IT SEEMS like a very long time since the last Footy Spy, with so much happening in the game.
It would be tempting to launch into the recent success of the Cowboys, now sitting fourth on the NRL ladder after five straight wins, but of course the first three games of the season were difficult and like the old saying goes, it is “one week at a time”. Certainly the 2015 season has so far highlighted how one week is such a long time in Rugby league, let alone one month!
Vale Kel O’Shea
Before the 2015 season began, the game lost one of the true greats, a player who started his Rugby League career in the bush, and rose to great heights- Kel O’Shea. Burdekin born and bred, Kel holds a very unique place in the history of Rugby League, as he became the first North Queensland born and bred player to represent Australia on home soil , in 1954.
Kel played for the Colts club in Ayr, and coming through the grades, the tall rangy second rower was soon noticed by the Burdekin selectors. He played in the Foley shield final of 1951 and North Queensland honours followed in 1952. By 1953 he had made the Queensland side for the first time, playing against New South Wales and the USA All-stars!
The Australian selectors obviously liked what they saw and the following year he was selected in the Australian world cup squad. The 1954 Rugby league world cup, featuring Great Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand was played in France and won by Great Britain. Kel would have had to take time off work to make the tour.
In 1955 while doing his National Service training in Brisbane, Kel played for the Brisbane Souths club. By then he was firmly in the sights of Sydney clubs as well and in 1956 Sydney Western Suburbs became his new home.
He went on to have a magnificent career with Sydney West’s and continued to play representative football until 1958. Of course playing in Sydney meant he had to represent News South Wales, and by 1958 he could boast a Rugby league CV that included eight appearances for Queensland, eight for New South Wales and 20 tests for Australia, as well as the 1956 Kangaroo tour.
Kel’s career wound down in the 1960’s and after a final season for Maitland in 1965 he moved home to Queensland. For a while he lived in Chinchilla before moving to Redland Bay outside Brisbane.
Kel was named in the North Queensland team of the century in 2008, as well as the Sydney Wests (and West Tigers) team of the Century and was also named in the top 100 great Australian players list. His partnership with St George captain Norm Provan in the Australian second row became famous, and since Provan was known as “Sticks”, Kel became known as “twigs”. A true North Queensland pioneer, Kel O’Shea passed away in January at 81 years of age.
Intrust Super Cup
There is certainly plenty to talk about with the performance of the four teams in the North Queensland Register circulation areas. The Townsville Blackhawks in their first year are really making an impact, leading the Intrust Super Cup after eight rounds with seven wins.
The Mackay Cutters are not far behind, having won five of the seven games, and currently sit on fourth. Meanwhile last year’s premiers the Northern Pride have had a slower start to the season winning three, including a big win on the weekend over the Souths Logan Magpies. This win should be the start of better things to come for the Pride. The Central Queensland Capras have also had a slow start and have won one game so far.
NQ Toyota Cowboys
After a difficult start to the season, the Cowboys are really hitting the mark now, with particularly strong finishes to games. It all started with a desperate win against the Storm. Everyone is now talking about former Rockhampton player Jake Granville, and he certainly is showing his excellent speed off the mark and brilliant defence, but as he pointed out himself, he can’t do it without the forwards doing their job. The Cowboys are certainly firing under Coach Paul Green and in this, the 20th celebration year of the club, what better time to do it!
