Nudgee College old boy flyhalf Charlie O’Connell has moved 1200km to pursue his rugby dreams in the nation’s capital
For a select few Queensland teens the path to a rugby career in Red is clear. For others, like Nudgee College product Charlie O’Connell, it requires a switch of states in order to have the best chance to live out a childhood dream. More here on his 1200km move.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
For a select few Queensland teens the path to a rugby career in Red is clear.
For others, like Nudgee College product Charlie O’Connell, it requires a switch of states in order to chase a childhood dream.
O’Connell, 18, has dreamt of playing rugby professionally since he was a tiny tacker at Norths.
A fuse was lit within him to strive even harder as a schoolboy at Queensland’s great rugby nursery of Nudgee College, where he played a key role in the school achieving its 44th and 45th GPS First XV premiership.
Now in his first year out of school, the livewire flyhalf has moved south to the nation’s capital where he hopes to catch the eye of Brumbies selectors ahead of the Super Rugby Under-19s competition this year.
“That’s my main goal, play well for the Royals and then hopefully off the back of that make the 19s,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell, his manager and his family made a judgement call, to try his hand for family club the Canberra Royals.
It wasn’t an easy decision to say goodbye to his parents, friends and the familiar surroundings of home but he said it wasn’t hard either because “I’m rugby crazy”.
“It was hard but at the same time I want to try crack professional in rugby. Sacrifices have to be made.
“It has kind of been brewing … as a collective we looked at it and said there might not be a pathway for me in Queensland to make the Reds so it was an executive decision to move down to Canberra,” he said.
O’Connell was an attacking flyhalf for the Reds Under-16s side that finished second in the 2022 Super Rugby competition and he has a few more strings to his bow now after two gruelling years in Nudgee’s First XV.
“When I was 16 ... you could easily change the game by being an individual. As a No.10 I could take the game on,” he said.
“It’s completely different in 19s and first grade because I am either playing 35-year-olds or kids the same age as me so my game now isn’t about being the individual.”
In O’Connell’s senior year he had athletic star power surrounding him in Hugo Hart (Manly Sea Eagles), John Grenfell (Reds), Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Cronulla Sharks), Nick Conway (Reds) and Carter Welfare (Dolphins). He learnt to play to his strengths.
“Physics-wise they are going to make more metres than me so it’s about using them. For me, the impact I have is being able to understand the game to the point where I can influence everyone else to make them better, which then makes the team better.”
Don’t get it twisted. O’Connell still has flair and speed. He said he is now realising how best to tap into his outside men.
“Anthony Gibb, the 16As coach at Nudgee, gave me the confidence and also taught me that you can’t be that individual player,” O’Connell said.
“(Nudgee First XV coach Andrew) Scotney made it very obvious to me I had to - not put myself on the backburner - but elevate everyone up. You want 15 big dogs.”
O’Connell is also taking lessons from former Wallaby fullback Chris Latham and the father of Charlie’s good mate Adam, a handy No. 8 who will play for Wests in Queensland’s Colts 1 competition.
“Latho’s been hammering me with little details here and there. He is so helpful towards me. He’s been a major person guiding me on that maturity as a 10. His knowledge of the game is just exceptional,” he said.
O’Connell said his rugby GOAT was James O’Connor but not for the reason you might think.
“Generally, because my dad’s name is James, my last name’s O’Connell. I kind of gravitated towards that.
“My favourite player to watch and imitate was Sam Greene. That is my favourite No.10 of all time. He is not the biggest bloke like me. He is just an exceptional player.”
The sandy-blonde isn’t the only talented teen rugby rook who has moved from Brisbane to Duffy - the suburb in Canberra where Charlie and four housemates are plotting their rise to the top.
Charlie’s grand final rival in last year’s GPS rugby decider, outside back Paddy McInally, is keeping him company alongside Brisbane Boys’ College old boy Cooper Eagle.
Two-time Nudgee premiers Jacob Johnson (fullback), and Sam Watson (halfback) are also a stones throw away and will come up against Charlie when they play for Wests.
AIC First XI cricket: Padua boys ushered into Team of the Week
Two AIC First XI cricket captains and two players from a losing Padua side were ushered into the latest Team of the Week as three teams prepare to play for the premiership on Saturday.
30 rookies on the rise: Colts 1 club rugby Players to Watch revealed
Queensland’s premier under-20 rugby competition is just around the corner with the best teen talent in the Sunshine State revving their engines for battle. See who the Colts 1 players to watch are from all nine clubs here.