Shaun O’Loan: Ipswich community farewells beloved rugby league stalwart

A fun-loving “larrikin” and rugby league icon has been remembered as an exceptional father, husband, coach and mentor after losing his battle with illness.

Ipswich’s rugby league community is in mourning following the passing of a much-loved larrikin who dedicated his life to mentoring the city’s next generation of athletes.

Shaun O’Loan, who coached Brothers, Goodna, Redbank Plains, and Ipswich Jets players over his decades-long career, sadly lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday night, aged 63.

He was a proud father to Zane, Blake, and Keziah, a devoted husband to his wife Karen, and a “true hero” to his eight grandchildren – Sophia, 12, Bella, 11, Summa, 10, Cooper, 9, Ruby, 9, Khobie, 2, Poppy 2, and Torvy, 1 – who affectionately knew him as ‘Grumpy Grandad’.

A widely respected, much-loved member of the Ipswich rugby league community, former Brothers coach Shaun O'Loan, sadly passed away on Tuesday.

O'Loan's three children said their dad was a “big larrikin” who had a unique way of getting the best out of people.

“He was a great dad, leading us down the right path of commitment in a loving, firm way,” they said.

“Sporting-wise, he was proud to be a part of the Goodna and Brothers ‘old boys’.

“His passion was coaching kids, mentoring young men and helping them through life.”

And he was exceptional at it, winning premierships in every grade from under-13s to A-Grade.

Shaun O'Loan coached the Goodna IRL team in 2012, the same year his son Blake captained the Brothers IRL team. Picture: Sarah Harvey

He had a lasting impact on many of the young men he coached, including Heath McQueen, who was a large part of his life for 30 years.

McQueen was just 16-years-old, playing in the under-17s team when O'Loan took him under his wing.

“Shaun was a coach, a mentor, my mate,” McQueen said.

“He was very influential in a lot of people’s lives. A lot of young footballers, and a lot of young men, are better off for having been involved with Shaun through rugby league.”

Shaun is survived by his wife Karen, three children, and eight grandchildren. Picture: Supplied

McQueen said some of his fondest memories were from days spent with O'Loan, learning from him and later coaching with him.

Having essentially grown up with O'Loan as a role model, McQueen said he considered him family.

“I’ll forever be grateful for Shaun’s friendship. It meant a lot to me,” McQueen said.

“There’s a massive, massive hole that he’s left in a lot of people’s lives. So many people were touched by him.”

O'Loan's “infectious personality” and his commitment to his players were what made him so successful, McQueen said, and helped him achieve his “endless” premierships.

Renowned for his “endless” premierships, Shaun will forever remain an integral part of Ipswich’s rugby league community. Picture: Bruce Clayton Photography

Fellow rugby league stalwart Luke Smith said the first quality he noticed of O'Loan's willingness to learn was the thing which drew people in.

“You could tell he really cared,” Smith said.

“He’d ask how you’re going, ‘how’s family? How’s work?’

“He’s so easy to talk to.”

Even when breaking the devastating news of his cancer diagnosis to Smith in 2019, O'Loan was positive and focused on the players and staff at Brothers Football Club.

Shaun was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, tragically losing his battle on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

“It was a tough conversation, but within 30 seconds he’d already swung the conversation back to the team, the club, the players,” Smith said.

After O'Loan retired from rugby league coaching that same year, Smith said he continued to call and check in on how he and everyone else at the club was going.

“He was just a really good guy,” Smith said.

Originally from Inala, O'Loan moved to Redbank Plains in 1980 with his “soulmate” Karen. They married a short time after, both aged 22.

It was there the pair built their family home and raised their three children, creating traditions, memories and a legacy.

They lived there until just two years ago when they both semi-retired and relocated to the Sunshine Coast.

O'Loan was a dedicated member of Ipswich’s sporting community for decades, coaching Goodna to its first premiership in 1989 before taking up a posting at the Jets and coaching juniors at Redbank on the side. Picture: Glenn Barnes

Karen said O'Loan's passion for rugby league existed all his life, having played since he was a boy.

“He always thought sport led you in the right direction,” she said.

Zane, Blake, and Keziah said the coaching success of their father – their “hero” – came down to the fact he could “get down on everyone’s level, not judging a book by its cover”.

O'Loan leaves behind a legacy of dedication, hard work, passion, and a love for sport which his kids and those who knew him will continue to honour and remember.

Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral at Centenary Memorial Gardens on Friday January 14 at 2pm and the wake which will follow at Brothers Sports Club in Ipswich.