WALLY TALLIS 1941-2016 (#729)

By Mike Latham

Leigh Centurions are saddened to hear of the passing of their former player Wally Tallis, who has died in his native Queensland aged 75.

Tallis, described as giant of a man, signed for Leigh in late 1964 from the Townsville Past Brothers team. He was found work in a local engineering company but took a while to settle to the demands of an English winter, never mind the tough world of professional Rugby League.

The famous Aboriginal sports star Wally McArthur, a former Australian sprinter who came to England to play professionally with Rochdale Hornets recommended him to Leigh. Wally Tallis followed in the footsteps of fellow Queenslander Mick Bolewski, the popular fullback who had played for Leigh after touring with the first Kangaroos over 50 years previously.

After learning his trade in the reserve team Tallis was given his chance in the first team by coach Gerry Helme in March 1965, playing in five late season games, all of which ended in victories for Leigh. He made his debut against Widnes, retrospectively earning Heritage Number 729 when the Club's Heritage Numbers project was unveiled in 2014.

In his second match he made a strong impression with the match-winning penalty goal against Leeds at Hilton Park. The Bolton Evening News reported:

"Wally Tallis — the 6ft 4ins Australian full-back — left Hilton Park to a standing ovation after clinching a dramatic 6-5 victory for Leigh over Leeds with his first ever points for the club.

"Tallis produced some valiant defending to frustrate the Leeds attack and put the gloss on a sensational performance in the closing minutes when Leigh skipper Bev Risman, who had landed only two of six goal attempts, let the new man take the decisive penalty. It was a beauty — a 40-yarder that went hard, low and straight between the uprights."

Sadly, though, Tallis made only one more appearance for Leigh after that season, kicking a goal in a 10-5 defeat against the New Zealand tourists in September 1965 before leaving for home three months later.

He went on to play for North Queensland against the 1962 Great Britain tourists and in 1973 was captain of the ground-breaking Indigenous All Stars team that toured New Zealand. He is regarded as a pioneer for indigenous players and when his playing days were over coached the boys at Centrals Junior Rugby League in Townsville.

Wally worked in juvenile detention centres throughout Queensland and fathered two fine Rugby League players. Wally Junior joined Brisbane Broncos but his career was sadly cut short prematurely by injuries sustained in a car crash. His younger brother, Gorden, went on to become one of Australia's finest ever forwards and once called in at Hilton Park during an Australian tour to be presented with a Leigh club tie in honour of his father when he was said to be very moved by the way his father was remembered at the club.

In 2013 Gorden handed out jumpers to each surviving member of the 1973 Indigenous team that toured New Zealand including his father before the fourth annual All Stars game at Suncorp Stadium.

In an article by Andrew Webster in the Sydney Daily Telegraph Wally was asked about the nickname 'Raging Bull' given to his son Gorden. "I don't know who called him that nickname but it suited him. I was the quiet one. The Gentle Giant,'' he said.

Leigh Club president Brian Bowman remembers Wally Tallis's time at Leigh. "He was a huge man, with big feet and had a prodigious kicking game," Brian recalls.

"He was a very friendly man and popular with everyone. It was a big thing coming from the warmth of Queensland to the depths of an English winter and he gave it his best shot. He was a great character and people in Leigh were so proud when his son Gorden Tallis went on to become one of the great Australian players of all time."

I saw every game he played for Leigh. RIP LAD.

I bet you saw every game Trevor Allan played for Leigh.

I bet he saw every game Tom Coop played