Brent Tate

Roma centre, the brother-in-law of former Bulldogs captain and Australian Test forward Steve Price, was graded by the Broncos from Redcliffe in 2001. The straight-running centre had an amazing 2002 season – making his State of Origin debut for Queensland in the drawn series before being chosen as an interchange player in the one-off Test against Great Britain in July. Tate was in Australia’s starting line-up in the 32-24 win over NZ in October and continued his good form into 2003. He scored two tries in Queensland’s 36-6 thrashing of NSW in the ‘dead rubber’ of the series before making his third Test appearance in the 48-6 thrashing of NZ in July. An injury late in the season, however, saw him miss the Kangaroo Tour at the end of the year. Tate battled a career-threatening neck injury in early 2004 but he returned to the Australian team in time for the ANZac Test in Newcastle. After playing his part in two games for the Maroons in Queensland’s unsuccessful State of Origin campaign, Tate was selected for Australia on the end of season Tri-Nations competition. Despite being coached by his Brisbane mentor Wayne Bennett, Tate could not break into the Australian Test team on tour and his appearances were limited to minor tour matches for the ANZacs against Cumbria and internationals against France and the USA. It was a different story in 2005; sporting his distinctive neckbrace to protect his injury Tate represented Queensland and Australia (in all five Tests in Australia’s unsuccessful Tri Nations campaign in England, several as a winger). In 2006 Tate enjoyed a rare trio of personal, club and representative honours in scoring tries in the third State of Origin match (earning him the man of the match award and securing Queensland the series), the Broncos’ 15-8 win over Melbourne in the grand final and in Australia’s 16-12 win in the final of the Tri-Nations competition in November.