former teammates, friends and rugby lovers now have the opportunity to celebrate with the Queensland Reds flyer when the honour is bestowed.
Moon will be one of three Queenslanders named to join the QRU Hall of Fame at the Season Launch Long Lunch on Friday, February 14 at the Brisbane City Hall.
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“This is an absolutely fantastic honour. I remember all the wonderful blokes at club, state and international level that I shared experiences with in the late ‘70s and early 1980s,” Moon said.
“With the biggest of names like Paul McLean, Tony Shaw, Mark Loane and Andrew Slack, you couldn’t help but shine on the wing. They were great leaders as well who helped create a magic Queensland environment in that era.”
Moon launched his career with a bang when he made his Queensland debut at just 19 before he’d even played a first grade game for Brothers.
His selection for the Queensland tour of Japan and North America in 1978 was well founded because he scored four tries against All Japan and five against North California.
Within a few short months, he was launching his Wallabies career at the same age against the All Blacks.
It was the start of a superb career of 100 games for Queensland (1978-87), in which he crossed for more than 60 tries, and 35 Tests.
Five premierships with Brothers in a golden era for the club were savoured as well.
Throughout, he was known for his in-and-away to beat the best opponents on the outside and the deceptive strength and balance which went with it. His graceful running style was refined early in life on the track as an athlete.
Wallaby great David Campese rated Moon with John Kirwan and Serge Blanco as the best wingers he played with or against.
Moon was arguably the best winger in the world in his prime but wondered what future he had, as the rookie, when pranked on his maiden tour.
“In those days you threw all your valuables in a bag for safekeeping before games so in went my watch, wallet, passport and travellers’ cheques before our match in Japan,” Moon recalled.
“We were on the team bus post-match and we had a flight to catch to Vancouver. I’d completely forgotten my valuables. I thought I’d be grounded without a passport and the team manager (John Ryan) was a bit fearsome.”
It turned out that teammate Chris Handy had the valuables collected and Moon was playfully lampooned. Welcome to tour life, rookie.
Moon will be at the lunch barring a major natural disaster. He is the Co-ordinator-General of the National Emergency Management Agency.
