FOG #59 Dan Stains | Darling Downs Battler, Origin Maroon & Kangaroo Tourist

Dan Stains is FOG #59 — a proud Queenslander whose rugby league journey began on a dairy farm on the Darling Downs and carried him all the way to State of Origin and Australian representation. A tough, determined forward, Stains built a respected top-grade career across Australia and the UK through persistence, resilience, and belief.

Raised in rural Queensland, Dan’s early football came through Toowoomba Valleys before progressing into Queensland representative teams alongside future legends. After earning his opportunity at Cronulla, he played 190 first-grade games across Cronulla, Balmain, Halifax, and the London Broncos, becoming known as a reliable, hard-working professional in an unforgiving era of the game.

Dan represented Queensland in four State of Origin matches and earned the ultimate reward in 1989 when he was selected for the Australian tour of New Zealand — a defining moment that capped off a career built on earning every chance the hard way.

In this episode of the FOGS Queenslander Podcast, Dan reflects on:
• Growing up on the Darling Downs and discovering rugby league late
• Moving to Toowoomba and finding opportunity at Valleys
• Early Queensland teams and the confidence they instilled
• Fighting for a first-grade chance at Cronulla
• Life under Jack Gibson and the demands of elite professionalism
• Pulling on the Maroons jersey and handling Origin intensity
• Being selected for the Australian tour of New Zealand
• Playing club football in England and broadening his life experience
• Lessons learned from mentors, coaches, and teammates
• What it means to be remembered as a FOG

A genuine Queensland battler whose story reflects the grit, humility, and pride that define Maroon football.

#FOGS #DanStains #FOGSQueenslander #StateOfOrigin #QueenslandRugbyLeague #CronullaSharks #BalmainTigers #Kangaroos #QLDER

FOG #13 Rod Morris | Origin Original, Kangaroos Enforcer & Wynnum-Manly Premiership Captain

Rod Morris is FOG #13 — a proud Queenslander, a hard-nosed front-rower and one of the original State of Origin pioneers. A three-time Brisbane Rugby League premiership winner with Easts and Wynnum-Manly, Morris also starred for Balmain in Sydney and became a mainstay of the Australian pack across World Cups and Kangaroo tours.

Born in Ipswich and forged in the old-school era of 80-minute football with no interchanges, Rod played for Queensland before Origin, then returned in 1980 to help launch a new era alongside Arthur Beetson, Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Chris Close. He toured with Australia in 1977 and 1978, played 16 Tests, and in 2025 was inducted into the Queensland Sports Hall of Fame alongside his brother Des.

In this episode of the FOGS Queenslander Podcast, Rod reflects on:
• Growing up in Ipswich with “more freedom” and old-school junior footy
• Rising through Ipswich and into a dominant Easts Tigers side in the 1970s
• Playing 80 minutes every week in a brutal Brisbane Rugby League era
• Winning BRL premierships with Easts and captaining Wynnum-Manly to their first title
• The frustration of pre-Origin interstate footy and playing for both Queensland and New South Wales
• Kangaroo tours, club games in England and why players today miss that experience
• Being an Origin original in 1980 and the pressure Queensland felt to “get it right first time”
• Balancing elite footy with running his own business and the parallels between leadership in sport and business

A tough, intelligent front-rower who helped lay the foundations of State of Origin and left a lasting mark on Queensland rugby league.

#FOGS #RodMorris #FOGSQueenslander #StateOfOrigin #QueenslandRugbyLeague #Kangaroos #EastsTigers #WynnumManly #BalmainTigers #QLDER

Welcome to the FOGS Queenslander Podcast Bonus Episode: Know Your FOGS Origin Trivia!

In this special bonus episode, we’re back with another round of the ultimate Queensland State of Origin trivia challenge! Some of Queensland’s toughest and most iconic Rugby League legends go head-to-head to test their Origin knowledge.

Featuring FOGS Legends:
Brad Backer, Allan Smith, Bryan Niebling, Anthony Milford, Ben Hannant, Mitch Brennan, Kevin Walters, Tim Glasby, Danny Nutley, Steve Stacey, and Chris Flannery

#FOGS #QLDER #StateOfOrigin #OriginTrivia #RugbyLeague #BradBacker #AllanSmith #BryanNiebling #AnthonyMilford #BenHannant #MitchBrennan #KevinWalters #TimGlasby #DannyNutley #SteveStacey #ChrisFlannery #QueenslandLegends