The NRL has paid tribute to former Manly and Kangaroos captain Wally O’Connell, who has died aged 94.
O’Connell played 10 Test matches for Australia and was the Kangaroos’ oldest living Test captain.
He was a captain-coach of Manly in 1950-52, while he was also a Queensland coach in 1973.
“Wally was a wonderful five-eighth for Manly,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said. “Very few players ever get to captain their country but it speaks for Wally’s talent and leadership that he was part of that select group.
“He leaves a wonderful legacy.
“He will be sorely missed by everyone at Manly, but also the game which he was a special part of.”
WALTER PATRICK (WALLY) O’CONNELL
Born: April 16, 1923, Sydney, NSW
CAREER OVERVIEW
Games Trs Gls F/G Pts
CLUB CAREER 1942-1952
Eastern Suburbs 1942-48
1942 15 3 - - 9
1943 14 4 - - 12
1944 12 4 7 - 26
1945 12 6 - - 18
1946 14 3 - - 9
1947 15 2 - - 6
1948 6 2 - - 6
TOTAL 88 24 7 - 86
Christian Brothers Wollongong 1949
Manly-Warringah 1951-52
1951 18 7 - - 21
1952 16 4 - - 12
TOTAL 34 11 - - 33
Club total does not include matches played for Christian Brothers, Wollongong. Because of a residential qualification dispute, O’Connell stood down from Manly for the 1950 season.
REPRESENTATIVE CAREER 1942-1952
CITY-COUNTRY 1943-1952
City 1943-1952 5 1 - - 3
Country 1949 1 - - - 0
TOTAL 6 1 - - 3
NEW SOUTH WALES 1948-1952
v. Queensland 1948-1952 5 1 - - 3
v. touring ides 1948-1952 3 2 - - 6
TOTAL 8 3 - - 9
AUSTRALIA 1948-1951
Tests 1948-51 10 2 - - 6
Tour matches 1948-49 21 3 - - 9
TOTAL 31 5 - - 15
OTHER REP TEAMS 1942-1951
Syd, Rest of NSW, Poss, Probs 1942-1951 6 5 - - 15
TOTAL 173 49 7 - 161
Wally O’Connell was graded by Eastern Suburbs in 1941 from the Graham’s club in the Eastern Suburbs juniors. He captained Australia in one Test match in 1948.
Source: David Middleton - League Information Services
