Mr Des Connor

Captain of the Queensland Team of the Century named in 2000, he was a mercurial halfback who has the distinction of playing for both Australia and New Zealand before later coaching Australia.

A product of Marist College, Ashgrove, he played for Queensland at 18 in 1954, captained Queensland at 20, and played 41 times for Australia from 1957-60, including 12 Tests – two as captain. He was arguably Australia’s best player on one of the great sporting tours to the British Isles, France, Canada and the United States in 1957-58.

He moved to New Zealand to accept a prestige teaching position in Auckland in 1960, and became the first Wallaby to win All Black selection in 1961, playing 11 times for New Zealand before retiring in 1965. He was vice-captain on the New Zealand 1962 tour of Australia and skippered the All Blacks against Queensland.

Returning to Australia in ’67, he coached Brothers in his first year back, and in ’68 was appointed Australian coach. He coached Australia in 14 Tests through until 1970, and is credited with inventing the short line-out against New Zealand in his first Test at the helm. He later served as an Australian selector and on the Queensland Rugby Union Management Committee.