Courtesy of the Bundaberg News-Mail
By Vince Habermann
ALEX Tallon, who made an excellent club debut for the Brisbane “Baby Broncos’’ in Childers on Saturday, has Bundaberg links.
The 17-year-old centre scored two tries and kicked four goals in their 72-16 win against Wide Bay.
Born and bred in Brisbane where he lives with his parents Brad and Nadine, he carries one of Bundaberg’s most famous names, his great-grandfather Alex was a former top player here for Railways, and grand-father Ron “Boppo’’ Tallon, is a cousin among others to late sporting icons Don, Bill and Matt Tallon.
Ron said he and his wife Von had been “watching Alex come up since he was 12 years old’’ and they made the trip from their Buderim home to watch the game.
“Alex first played for Queensland on the wing in Rockhampton five years ago and they beat New South Wales and scored a couple of tries,’’ Ron said.
“He went to Marist Brothers Ashgrove where he naturally played union and captained the First XV for the last two years - they went through the season undefeated and he scored a record number of points, and he also played for Australia A which beat Samoa at Churchie last year.
“He was also picked in the AIS rugby league team which toured Europe last year and he scored nine tries and kicked 20 goals and played all five games and was one of only two players to do that.
“Alex got a scholarship with the Broncos who have been following his career and got an OP 10 and is enrolled in QUT.
“It was a real thrill for him to play at Childers - they made everyone so welcome and it was a really well run show.’’
Ron is better known in lifesaving circles and said he still had “some great mates’’ in that movement in Bundaberg such as Graham McKenzie, John Barlow and Noel Bullpit.
