Brendan Moon

Full name Brendan Joseph Moon
Date of birth 10 October 1958
School Marist College Ashgrove
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
Reds
Brothers Old Boys
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1978–1986  Australia 35 (56)

Brendan Moon (born 10 October 1958) is a former Australian Rugby Union winger who played for the Queensland Reds in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Moon played 100 games for Queensland and also played in the premiership winning Brothers Old Boys team of 1978, 1980–1983, Brendan also represented Australia in 35 tests and was considered one of the best finishing wingers in the game with excellent positional play and terrific acceleration.

For a number of years Moon has been helping the development of rugby union in Papua New Guinea, which he made his home,[1] before returning to his native Queensland.

Rugby career

Moon the Player

Moon has been described as a "safe winger" (Ella & Smith, 1987: 54), and as such possibly did not stand-out as much as the risk-taking David Campese. David Campese wrote of Moon that, “Maybe some people failed to see all his great attributes (Campese & Bills, 1991: 174).” However Campese further added that, “… those who knew him recognised Moonie for what he truly was: a truly dependable wing who always did supremely well at what he did attempt. You looked at Brendan in the way a householder looks at an insurance policy; he was there, a protection especially in times of difficulty” (Campese & Bills, 1991: 174). Of Moon’s safety Campese later noted that he was, “Not really a creator but give him a chance and he would score” (Campese: 2003: 208). Mark Ella has said of Moon that, “If you want a safe winger, Brendan’s it. I don’t mean a boring, stereotyped winger. It’s just that Brendan can do anything” (Ella & Smith, 1987: 54).

Moon was partly distinguishable by his running style. Mark Ella wrote of Moon that he was ‘a beautiful runner’ and that, “Moon was a runner of the classical type. He had a high knee action and his arms pumped as he ran” (Ella, 1995: 123). David Campese has asserted that, “His running style was especially impressive. He looked like a genuine track sprinter” (Campese, 2003: 208). Rugby journalist Terry Smith once said of Moon’s running that, “With his fluent, graceful stride, it’s easy to imagine Brendan Moon putting on a pair of spikes and running for Australia in the Olympics” (Ella & Smith, 1987: 55).

Moon was also defined by his tremendous pace. Roger Gould once said of Moon that, “Very few players can run him down in a seventy-metre sprint” (Ella & Smith, 1987: 54). Further, David Campese has called Moon “blessed with great pace” (Campese, 2003: 208). In 1978, the year Moon debuted for the Wallabies, he was recognised as the fastest man in the Wallabies squad (Slack, 1995: 177).

Moon was also characterised by his ability to remain on his feet while being tackled. David Campese described Moon core strength by saying that, “once into his stride, he was devilishly hard to bring down” (Campese & Bills, 1991: 174).” Former Australian fullback Roger Gould said of Moon that, “He’s so strong that he’ll break the tackle unless it’s perfectly timed (Ella & Smith, 1987: 154).” Mark Ella described Moon as: “He also had the size and strength to stay on his feet and unload, and he kept the ball alive whenever he could” (Ella, 1995:123).

Moon was renowned for tremendous defensive skills. Campese wrote of Moon that: ‘He also had good strength and his defence was sound (Campese, 2003: 208)’. Former rugby league player Mal Meninga said of Moon that, “his defence was solid (Campese & Meninga, 1994: 248)”. Mark Ella has said of Moon that, “he just doesn’t miss a tackle” (Ella & Smith, 1987: 54).

Moon has often been praised for his completeness as a player. Mark Ella wrote of Moon that he “had the ball skills of a five-eighth or centre” (Ella & Smith, 1987: 54). Terry Smith wrote if Moon that, “There wasn’t a weak link in Moon’s armory. He’s had the lot. Speed of limb and thought, safe hands, resoluteness in the tackle.” David Campese wrote of Moon that, “when he did something he did it well. He also appeared to do things easily, the mark of a well balanced player (Campese, 1995: 101).

Place in History

Many contemporaries who played with or against Moon regard him as one of the greatest wingers they have seen.

Former All Black winger Stu Wilson has said Moon was the best winger he ever played against (Ella & Smith, 1987: 54). This is very notable as it has been well documented that Wilson was outplayed by David Campese in 1982 (Derriman, 2001: 92) – something Wilson himself concedes (Derriman, 2001: 93).

In 1984 former Australian fullback Roger Gould ranked Moon alongside Mark Ella as “the best Australian player I’ve seen” (Ella & Smith, 1987: 55).

In 1990– former Australian flanker Simon Poidevin said of Moon in his autobiography that, “he's the best winger I’ve played with or against… ”(Poidevin & Webster, 1990: 109). However, in a re-released version of his autobiography following the 1991 World Cup, Poidevin described David Campese as “the best attacking player in the world and definitely the star performer in the World Cup (Poidevin & Webster, 1991: 229).” He further hailed Campese as "our undoubted star" (Poidevin & Webster, 1991: 233). It is perhaps contentious therefore as to whom he considers the superior player.

In 1995 David Campese rated Moon as one of the three best wingers he’d ever seen, along with John Kirwan and Serge Blanco – who occasionally played on the wing (Campese, 1995: 99–101). In 1991 Campese placed Moon in the best Australian team of his time (Campese & Bills, 1991: 174), and also placed him in his Australian All Stars side in his second autobiography (Campese, 2003: 208).

In 1987 Mark Ella ranked Brendan Moon a better player than David Campese, citing that: “I think Benny is Australia’s best ever winger... David Campese is exciting and different and can do anything but Benny is a more complete player (Ella & Smith, 1987: 154).

However in 1995, following many of David Campese’s accomplishments, Ella wrote of Campese that, “I do not know of anyone in any sport, with the single exception of Don Bradman in cricket, who has been at the very pinnacle of the game for as long as Campese” (Ella, 1995: 37). In light of this statement Ella likely rated Campese ahead of Moon by that stage. By 1995 Ella was also more conservative in rating Moon. Rather than saying who he felt was better Ella stated that: “Two of the three best wingers I have seen in international rugby were Australians – David Campese and Brendan Moon (the third being John Kirwan)” (Ella, 1995: 123).

References

  1. ↑ Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-86200-013-1) p72

External links