Life-long love of the game

Over the course of his sporting life Casey "Neil” O'Connor has served as a player, captain, committee member, president and writer.

OLD FOES: NRL coach Wayne Bennett with Casey O'Connor at a Stanthorpe function. A Bennett tackle would sideline O'Connor in the 1970 Toowoomba season. Picture: Contributed

RUGBY LEAGUE: Over the course of his sporting life Casey "Neil” O'Connor has served as a player, captain, committee member, president and writer.

In 1971, he was elevated to the role of Stanthorpe Rugby League president, perhaps the youngest it has ever had, or will ever see. He was barely 21years old at the time.

Born and bred at Ballandean, he and the family migrated north to Stanthorpe in 1963 to the "big smoke”.

His dad, Jack, died at just 45 years of age. A fervent cricket fan, Casey took after his dad and developed his love for the gentleman's game.

But through school, his passion for rugby league grew.

"We played all our league on the Sunday back then. Most of us in those days played soccer too. I think it should still be that way,” Mr O'Connor said.

"As the years progressed I started getting more and more involved with the club. I was on the committee very early, very young I was.”

He was just 16 when he first took up a role on the committee.

"I had a guy called Ray Barr, a local legend in league here, and he took me by the scruff of my neck and asked could I help out,” he said.

"After that I became interested in what they were doing.

"One of my early jobs was to go to the showgrounds, where they played all the games in those days, and light the oil heaters to hopefully have warm showers for the start of day's play.

"But usually it'd take to the end of the day for that to happen.”

LEFT: Casey O'Connor lines up with the 1974 Stanthorpe Gremlins first-grade side. He's pictured front row, first on the left. Picture: Contributed

In 1969, the young winger was drafted in from the under-18s into first grade.

"It was a bit of a feather in my cap. I didn't play any reserve grade and went straight to A-grade,” he said.

It proved to be the right call. Casey was named the club's best and fairest in his first season.

His achievements didn't go unnoticed. In 1970 he was lured across to Toowoomba All Whites where he trialled alongside Elton Rasmussen and Wayne Bennett.

"It was eye-opening but I believe the standard wasn't that much different to the Warwick and District competition in those days,” he said.

After a friend of his, Eric Smith, signed for Toowoomba Souths, Casey opted to link up with him.

He was having a stand-out season until Bennett injured Casey in a tackle.

"I ended up with a severe dislocation of my shoulder,” he recalled.

In 1971 he returned to Stanthorpe and by 1972 he was Stanthorpe Rugby League's president, while lining up in first grade.

He stepped down at the end of '73, the season before the Gremlins moniker was born.

Casey said the club has ex-coach Marty Driscoll to thank for the name.

WIN: Casey O'Connor lifts the Locke Trophy after his Stanthorpe side won the under-18s premiership more than 50 years ago. Picture: Contributed

Casey played on in 1974 before relocating to Brisbane and then Darwin, where he played his last game of rugby league.

Fast forward three decades and he was again at the helm of rugby league, as president of the Border League for a few years.

He says he attempted to push a move through for Stanthorpe to join Toowoomba C-grade back then, before he was ousted from his role.

Sure enough, that change would eventuate just a few years later.

Wanting to stay involved in footy and sport in general, Casey has enjoyed writing stints at the Border Post and Free Times, something he continues to do for the latter.

Looking back on his time, as well as Stanthorpe Rugby League's centenary year, he cherishes being involved.

"We've got a rich rugby league history here and I'm glad I got to be a part for a few years,” he said.

"I don't regret anything I've done in rugby league. You're open to criticism.”

It's something he knows plenty about after Warwick and District Rugby League handed out a life ban to one of his own teammates back in his days as president after he punched a referee.

"I think that with this hundred-year celebration, it's great for the younger ones involved to know the history of their club,” he said.