John McDonald

Toowoomba three-quarter, the son of Queensland RU Test winger John 'Cracker' McDonald, partnered Graeme Langlands in the centres against Great Britain in the First Test in 1966. A professional runner, McDonald's immediate career was threatened by an ankle injury suffered in that match but he returned to play in two Tests against NZ the following year. After scoring 18pts (2t, 6g) in the Second Test of 1967’s Trans Tasman series McDonald's value on the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour was measured by his five Tests appearances and his position as second highest scorer on tour. McDonald came to Manly in 1969 and, after playing for his adopted state, toured NZ as Australian vice-captain. The towering centre/winger played in all three Tests against Great Britain in 1970 and went on to captain Manly from the flank in the club's grand final loss to Souths that year. He returned to Queensland after three seasons with the Sea Eagles to captain-coach Toowoomba and was elected president of the club after his retirement. McDonald coached the Queensland State team in the late 1970s and was coach of the Maroons’ first State of Origin team in 1980. By the end of the decade he had progressed to the position of President of the QRL and in 1998, joined the NRL Executive Committee and was named Chairman of the QRL and ARL Board of Directors.