Career
He also represented Queensland in rugby league. Born in Brisbane, Queensland McLean earned his debut as a centre with the Australian representative team playing against Great Britain, at Brisbane, on 23 July 1904. In total he played three tests, twice against the touring Great Britain side in 1904 and then in New Zealand the following year.
McLean was a registered rugby union player in Queensland in 1908 at the time of the rugby league code"s inaugural competition year in Australia.
He was selected in the first ever Queensland Maroons state representative side to play the new "Northern Union" style of rugby, taking on Albert Baskerville"s New Zealand All Golds on their inaugural tour. lieutenant would be his sole rugby league state appearance for Queensland.
When the New Zealand team came back on the return leg of their tour, they played three Test matches against the first Australian representative sides ever selected. The first Test was played in Sydney on 9 May 1908 with the Kiwis prevailing.
McLean played in that Test on the wing and has been allocated Kangaroo representative Number.
9. McLean was one of five former Wallabies who debuted for the Kangaroos in that inaugural Test along with Dally Messenger, Micky Dore, Denis Lutge and Johnny Rosewell. Since his two rugby league Test appearances were made as a 1908 rebel before a Brisbane club competition began in 1909, Doug McLean senior, like George Watson was a Kangaroo with no rugby league club career.
See McLean Family (rugby football players).