Souths Logan Magpies

The first rugby league club to represent the southern side of the Brisbane River was West End, who entered the Queensland Rugby League premiership in 1910. Playing in an all black strip, the club won the 1913 premiership against Natives 5–3 in a low scoring game, and were runners-up to Valleys the following year, going down by 18–8. The West End Club played their last season in the Senior Grade in 1920.

The Carlton Football Club was founded in 1918 as a Junior Grade (Reserve Grade) Club to compete in the QRL competition. The club was founded by members of the Brothers Old Boys Junior Division (modern day Reserve Graders) along the same lines of the Merthyr Football Club Senior Division (modern day "A" Graders) in 1917. The members wanted to stay together and play football and since the QRU had abandoned Senior Football, they saw this as their only option.

When the QRU Senior Grade competitions recommenced in 1919 the vast majority of the members of both the Merthyr and Carlton Clubs returned to play with the Brothers Club; however, a number of members decided to stay with the League Game and the name and colours of the Carlton Football remained with the QRL. The Carlton Club was also promoted to the Senior Grade of the QRL Competition.

Carltons wore maroon and white jerseys, were a relatively successful club, winning the competition in 1921 (vs. Coorparoo 12–10), 1925 (vs. Coorparoo 24–5) and 1930 (vs. Valleys 19–8).

Following the introduction of District Football in 1933 by the Brisbane Rugby League, Carltons were forced to relinquish their identity and as a result became known as Southern Suburbs. Souths inherited a debt of 90 pounds, and also suffered an exodus of players, resulting in doubts over their ability to field a first-grade team. However, newly elected President Jack Adams started the club with regular meetings under his West End clothing factory, which also made the club's first jerseys free of charge.

During World War II, a lack of dyes for clothing forced the club to change jerseys, a problem that faced many clubs throughout Australia. Souths adopted the old West End jersey, and after the war chose to keep the design, and added a white V. (Southern Suburbs were known as the Lions up to the late-fifties, it was in the early sixties that they took on the Magpie logo) The war also saw them leave their spiritual home of Davies Park, which was first used in 1910, as it was used as housing for American servicemen in the city. Although they had an acute shortage of players, they continued to field teams, playing and training out of Musgrave Park in South Brisbane.

Souths made their first grand final in 1942, however went down to Brothers 20–11. In 1945 they broke their premiership drought in most emphatic fashion, becoming the first club to clean-sweep the BRL in first, reserve and third grades. They also won two junior premierships in that same year. This was followed with more premierships in 1949, 1951 and 1953. Bill Tyquin, a product of Souths district, was captain-coach of the 1949 team, and went on to become an outstanding administrator and President of the club, as well as a delegate to the Brisbane Rugby League. As a tribute, the Bill Tyquin Oval at Davies Park was named after him.

The early 1970s saw the club in the doldrums of the league, as well as facing severe financial problems by the middle of the decade. However shrewd management and hard work saw an on-field revival, led by coach Wayne Bennett, resulting in the club making the 1979 Grand Final, although they were beaten 26-0 by Valleys. Bob McCarthy took over as coach in 1980, and guided the Magpies to another Grand Final loss, this time against underdogs Norths 17–15. But all would be forgotten in the euphoria of winning the 1981 title by defeating Redcliffe in the grand final with a spectacular try on the last play of the match.

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw Souths produce players such as Peter Jackson, Gary Belcher, and a young Brisbane Policeman who would go on to a glittering career as both a player and later a coach, Mal Meninga.

In the 1985 Brisbane Rugby League grand final, the Wayne Bennett-coached Souths side got a shock 10–8 win over Wally Lewis's Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, with John Elias being named man-of-the-match.[1]

Between 1979 and 1985, Souths played in every BRL Grand Final at Lang Park other than 1983, almost dominating the league. The Magpies won two of the six Grand Finals they played during this period (1981 and 1985) while losing in 1979 (Valleys), 1980 (Norths), 1982 and 1984 to Wynnum Manly.

Easts Tigers versus Souths Logan Magpies at Langlands Park, Brisbane Australia. 5 April 2015.

In 2002, it was widely speculated that Souths (again in deep financial trouble) would merge with the financially stricken Logan Scorpions, who had recently won the wooden spoon in what was their final season in the Queensland Cup. However, the merger did not eventuate with Souths acquiring the Logan club, renaming themselves Souths-Logan. In 2008 they won their first Queensland Cup premiership.[2]

Australia

Wales

Kyle Lodge Brett Kelly

In 2008, the centennial year of rugby league in Australia, the Souths Logan Magpies named their 17-man team of the century.[3]

No. Position Player 1 FB Gary Belcher 2 WG Mitch Brennan 3 CE Mal Meninga 4 CE Bruce Astill 5 WG John Grant 6 FE Ted Verrenkamp 7 HB Norm McLean 8 PR Greg Veivers 9 HK Alan Hornery

No. Position Player 10 PR Jack Veivers 11 SR Harry Bath 12 SR Bill Tyquin 13 LK Harold 'Mick' Crocker 14 RE Graeme Atherton 15 RE Len Pegg 16 RE Chris Phelan 17 RE Mick Veivers CO Wayne Bennett