Oakdale Workers 60th anniversary: A tribute to the 2011 Group 6 Rugby League premiers
As the Oakdale Workers head towards another finals campaign in the Macarthur Rugby League, we celebrate the club’s 60th anniversary by revisiting the heroes from their 2011 premiership side.
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With the finals of the Macarthur Rugby League fast approaching, the Oakdale Workers are on track to celebrate the club’s 60th anniversary with its first grand final appearance since 2020.
Since the club formed in 1963, Oakdale has contested eight grand finals and hoisted the trophy on two occasions.
After knocking over Camden to claim their first title in 1993, another 18 seasons would pass before skipper Todd Pes saluted the crowd following his side’s upset victory over minor premiers East Campbelltown in 2011.
In a trip down memory lane, we tracked down club president Matt Macbeth and 2011 coach Brendon Reeves to unearth the stars of that memorable 24-16 victory.
Dominated by plumbers, but with its fair share of brains and good looks, here’s the 2011 premiership winners.
KYLE WEH (FULLBACK)
Known for his prodigious left foot step, the uni student ditched it on grand final day. Instead, the fullback crashed over from a pet play called ‘Lazy’ to open a handy 12-6 halftime lead.
Has since graduated as an electrical engineer, and now also runs a photography hustle on the side.
MATT McCAULEY (WINGER)
The fittest member of the side, McCauley forged a reputation with his punishing carries out of trouble.
Now high up in a plumbing firm at Rydalmere, rumour has it the speedster’s hairline receded just as quick following the premiership success.
SHANE VALENTINE (CENTRE)
Known as ‘10 out of 10’ for his model looks, the personal trainer preferred the gym to training but it didn’t stop him from countering an Eagles try with a slashing effort of his own in the second half.
Somewhat of a mystery man these days, the former No.3 keeps a low profile.
NICK CROUCH (CENTRE)
A strike centre and leading try scorer at Oakdale for many seasons, Nick took up coaching and now doubles as an underground coal miner.
GLYNN BESTER (WINGER)
After East Campbelltown opened the scoring, Glynn capitalised on the classy work of Graeme Martin and Ben Fryer to open Oakdale’s account with a scorching retort along the right touchline to level the scores at 6-all.
A Camden junior, the evasive speed machine retired after the decider and now resides in Burleigh Heads where he is a state manager for an airconditioning company
JAMIE BLEWITT (FIVE-EIGHTH)
With the Eagles closing to within two points at the pointy end of the contest, the scheming playmaker put boot to ball to lay on the premiership winning try.
A clutch player, Jamie blocked the heckles of a boisterous crowd to ensure Oakdale’s score advanced in multiples of six all afternoon.
Another plumber, he owns his own company and still works on the tools.
RONALD JONES (HALFBACK)
A proud Indigenous man, Ronny was a magician with all the tricks. Before guiding the Workers, the Wests Magpies junior rose through the ranks where his off-the-cuff style took him all the way to the NRL.
Known for an uncanny ability to take the right option, he now operates in Work Health and Safety.
TOM MOON (PROP)
Rock solid upfront, what Tom lacked in size he made up for in heart. Remembered for his tough carries, the relentless bookend was powered by a massive engine and never let up in defence.
In team full of plumbers, he’s considered one of the best.
TODD PES (HOOKER, CAPTAIN)
Everyone listened when Oakdale’s respected leader took centre stage. A builder by trade, the gutsy skipper toughed out the season with a work related back injury caused from lifting frames all week.
Led the side from dummy-half where he was a constant threat.
DAVID LOWE (PROP)
A workhorse of Group 6 rep footy for years, ‘Lumpy’ carried a few extra kilos but always put his hand up for the first carry.
Not much of a talker, the former front-rower has since found peace as an accountant.
GRAEME MARTIN (SECOND ROW)
Always full of chat, Martin had an answer for everything and according to Reeves: “He did Lowe’s talking, while Dave did his hit ups.”
Now an electrician living at Burrill Lake on the south coast, the busy backrower had his fingerprints all over Oakdale’s premiership success.
BEN FRYER (SECOND ROW)
The brains of the pack, Ben shot the lights out of the HSC and now runs a successful electrical cable installation business.
On the park, the No.12 patrolled Oakdale’s right edge with a prodigious left fend and like former Dragon Trent Barrett, never finished a match with a hair out of place.
BART MASTERS (LOCK)
All class. Bart stepped off both feet, kicked and defended like a trooper. A Campbelltown junior, he was still going strong last season and won a comp on the south coast.
These days he keeps busy bending his back for a glass company installing shower screens.
TOM CASEY (INTERCHANGE)
Small in stature, the pocket rocket unleashed loads of energy in short spurts as an edge backrower.
A very successful businessman, Tom currently runs a solar company.
SAM CONLON (INTERCHANGE)
When five-eighth Jamie Blewitt grubbered in the closing stages, he probably didn’t anticipate Sam Conlon running onto a room-service ricochet to score the match winner. But that’s exactly what the unfashionable prop did.
The son of famed superboot Ross, Sam has since relocated to Goulburn where he plays rugby union and operates as a stock and station agent.
LACHLAN GRAY (INTERCHANGE)
A local junior, Lachlan was a silent assassin who was harder than a coffin nail. A man of few words, the no nonsense middle forward exploded into form after being dropped mid-season and never looked back.
A former plumber with Matt Macbeth, he now owns his own business.
MATT MACBETH (INTERCHANGE)
A front-row skyscraper without an ounce of fat, Macbeth was a semi professional boxer who put the fear of God into the opposition.
A veteran of the side, the current club president loves big boats and when he’s not selling acreage in Oakdale, he’s often gallivanting up north as a big-game fisherman.
TY O’BRIEN
Ty was a super safe fullback who could sniff out a try, and despite setting up a four-pointer in the semi final he was omitted from the grand final squad in the quest to field a “balanced line-up”.
Now an industrial arts teacher at Camden High, it’s unknown if Ty has forgiven his former coach.
GAVIN PHILPS
A nuggety lock, injuries kept Gavin out of the finals and robbed him of a spot in the game day 17.
BRENDON REEVES (HEAD COACH)
Following a distinguished NRL career Brendon ended up at Oakdale. In 2011 he shared the coaching duties with David Arthur, who handled the job with aplomb for three weeks while Reeves was away with the Australian Universities side.
In the years since, Reeves has worked as a librarian but has gravitated back to the game and also dabbles as PE teacher.
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