Vic Anderson

Vic Anderson was a powerfully built second rower who had made a name for himself in Queensland Rugby Union ranks. He made his first grade debut in the 1906 season for the South Brisbane club, playing for them in the 1907 and 1908 seasons.

With rep honours seemingly just out of his reach, Anderson made the controversial decision to accept an offer to play in the first ever Queensland Rugby League game (in the state and for the state side) when they took on the visiting New Zealand side on May 16, 1908, despite never playing the game before and no Rugby League competition existing in the state at the time. Queensland lost the game 34-12.

The Queensland Rugby Union wasted no time in banning all of the Queensland players who took part in that match, and the referee as well!

Four days later, Anderson then lined up for Brisbane against the New Zealand side and again the visitors were dominant against an opponent still learning the game. New Zealand won 43-10.

Anderson was then named again for Queensland for their second match against New Zealand, and his third in the space of 7 days. The Queensland side was boosted by the inclusion of Dally Messenger, who scored 9 of the Maroons 12 points in a tight contest that resulted in a 12 all draw.

Vic Anderson then played for Queensland in all 3 games against the visiting Maori side, with all 3 games being tight contests. After losing the first two games 19-16 and 13-5, Queensland scored their win in the third game, where they won 6-5.

Anderson then lined up for his state in the first two interstate games against New South Wales, while also playing in a match against Sydney Metropolis.

In 1909 Brisbane launched their Rugby League competition and Anderson promptly joined the South Brisbane team, playing in 7 of their 8 games, including the Final where South Brisbane went down to Fortitude Valley 22-4.

Anderson played in another 4 games for QLD in 1909, 2 against the returning New Zealand side and 2 against the Maori side. Between those two series came his greatest achievement when he was selected for Australia in the second test against New Zealand, played in Brisbane, which the Kangaroos won 10-5.

He lined up for the National side again the following month when they beat the Maori 16-13, again in Brisbane.

He played in all 3 games for QLD against NSW in 1910 and in the first game of the 1911 Interstate series. Queensland were flogged 65-9 in that opening clash of 1911 and Anderson was dropped for the remaining two games.

He played one final game for his state against a Northern Division team from NSW in August 1911. The following month he appeared in the semi-final for South Brisbane against eventual Premiers Valley-Toombul. South Brisbane lost a tight contest 10-8, in what was Anderson’s last ever game.