Patrick Murphy is to be inducted into the Queensland Rugby Union Hall of Fame for his lofty achievements as one of the code's trailblazing forwards in the pre-World War One period.
No one had played more games for Queensland than Murphy when he played for a 38th and final time in 1919 after a career stretching more than a decade from his debut in 1908.
He won six premierships with his club Brothers over that same period and his nine Tests (1910-14) are notable for every one of those being against the might of the All Blacks.
Murphy, fullback supreme Roger Gould and 2011 Super Rugby-winning captain James Horwill will be three of the four players named to join the QRU Hall of Fame at the Season Launch Long Lunch on Friday, February 6 at the Brisbane City Hall.
You can celebrate the Hall of Fame class of 2026 and usher in the new season in style with a ticket to the gala event.
Murphy was a warhorse at the heart of significant "firsts" in Australian rugby.
He was the second-row hero of Australia's first win over New Zealand, an 11-0 success in Sydney in 1910. He backed up and made the pass in the last of Australia's three tries that day. In 1913, he was part of the Wallabies' first Test win on NZ soil in Christchurch on a tour in which he played all nine games.
At home, he had scored the opening try when Brothers claimed their first A Grade premiership in 1907 when numbering on the backs of player jerseys was introduced and the grand final was played at the grounds at Bowen Bridge.
He was a hard-nosed, uncompromising forward who teammates wanted to play beside. Among his skills were those of the day, being adept at initiating dribbling rushes by the pack with the ball at their feet.
"There are players of rugby who always require something extraordinary to bring out their real ability and the greatest example of this man is Pat Murphy," wrote "The Critic" in Queensland's Daily Mail after a club grand final.
"During the minor matches, Pat does not appear to advantage but immediately a game worthy of his best is played he again convinces all that he is still 'the forward of Australia'."
He captained Queensland before World War One and was the man entrusted with leading them again in 1919 when interstate rugby made a short return after the dark war years.
When rugby in the state was disbanded for the decade that followed, Murphy's allegiance to Brothers was as strong as ever and he played rugby league in 1920 when the club changed flavours.
The QRU is seeking to contact relatives of Murphy. Anyone with any information, please pass it on to Reds Media Manager Jim Tucker on jim.tucker@reds.rugby or 0400 788398.
