Mr Kel O'Shea

O’Shea was a champion backrower who formed a great combination with Norm Provan in Australia’s Test pack. O’Shea first represented Queensland and Australia while playing for Ayr in 1954. He played against Great Britain and in the World Cup in 1954 before moving to Wests in 1956. That year he represented NSW and, after taking on the Kiwis in the Trans Tasman series, played in Tests against Great Britain and France on the Kangaroo Tour.

A member of Australia’s victorious World Cup team in 1957, O’Shea played in three Tests against Great Britain in 1958 before taking his place in Wests’ losing grand final team. O’Shea played in the 22-0 loss to St George in the1961 grand final and his last appearance for the club was against the Dragons on a muddy SCG in the 1963 grand final. O’Shea left Wests for Newcastle following the controversial 8-3 loss to St George but after almost a decade of chasing grand final success in Sydney, O’Shea came out of retirement to captain-coach Maitland in 1965. Playing in the Newcastle grand final, he converted his club’s winning try after the bell as spectators invaded the field.