‘He played hard and partied just as hard’: Tributes flow for Gold Coast rugby champion Warren Carey

The Gold Coast community is mourning the loss of a city icon who has tragically lost his battle with cancer. FULL DETAILS OF THIS WEEKEND’S LIFE CELEBRATION HERE

For a man who garnered so much respect and admiration among the Gold Coast rugby fraternity, it seemed only fitting that honouring his life would be a widespread celebration.

Warren ‘Wazza’ Carey, the former Breakers president and champion of the ‘work hard, play hard’ mantra, tragically lost his battle with throat cancer last weekend, leaving behind a legacy that will remain embedded in the sport’s folklore for the years to come.

Carey passed away peacefully on Saturday, succumbing to the cancer that close friend Ivan Hill said had only been detected roughly eight weeks ago.

Hill visited Carey regularly in the ICU up until his death. While he said in the final weeks his partner in rugby was in an almost comatose state, shortly prior to that he had embraced the diagnosis as a fight he was up for.

To celebrate his life, an open event at Surfers Paradise Dolphins is set to take place on July 30, where Hill expects a strong turnout of past and present players since Carey became Breakers president in 2003.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2004: Breakers Rugby Union Awards night at Albert Waterways Hall. Warren Carey and Presidents Cup winner Brad Sharpe. PicAnnLouise/Hovey - sport

Hill said Carey had a way of relating to players at the various clubs he was involved with that brought out the best in them, and kept the heartbeat of the sport alive in those teams.

“He got on with the players extremely well, he was able to relate to players since he had a fairly young mindset,” he said.

“He enjoyed having a good time, so the players — being unprofessional players and not playing professionally — liked having a good time, and it fit into the mould the Breakers needed at the time.

“Wazza kind of had the mentality of having a good time and playing hard on and off the field and suited exactly what we needed.

“I’m already hearing a lot of the old Breakers boys are going along (to the celebration at Surfers Paradise).

“He played hard and partied just as hard afterwards. One of the Mad Mondays we had was at his place and it was the best Mad Mondays you would ever go to.”

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Hill would not go into detail about that particular post-season celebration, preferring to keep some things among those who were there to enjoy the proceedings.

But he said at those same post-game parties, he himself was often second to leave, such was the bond the pair had forged.

While Hill admitted he had moved to the Gold Coast from New Zealand to get somewhat away from rugby, he was quickly pulled back in to manage the Breakers under Carey’s presidency.

They continued working together even in Carey’s final years, joining the committee at the Griffith Uni Colleges Knights and appointing Johnny Ngauamo as coach, overseeing an unprecedented winning streak of 46 from 47 games.

When the former Tonga Test centre began his time at Surfers Paradise this year, Carey followed him, ha ing previously been a part of the club as well.

Last month he was even able to watch one last game coached by Ngauamo — a 62-5 triumph over Gold Coast Eagles, the biggest win of the 2022 season.

Warren Carey and Vitori Buatava (l to r) pictured in 2004.. PicAnnLouise/Hovey - sport rugby union

“He was very loyal and very honest basically,” Hill said.

“He didn’t really have a bad word to say about anybody, but I know if I ever needed something Wazza would do what he could to help out.”

It was that same loyalty which kept Cameron Bracewell on the Glitter Strip.

Having moved over from New Zealand in 2006 as a youngster, Bracewell said there was a time when he would have had to move back across the ditch if he was unable to afford his university studies on the Gold Coast.

The former Breakers star said Carey was quick to dig into his own pockets, and he would not have been the only player to experience such generosity.

“I had a bit of crossroads, I played a year in colts and had to make a decision whether I went back to New Zealand to go to university or stay, which was going to be a lot more difficult being a and paying your fees up front,” Bracewell said.

“He definitely made sure I was able to continue my education on the Gold Coast, even if that meant putting his hand in his own pocket. I was a pretty naive kid back then, but looking back I realise how much he did for kids like me.

“I would be been one of many, I know a lot of guys through the grades he looked after – whether it was opening his home for them or finding jobs.”

The July 30 celebration at the Dolphins clubhouse will include a Hawaiian shirt dress code, a look Bracewell said Carey trademarked throughout his years in rugby.

“We all had the Breakers polo shirts and he was insistent on wearing this old Breakers Hawaiian shirt that used to be the team formal dress when they travelled to way games,” he said.

“He was so insistent on that, and it had holes over the years. He would never chuck on the polo, always the Hawaiian.

“He’s definitely going to be missed, the celebration on the 30th there will be heaps of funny stories that will definitely be a celebration as opposed to a mourning.”

WHERE: Surfers Paradise Rugby Club — 33 Fremar Street, Broadbeach Waters

WHEN: Saturday July 30 4pm — the kick off time for the Dolphins qualifying final clash with Nerang — until late

WHAT: Celebration of Warren ‘Wazza’ Carey’s lfie

ATTIRE: Hawaiian shirt