Owen Cunningham

A product of Wests Mackay Junior Club, Owen Cunningham attended Mirani High and always aspired to play for Queensland.

But the Blue jersey was the first one he donned in interstate football, representing New South Wales in Under 19s, and then Sydney Under 21s, alongside future Blues' star, Mark Geyer.

A centre when he played in Mackay, Cunningham, nicknamed OJ, proved he could play anywhere in the pack during an amazing 16-year first grade career, which began with a run off the bench, against the Roosters in 1985.

Cunningham was on the bench when Manly lost the 1995 grand final to Canterbury, but started at lock in the 1996 ARL premiership win over St George.

He made his State of Origin debut off the bench in Game III of the 1996 series.

The highlight of my career was playing State of Origin, followed closely by winning a first-grade grand final.

Owen Cunningham FOG #97

The following year, he returned to North Queensland to play for the Cowboys, and was named their Player of the Year. He also represented Queensland in three Super League Tri-series fixtures.

Cunningham spent two years in Townsville, captaining the club on several occasions, before returning to Sydney to finish his top grade career with Manly (1999) and then the Northern Eagles (2000).

Back in Mackay, he has enjoyed success as a coach, most notably taking the region to Foley Shield success in 2011.

He rated his Manly coach, Bob Fulton, one of rugby league's 'Immortals', as the biggest influence on his career.