Wally Lewis

Wally Lewis joined Nine Queensland in 1999 as sports presenter for Nine News.

From the moment Wally Lewis stepped out alongside rugby league legends such as Arthur Beetson, Johnny Lang, Kerry Boustead and Rod Reddy in State of Origin No. 1 back in 1980, a new era in Queensland was born. Lewis went on to become a legend virtually overnight and earned such celebrated nicknames as "the King", "the Emperor of Lang Park" and the even "the High Priest of the Spectacular".

His first grade career in Brisbane kicked off with Valleys in 1978, when he scored three tries on debut as an 18-year-old. It goes without saying that this match was played at the then Lang Park, the ground Lewis called his own. He went on to make 301 first grade appearances with five clubs — Valleys (135), Wynnum-Manly (76), Wakefield Trinity (10), Broncos (46) and Seagulls (34). And in a career spanning 15 years, he never once played reserve grade.

Although the re-birth of Queensland Rugby League supremacy came with the ingenious introduction of State of Origin football, the feats of Lewis were no doubt the catalyst. There were others like Mal Meninga, Gene Miles, Bryan Niebling, Paul Vautin, and later Bob Lindner, Allan Langer and the Walters family. But Lewis has literally been there from the start. Until he retired from the Origin arena at the end of the 1991 series, the King had missed only two matches — both through injury. He captained the Maroons from 1981 to 1991 and won 19 of the 30 matches in which he played. In 1993 and 1994 he was the Queensland Origin coach.

In Queensland, Lewis was State of Origin football! As a player he totally dominated the scene and chants of "Wally, Wally" at Lang Park on State of Origin night became legendary. Since his retirement, a bronze statue has been erected in his honour at Lang Park, and the Queensland player of the series now wins the Wally Lewis Medal.

On the international scene, his dominance was just as monumental. In 1986 he became only the second Queenslander to captain a Kangaroo touring side to Great Britain and France and only injury in 1990 robbed him of breaking a string of records in the game. Lewis played in 33 tests for his country between 1981 and 1991. He captained Australia 23 times, and in 1986 became only the second captain to lead the Kangaroos on an undefeated Ashes tour. When the Kangaroos first achieved that undefeated feat — four years earlier — Lewis had been the vice-captain.

There will never be any doubt about his place in Rugby League history — or Queensland's history for that matter. Wally Lewis became, and still is, an inspiration to so many, both young and old. His magnificent feats on the football field will never be forgotten.

Off the field Wally has found time to support a variety of organisations including Surf Life Saving Queensland. He was an active member of Nobby's Beach Surf club between 1975 and 1991. Wally also dedicates his time to charities such as the Hear and Say Centre for deaf children. He is married and has three children.