Warrior cherishes time shared with veteran coach
Cup with Leeds, was the wellrespected boss of the now-defunct Illawarra Steelers in the early 90s, and unlucky coach of New South Wales in 2006 and 2007, losing two close Origin series to Queensland.
He was Graham Murray; a 58-year-old true ‘‘leaguee’’ whose life support was switched off after a heart attack last week.
Gubb, a Warriors prop with just one first-grade name under his belt, didn’t know much about Murray when he went moved to Brisbane in early 2011.
He’d just been let go by the Warriors despite his good run with the Under-20s – and needed to resurrect his dream of playing firstgrade one day.
Offered a year contract with Queensland Cup reserve graders the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls; this was his chance to start again – but he was without a place to stay.
Then the club’s chief executive, Murray, offered him a room at his place. With Murray’s family based up in Townsville, it was just the two of them living together most of the time.
‘‘When I first moved in, I didn’t really know who he was,’’ Gubb told the Sunday Star-Times. ‘‘I just thought he was the CEO of Wynnum.
‘‘I didn’t really know I was living with such a well-known guy.’’
He coached four first-grade teams – Illawarra, Hunter Valley, the Roosters and Cowboys. Murray never harped on to Gubb, who lived with him for two months, about his achievements, though.
The 23-year-old Wellingtonian just remembers him as a teller of good stories. You know the sort: the ones where what goes on tour, comes out after a few beers.
‘‘He didn’t really help me with footy as such – Muzz was just a friend.’’ Gubb played two years at Wynnum – his brother Peter is still there – making the Queens
land Residents XIII last year – and collected a contract back in New Zealand with the Warriors.
His NRL debut came three weeks ago against the Rabbitohs in Perth, with a stomach injury keeping him out of action since.
Gubb didn’t hear much from Murray after he left. His old mate was supposed to coach Wynnum this year, but a heart attack early in the season meant he had to step aside.
Murray wouldn’t recover from the second one last week. His death came as a shock to Gubb.
He always imagined Murray as one of those old buggers that would be at the leagues club for decades – telling tall tales and watching the footy. ‘‘You know how Phil Gould is one of those league guys that are just up there? Well, Muzz was like that as well,’’ Gubb said.
‘‘Muzz is, was, rugby league. The sort of person he was and how much he loved it. I’m grateful I got to meet him.’’