John Connolly, former Reds and Wallabies coach, inducted into Queensland rugby’s Hall of Fame

Legendary Reds coach and Queensland Rugby Hall of Famer John Connolly has opened up on the accident which left him in a wheelchair, and the purpose behind his immense fundraising crusade to uncover a solution to spine injuries.

John Connolly is a former coach of the Reds, and Wallabies.

Valentine’s Day was the perfect day for John Connolly to rekindle one of the most enduring passions of his colourful and ultimately inspirational life … the Queensland Reds.

Sport in Queensland has many engrossing off-field moments and watching the curtains open mid-stage at Brisbane City Hall on Friday to see Connolly emerge from the darkness to be honoured in Queensland rugby’s Hall of Fame was one of them.

The Sia song about “swinging from the Chandeliers’’ may have been playing in the background but that is something Connolly won’t be doing after an accident confined him to the wheelchair in which he emerged on stage.

Connolly, who coached the Reds in more than 200 games between 1989-2000 for an astonishing 71% success rate, was inducted with Test winger Brendan Moon and former Wallaroo Bronwyn Laidlaw.

John Connolly was inducted into Queensland rugby’s Hall of Fame. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The Hall of Fame segment was a highlight of the launch of the Reds season which, under coach Les Kiss, has a tangible buzz about it entering next Friday’s opening game against Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium.

Connolly’s award was particularly memorable for several reasons including his post-accident resilience and the fact it brings a final and hopefully everlasting peace between he and the QRU after a very difficult time a decade ago which saw them on the opposite sides of the court room and seeing a vastly different form of red.

Connolly has become an inspiring figure since a tragic fall at his father’s home in Brisbane in August, 2021 left him wheelchair-bound after he broke his neck and was left with no feeling below his chest.

He still has some movements in his arms and his renowned story telling ability has not been dimmed as evident by some of his yarns on stage including the day he and Stan Pilecki had a punch-up at a Queensland selection meeting over Pilecki’s son Bart. The duo then changed out of their bloodied shirts and went for a beer (“It was a different time …’’).

John Connolly during Queensland Reds training in 2015. Picture: Darren England

The 43,000 texts Connolly has received since the accident says much about the depth of old friendships formed in a career which spanned the free-wheeling amateur era to hard core professionalism.

Rather than dwell on the many and varied challenges of his new life, which included almost a year in hospital, Connolly rebounded by starting a fund-raising crusade which has raised several hundred thousand dollars for the spinal ward at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and his positivity has touched many hearts.

“It’s the young people who suffer these injuries I worry about, not me,” Connolly said.

“Once you accept what you have got and what the future holds you can move forward.

“I’ve been lucky. Some of the silly things I have done in life I could have been injured like this 50 years ago.’’

Connolly said while there have been medical advancements in most fields and heart transplants started more than 50 years ago “there are two areas where we cannot find improvement – the spinal cord and the brain’’ which has spurred him to raise more money for research.

John Connolly with Queensland Reds players.

Connolly will never mention his challenges unless you specifically ask him but pushed to name some hidden frustrations he said “I suppose it’s the little things like wanting to scratch the side of your head. Also, I can see the ocean and the beach but I can’t take advantage of it. But there are plenty worse off than me.’’

Known as Knuckles for his stint as a night-club bouncer in Darwin in his youth, Connolly’s life story will be published this year in the book Bare Knuckles, written by respected Brisbane author Michael Blucher.

It promises to be quite a read, and he quipped on stage there might be a strong word or two about Eddie Jones, former rugby boss John O’Neill “but no Queenslanders.’’

It is clear that his setback has given him appreciation for a new type of hero. Back in the day, when he was coaching the Reds or Wallabies, the likes of John Eales and Tim Horan – who still phone him regularly – were the pin-up boys and joining the list is former rugby player Perry Cross who broke his neck in a rugby accident at age 19.

John Connolly with his wife Jo, ahead of the Hall of Fame event. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Cross attended the function on Friday after being given tickets by Connolly.

“He is amazing what he he has done for people and I am donating the profits of the book to his foundation,’’ said Connolly of Cross who has an honorary doctorate from Griffith University for service to the community for people with spinal injuries.

Connolly admits he never saw his Hall of Fame honour coming after he took the QRU to court after being sacked six weeks into a two-year deal to work as a coaching consultant in the 2015-16 seasons.

Connolly was awarded $150,000 from that case but the tension has subsided and both parties have moved on to pave the way for his rightful Hall of Fame recognition.

“It’s fine,’’ Connolly said. “I am very honoured and grateful to be in the Hall of Fame. I don’t hold any grudges against the people there.

“When you have an agreement with someone you have to say what you mean and mean what you say. But you move on. I still cheer for the Reds every time they run out.’’

Originally published as John Connolly, former Reds and Wallabies coach, inducted into Queensland rugby’s Hall of Fame