Denis Flannery

Denis Flannery (1928 – 2012), also known by the nickname of "Flag Pole", was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. An Australian international and Queensland interstate representative winger, he played his club football in the Ipswich Rugby League for the Brothers club. He has been recognised as one of Queensland's greatest ever players

Denis Flannery
Flannery in 1952
Personal information
Full nameDenis James Flannery
Born(1928-04-02)2 April 1928
Died12 February 2012(2012-02-12) (aged 83)
Raceview, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight82.5 kg (13 st 0 lb)
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1947–58 Brothers (Ipswich)
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1948–56 Queensland 27 16 0 0 48
1950–57 Australia 15 4 0 0 12
Toowoomba 24
Source: [1][2]

Biography

Flannery was born on 2 April 1928. He attended St. Joseph's Nudgee College and became a schoolboy sprint champion.

Playing career

Flannery started playing football in the Ipswich Rugby League for the Brothers club. Although prone to injury, he made his debut for Queensland in 1948 and won his first Australian cap in the second Ashes Test of 1950, when Australia beat Great Britain 15–3 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 279.[3] Flannery also played Test football in 1951 and 1952. During the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand, Flannery played in Australia's victory in the second Test. On the 1952-53 Kangaroo tour, he scored 23 tries in 14 games, including hat-tricks against Featherstone Rovers, Doncaster and Hull Kingston Rovers.

In 1954 rugby football's first World Cup tournament was to be played in France. While playing as a three-quarter back for Ipswich's Brothers club, Flannery was selected for the Australia's 1954 Rugby League World Cup squad which failed to make the final. He continued to represent Queensland and Australia until 1956, retiring from representative football after the 1956–1957 Kangaroo tour. In total, he played 15 international games for Australia, including two World Cup games. Flannery continued with Ipswich Brothers, serving as player-coach in 1957 and 1958 before retiring at the age of 30.

Post-playing

Flannery married Norma Dempsey, daughter of the former rugby great Dan Dempsey. Flannery and his wife ran the Ulster Hotel in Ipswich, formerly owned by Dan Dempsey, for 58 years.[4] Their son, Denis, died of a childhood disease in 1970.

In June 2008, the centenary year of rugby league in Australia, Flannery was named on the wing of the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century, recognised for his "sweet side-step and swerve".[5][6]

Flannery died in his Raceview, Queensland nursing home on Sunday, 12 February 2012, aged 83.[7]

References
  1. Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson (1995). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players (with Queensland Section). Smithfield, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd. p. 511. ISBN 978-1-877082-93-1.
  2. Denis Flannery at the Rugby League Project
  3. ARL Annual Report 2005
  4. "Historical Hotels of the Ipswich Central Business District, North Ipswich, Brassall and West Ipswich". Ipswich Library. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  5. "Lewis leads Qld team of the century". The Age. 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  6. Ricketts, Steve (10 June 2008). "Locky named No.1 but Wal's still King". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  7. Buchan, Jay (14 February 2012). "Roos legend sadly missed". The Queensland Times. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
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