The great storytellers — Bob Dylan, Paul Kelly or Bruce Springsteen — could have played Rugby League, if only for their ability to tell a story, create a timeline and take you on a journey.
I could imagine Dylan sitting back at the Leagues Club, beer in hand, telling a tale from the old days.
“Bruce, tell that one about your glory days,” Dylan might call out.
Paul Kelly might strum his guitar and sing about the Billy McConnachie story and his remarkable journey to 100 Hostplus Cup games.
McConnachie’s story starts in Round 1, 2014, when he made his debut for the Ipswich Jets against the Norths Devils.
The Jets lost 16-12, but McConnachie’s Cup career was underway.
Twelve years later, three players from that Ipswich team are still playing — Kurt Capewell, Matt Parcell and now McConnachie.
McConnachie played his 99th game last week for the Western Clydesdales, seven years after he played his 98th for the Jets against the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the final round of 2019.
This week, against the Dolphins, he will play Hostplus Cup game number 100.
That will make him the 289th player to reach 100 Hostplus Cup games.
And to think it all started with a trip to Toowoomba to catch up with his old coaches.
“I took my son Will to Toowoomba to watch the Clydesdales and catch up with Ben and Shane Walker,” McConnachie said.
“I thought I would go down to the sheds and say hello, and they saw me and said, ‘You look fit. How about you come to training?’
“I’d been playing in Ipswich for Norths Tigers and keeping fit, so I said I would come along and train and see what happens.”
What happened next was the Clydesdales suffered some injuries in the front row and McConnachie was soon called upon for game 99.
“I had to go home and tell my wife I was thinking of playing Cup again and she said, ‘Are you mad?’
It had been 2,547 days since his last Cup game.
Western Clydesdales coach Shane Walker knew what he was getting. And if he didn’t, Kaden Buhse certainly knew who the Duncan Hall Medal winner from 2015 was.
“Bibo came to training and it didn’t take long for us to be sure he could still play. He still has great skill and just explodes,” Walker said.
“We were excited because he’s such a great player and a great person to have around our club.
“His first session, our half Kaden Buhse, came jogging over and said to Ben and myself, ‘When the Jets won in 2015, I contacted Billy McConnachie to tell him I loved him. I was only 11 years old, but it needed to be said.’
“It’s a great achievement to play 100 Cup games and we are super proud of him.
“He is still super tough. He got a knock on his mouth and the doctor said he needed seven stitches. Bill just said he’d put a few more ice cubes in his rum.”
And then there is another remarkable twist to the McConnachie story.
On the bench for the Ipswich Jets in 2014 for Billy’s debut was Matt Parcell — and he is still going around for the Clydesdales in 2026.
“Billy is one of my favourite players. I loved playing with him in 2015 and love having him around now,” Parcell said.
“He will be great for the Clydesdales and the fact he’s come back and played his 100th game just says how tough he is.
“He will add unbelievable value to the Clydesdales. He’s still so skilful with the ball and in defence, guys still watch for him.”
From making his debut for the Ipswich Jets in 2014, to winning a premiership and the Duncan Hall Medal, to playing his 98th game in 2019, to driving to Toowoomba simply to say hello to his former coaches — and somehow finding himself back playing Cup football.
Then came game 99 and now game 100.
That is one hell of a Rugby League story.
I’m not even sure Paul Kelly could do it justice.
