Denis Flannery
Encyclopedia
Denis Flannery is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1940s and 50s. One of Queensland
's greats, Flannery was a regular Australian representative
during the 1950s, playing on the wing.
A schoolboy sprint champion, Flannery attended St. Joseph's Nudgee College
.
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
.
Flannery also played Test football in 1951 and 1952. On the 1952–1953 Kangaroo tour, he scored 23 tries in 14 games, including hat-tricks against Featherstone Rovers
, Doncaster and Hull Kingston Rovers
. Flannery was selected for the Australian World Cup
squad in 1954. He continued to represent Queensland and Australia until 1956, retiring from representative football after the 1956–1957 Kangaroo tour
. In total, Flannery 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.
Flannery married Norma Dempsey, the daughter of the former great Kangaroo Dan Dempsey
. They owned the Ulster Hotel in Ipswich
formerly owned by Dan Dempsey.
In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
on the wing, recognised for his "sweet side-step and swerve".
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1940s and 50s. One of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
's greats, Flannery was a regular Australian representative
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
during the 1950s, playing on the wing.
A schoolboy sprint champion, Flannery attended St. Joseph's Nudgee College
St. Joseph's Nudgee College
St Joseph's Nudgee College is a private, Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, located in Boondall, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
.
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
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
15–3 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground
Brisbane Cricket Ground
The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located....
.
Flannery also played Test football in 1951 and 1952. On the 1952–1953 Kangaroo tour, he scored 23 tries in 14 games, including hat-tricks against Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
, Doncaster and Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
. Flannery was selected for the Australian World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
squad in 1954. He continued to represent Queensland and Australia until 1956, retiring from representative football after the 1956–1957 Kangaroo tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
. In total, Flannery 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.
Flannery married Norma Dempsey, the daughter of the former great Kangaroo Dan Dempsey
Dan Dempsey
Dan Dempsey was an Australian rugby league national and Queensland state representative player. He played his career at Hooker and is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.-Club career:...
. They owned the Ulster Hotel in Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
formerly owned by Dan Dempsey.
In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
The Queensland Rugby League Team of the Century is a hypothetical team comprising the best players who have played for Queensland to form a team for 1909 until 2008. Rugby league in Queensland was initiated in 1909 with the Queensland Rugby Football League competition, which evolved into the...
on the wing, recognised for his "sweet side-step and swerve".