Rugby League Career
A halfback in high school, Boland recalled being rejected due to his small stature. "After I had gone to try out for the school side in Year 11, I was told to go away and grow some more," he said.
Boland won an under-23s premiership with St George before travelling overseas in 1975. Upon his return to Australia, he signed for the Balmain Tigers and was a member of the Tigers' Amco Cup-winning side in 1976. From 1979, he played five seasons with the Western Suburbs Magpies. He often captained the side from his position of wing, including in the 1980 semi-final campaign.
A broken leg suffered in the 1981 pre-season saw some questioning whether his career was over, but he returned to first grade in late July. He was again captaining the side in the 1982 semi-finals appearance, before retiring in 1983 at the relatively young age of 28. He was later named as winger and captain of Western Suburbs Magpies Team of the Eighties.
Boland was considered an anomaly in the tough Western Suburbs teams of his time. He was described as, "well-educated, articulate, ambitious, and deeply concerned with social issues." An arts graduate of Macquarie University, Boland hosted a "social issues" radio show on 2SM during his time as a player.
Read more about this topic: Warren Boland
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