Kicking it with James O'Connor

This week, I was fortunate to catch up with Queensland Red and Wallaby James O'Connor! Obviously, with the player "bubble" in place, we caught up online using good old Zoom.

It was awesome to hear his perspective on where the Reds are at and what's caused our team to "click" this year. He also shared what he's been learning on field, in particular in the fly-half (number 10) role and even his personal philosophy when it comes to goal setting!

I really enjoyed catching up with him and I'm sure you'll enjoy reading our chat too!

Hey James, thanks for making time to catch up today. I hope you’re doing well!

Very well bro. Just got home - just finished training.

Obviously last weekends game against the Force was awesome for Reds fans. What do you think it is that’s clicked for the team lately?

Yeah it was! It was good to finally put everything together. What’s clicked - I think, it’s not just one thing in particular, it’s just everyone understands the game plan so much more. And I guess we’re just backing our structures. We hit some good form when Super Rugby just started, when everything was just clicking. Then after that Covid break, we had to really just go away and regroup and learn what was actually working for us and why it was working well. So what happened over the weekend was, everyone did their roles and just trusted the plan.. and it flowed as it did.

What have you enjoyed most about this year?

The thing I’ve enjoyed the most has probably been moving to 10. I played there quite a bit when I was younger, but I moved away from playing there and coming back and making it my own, taking it on, coming into this group, and developing my game.. having to grow in areas… you know, if I wanted to excel this year and for the team to play the way it is, I had to be able to adapt my game and really rebuild my kicking game and my running game. I guess it’s been so fulfilling, that I’m seeing the rewards of all the hard work and effort I put in. But also, just being able to read the defence lines differently and be able to manipulate space in ways that I haven’t before has been awesome to see. And now like you saw over the weekend, everything comes together because we’re learning how to play against different defences. When it’s a rush defence, knowing when to play what play at what moment, and then I guess, against the more jockier defence and wider spreads, I’ve really had to develop my mind which has been great.

I was going to ask what your favourite position is now. So, is it number 10?

Yeah. Before, it was number 12, because I got a good balance of running the ball, kicking the ball, defending. Also, at 12, you can be the second ball player of the team, but you have a little bit more time to really read out the play and you can also be a bit more attack orientated, in terms of carrying the ball. Whereas lately, I’ve really been enjoying 10, because your almost like the general of the team. You’re feeling out the game, you’re literally putting your team into the best position to attack. So it’s like your mind along with the other ball players and drives, but it’s almost like your moving the chess pieces on the board.

So it’s been awesome to be able to challenge myself in that way, to really feel out a game and make the right decisions at crucial times and play territory, know when to pass it wide and when to, I guess trust and use some of the players outside of me, more than I have done in the past.

So I’d say probably at the moment, 10 is my favourite position. But 10 and 12. Yeah.

James firing off a pass before Super Rugby was locked down for a while

What do you love most about being based at Ballymore?

I just think, Ballymore is like the home of rugby for me. That’s what I feel, it’s like the home of rugby in Australia. I guess the benefit as well is I only live 10 minutes down that road, that’s always beneficial. (laughs) But it’s got such a good feeling to it, sort of like that blend of club rugby and professional rugby all in one. You get in there and it’s a good place to work, because the facilities are really good, but it’s not too “flashy” and it’s still a bit old-school, a bit “hard-core”. You get on the grind pretty well.

When things are too “nice”, or too “easy”, you don’t sort of test yourself. Moving back to the old tin shed, where there’s a lot more room to do gym, but it’s also hot in there, you just get to work. I think that’s been pretty cool. Even the players changing room, it’s pretty old school, it’s got a real sort of “homey” feel to it.

What’s your favourite memory, playing with the Wallabies? Is it last years Bledisloe Cup game in Perth?

Yeah! I probably have two. The first one was almost a life-time ago, when we beat the All-Blacks in Hong-Kong. I think I scored a try and then kicked a penalty to finish the game and we beat them and it was the first time I’d beaten the All Blacks and I think that sort of particular Wallabies team had in maybe four years, so it was a really special moment. It was the first sort of time I’d properly goal kicked in a game, so that was huge.

But in this new life-time of mine, playing the All-Blacks in Perth. It was just a special moment, because I’d been away from the test arena for five or six years and it was a long and hard journey to get back there. I guess beating them in Perth, where I began my professional rugby, almost at home (Perth is like a home away from home), beating them over there was such a culmination of everything. I felt such joy and gratitude towards everyone who had been a part of my journey and I guess the comeback.

How old were you when you started playing rugby?

I started playing rugby when I was five years old. It was actually rugby league when I started playing, my first game was at the Gold Coast for a team called the Parkwood Sharks. Then I moved to New Zealand when I was six years old and I played rugby league and rugby union. I was around eleven when I moved back to Australia. I’ve been doing it for a while.

When did you realise you had a knack for it?

I knew I wanted to play professional rugby when I was about twelve years old. I knew that’s the direction I wanted my life to go. I always loved it up… I think I was twelve and I made the Queensland representative team. I remember the guy at the tournament was like “probably, only three of you guys will play professional footy”. I remember thinking to myself “I’m gonna be one of those guys, this is what I want to be doing. I love it. Yeah.” And today, there are actually ten of us who played professionally, so he was wrong [laughs]. I had a pretty competitive group coming through.

Who are some mentors that have helped you over the years?

Quite a few people have come into my life, to be fair. When I first started, over at the Western Force, I guess, probably the biggest influence on my rugby career, I would say one: Robbie Deans, two: Matt Gitteau and probably three, is the guy I work with from Saviour World, Ollie. They’re the guys who have had the biggest influence on my career, in terms of how I play the game, why I play the game, my purpose for playing, how I see it and just consistently trying to get better and grow and compete.

What are your current goals as a player?

Current goals… It’s funny because I don’t really set goals like I used to before. It’s not so much about the external, it’s about knowing internally that I’m playing my best footy for myself and for my team. So as long as I keep moving forward and growing and every match I mean it and leave the field knowing I gave everything, that’s all the satisfaction I need. But in saying that, I would like to win this Super Rugby AU, that’d be a good start. Also, playing for the Wallabies, that 10 jersey is what I’m putting all my energy into as well. Trying to get a complete game, so I can take that next challenge and that next step and win that Bledisloe. ‘Cos apparently there’s going to be two tests, in Brisbane. I’ve never been a part of a team that has won a Bledisloe, so that’d be great.

That’s awesome. I'm cheering you on for all those things! Overall, I’m glad you’re with the Reds right now.

Yeah. So am I! It’s great to be home.

Thanks again James for your time! It’s a real pleasure.

No thank you very much Tom, I appreciate that. Thanks for your time as well. 

Joking around with Jaybor Staunton

Earlier this year, during a Reds pre-season game in Dalby, I bumped into the charismatic commentator/rugby media man himself, Jaybor Staunton. It’s obvious that he lives and breathes rugby, so while he was ducking around interviewing fans and capturing photos, we spoke about doing an interview here at some point. Now is that time! Last week, we caught up about his journey in the world of rugby, his thoughts on Super Rugby so far and his predictions for this years Premier grade competition. Also, given his recent online announcement*, I asked him what he would do as CEO of Rugby Australia. His answer bodes well for Reds fans.

On top of that, he is the first ever Reds Rugby Rules interviewee to take part in a costume change during our interview! Part way through catching up, he walked off and came back wearing a Reds Mango Valley shirt (which looked pretty good, I have to admit.)

If you're a rugby fan, I am sure you'll enjoy reading our chat!

How has iso been treating you?

It’s been treating me really well. I’ve actually gained a few kilos, so the whole lockdown things has worked out really well for me. As for my match fitness, it's probably not the best, but other than that, I’m healthy and everyone I know is the same, so I can’t complain.

How did you get into media and in particular, rugby media?

So, about 4-5 years ago, with the Queensland Premier rugby livestream that they do, they used to have the main caller who would call every game and every team that was hosting at the home ground, they would get a local person from that club to commentate. I did a couple of them in 2016 and the next year I did the first round of the season. Then I spoke to Brendan Sauce Hertel from the QRU and I said “mate, I’d love to do anything I can”. And he said “yeah, fantastic.” So I started doing every game that year as the cover commentator and then it’s gone onwards and upwards from there. We’ve done the big wig show, the break down, the club-rugby collective podcast with Sauce, I’ve obviously got my own podcast. So it started out commentating, I think it was West vs Norths, then Wests vs Jeeps and it’s just gone onwards and upwards from there and it’s ballooned into everything that I do now.

What would you do as CEO of Rugby Australia? How many free drinks can you offer Reds fans at games?

(Laughs). I think that’s the first thing right there - I would offer Reds fans a free drink at every game, it’s quite simple really. But seriously, in regards to.. if I could be Rugby CEO of Australia… I think they’re on the right track at the moment. The idea is that a lot of the money comes from the Wallabies, so we need to see them succeed, but it doesn’t just start at the top, it starts at the grassroots. You know, Hamish McClennan has come out and said we’ve got to ring-fence the Wallabies and the club game, because they’re the two games that thrive, be it financially, or just through the tribalism and the parochialism of all the supporters. We’ve said it enough, every dick and his dog has said it, but we’ve got to invest in grassroots. Now, with the perceived lack of investment over the last 10-15-20 years, you can go down to Jeeps rugby club on a Saturday afternoon and they can have close to 10,000 people there. You go out to Goondiwindi Emus for their ladies day and they have 1,500 people. There is a latent supporter network, there is a rusted on rugby fan everywhere in Australia, that just had very little support, understandably over the last decade or so, but they are there. So if we can get out there, if we can engage them and we get that grassroots firing, as they say, “as you show, so shall you reap”, in 5-10-15 years time, the investment we put into grassroots now will be baring some brilliant fruit.

How much have you been enjoying Super Rugby 2.0? The Reds have been playing well I think!

Oh, 100%, the Reds have been fantastic! This is exactly what they showed promise of over the last few years. It seems like Covid has actually been a good thing for Queensland rugby, by way of, the Reds. The one thing that everybody has said over the last few years under Brad Thorne, is there’s this ticker, this culture that seems to be there and I think that’s evident in players like Tate McDermott, Fraser Wilson, Harry Wilson, they’re all young kids that for the last few years were only coming through the system but were signing 3-4 year contracts. There was a belief in them and they wanted to play for Queensland and that ticker has been there. So during this trying time over the better part of the last 6 months, this culture has just strengthened. And they’ve come out of lockdown into Super Rugby AU and I agree with you Tom, they have been absolutely fantastic, they’ve played a brilliant brand of footy, they’ve got these young kids that are showing this potential and they’ve got some older heads like James O’Connor and co that are really steering them down the part. So mate, the Reds are absolutely killing it and I love it and as a result, obviously I love Super Rugby AU, it’s been absolutely awesome to see, especially with the Western Force coming back as well, that’s absolutely fantastic.

What’s been your rugby highlight out of all of the games this season?

Woah. That is a hell of a question Tom. What has been the rugby highlight out of all of the games this season. Probably beating the Waratahs for the first time in seven years, that was absolutely awesome. But in all honesty, it’s tough to pinpoint just one thing. Just the fact that we’re back playing footy is awesome. It’s great to get out at Suncorp stadium, it’s great to see, as I said the Western Force coming through, it’s great to see the youngsters playing. So, look, if you just have to pinpoint one thing, smashing the Tah’s was awesome.

Who are one or two players that you have your eye on, in particular at the moment?

Um - look, it’s hard to go past Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight. In a Reds side that has several superstar youngsters coming through, you’d have to say that they are the most genuine, legitimate players themselves. Look, they are future long-term Wallabies and sooner rather than later. 

Also, two players that - unless you follow the club system here in Australia, outside of Super Rugby - you might not know too much about are Hunter Paisami and Jock Cambell, outside of what they’ve done for the Reds. But Jock Cambell is a superstar. He was the best player in the Queensland Premier rugby competition for the best part of three or four years. He came from 2nd fifteen at TSS, into the Colts One program at UQ, went through Premier Colts program, then went into Reserve Grade, then to Premier grade, then to NRC, then to Super Rugby, he went into that seven year journey that really creates top-class, genuine Super Rugby players. And I think over the last few weeks where he’s had plenty of time at fullback where he’s at his best, he’s really starting to find his best and he will be a Wallaby soon. And Hunter Paisami, he’s a Melbourne kid, got into a bit of trouble after the NRC, he came up from Melbourne last year and went to Wests Rugby club and he played the house down, in a Wests backline that was absolutely killing. So he’s gone the difficult route as well and again… this Wallabies squad is going to feature all four of those guys I think. I know that’s more than two, but I wanted to shed a little bit of light on everyone.

I’m guessing you grew up playing rugby? If so, what inspired you to play?

So, I grew up in Logan, about 30 k’s south of Brisbane city, playing for the same club that Brando Va’aulu are from… my older brother was running around under-6s and I was a four year old, a crazy little kid. I don’t think four year olds were allowed to play, but ever since then, I’ve absolutely loved it. I think, my uncles all played top grade footy for UQ and the Reds and so on, so it was somewhat in my pedigree, but like I said I was running around as an excitable four year old.  I’m about to play my first game in 2 years, in about 8 hours and I’ve got the same level of excitement now that I had as a four year old. It’s too bloody hard to stay away.

Club rugby is off the ground! How are you going to be involved this year? I had heard a rumour you might be making an appearance on the field once again.

(Laughs) You heard correct, that is true, I am a trundle tonight as I just said. But my involvement with club rugby goes outside of the white line as well. Obviously, I commentate Premier rugby, the live stream every week, the match of the round, I’m the play-by-play caller for that, I also do, as I said the “Club Rugby Collective podcast” and then on top of that I’ve got my own rugby podcast called “Pillar to Post”, where myself, big fat Darcy’s, Hamish and Connor from UQ and my good friend Chips Blanch all get together every week and we preview all the Super Rugby 

Who’s your pick to take out the Premiership? 

They had their first round of matches last weekend... but I think the top three teams are going to be UQ, Jeeps and Easts Tigers. One of them will come away with the Hospital Challenge Cup. And then for that forth place, it’s Brother rugby club to lose, but I think West’s and Bonds are going to be nipping on their heals a hell of a lot. BUT... I think I’m going to put my hat in the ring and say the Easts Tigers are gonna come away with it this year. The’ve recruited about eight top class footy players, they’ve got former Wallaby captain Ben Mowen playing at number eight... half of their best players have come back from overseas, so that have a red hot chance of winning it this year.

Thanks Jabor for taking time out today. All the best with your run-on tonight!

(Laugh.) Wonderful. Thanks very much Tom, it was my privilege. It was great to see you again mate.

*made via Instagram

Loving Every Minute: An Awesome Conversation with Reds Lock Tuaina "T" Tualima

This week, I was lucky to catch up with rising Reds star Tuaina Tualima, or “T” as he’s affectionately known to the Reds boys. Since making waves in the pre-season games earlier this year (including the Dalby block-buster I watched live) he finally made his regular season debut against the Waratahs during their game one win at Suncorp. So far, he’s unbeaten with the Reds!

He was nice enough to take time to catch up and answer some of my questions. He also shared some great advice for future players. 

Of course: don’t miss the Reds top-of-the-table derby against the Brumbies, live at 7:15pm this Saturday! Let’s go Reds!!!

Hey T, thanks for taking the time to catch up. How old were you when you first started playing rugby - and what inspired you to play?

I only started rugby when I was twelve. When I was younger, I played rugby league (starting when I was five). Then my Dad said “why not try rugby?” - because he’s a big fan of rugby, coming from Samoa. So I thought “why not”. There was a big difference to rugby league, with all the rucks and malls and everything. I played one year at Sunnybank and I thought it was too hard, so the net year I went back to rugby league! Then I thought if Brisbane State High were interested, I thought why not go and play rugby. So I went back to Sunnybank andhad anothercrack. I learnt the rules and how to play the game and I loved it ever since. What’s inspired me is my culture - Samoans we love rugby.

Who was it that first gave you the nickname ‘T’ - and who on the team do you think has the oddest nickname?

So at my first year at Jeeps last year, the boys couldn’t pronounce my name, so all the boys just started calling me “T”. It’s picked up at the Reds so all the boys there call me T as well. Even at home my family started calling me T - that was pretty weird (laughs). I love the boys calling me T. It’s easy.

I’m not too sure who has the weirdest nickname… probably Hammer. [Hamish Stewart.]

I love that guy! So… the Reds are playing the Brumbies this Saturday! How much are you and team looking forward to this game?

It’s gonna be a big game! The boys played them in round one of the normal Super season, it was a close game, but the boys went down. It’s been a long break since we last played them and the boys are really lookingforward to it. Also, it’s a top of the table clash - so we’re excited.

How good was it finally making your debut, during the game one win against the Waratahs?

Yeah that was an awesome experience and I loved every minute of it. I wasn’t expecting to get as much time as I did, with Blythey going down at the start and with Thorny giving me the opportunity and chucking me on early. It was awesome to get the win. Especially against the Waratahs, I always hated playing against the Waratahs growing up, playing schoolboys (laughs). But yeah, it was an awesome experience, I loved it.

T wins a line-out against the Rebels during pre-season game #1 (Photo: Brendan Hertel/QRU)

Did having a break from playing (during the lockdown) make it even more satisfying when you finally made your debut?

Yeah! It was such a long break and coming back in, I didn’t think I was fit enough. But the six weeks of preseason helped me get my fitness back up. Then round one getting selected to play - it was so good.

That game was your first “official” run-on with the Reds, but you also played in both pre-season games, against the Rebels in Gladstone and the Waratahs in Dalby.

I loved being there for the Dalby game live. How much did you enjoy playing in those two games?

Yeah the Dalby game was a big one. It was a big turnout, there was a big crowd. And especially against the Tahs, that was my first actual proper game. There were a lot of stars in the team at that time, Kurtley Beale was playing, Simmons, and I was really excited. I couldn’t believe I was playing against some of those players. Just the atmosphere and the crowd was unbelievable. I loved every minute of the game and starting was pretty cool as well. Every time I put on the Reds jersey, it’s just awesome - I love every minute.

When you aren’t playing for the Brisbane City or the Reds who is your club?

There’s not much to say, I just love the club. I’ll be there until I retire. Yeah, just good people, the old boys always come down and support our games. Heaps of the young boys stay back as well, in the “glue factory”, that’s where the boys get rowdy and help us get the win (laughs)!

If it goes ahead, this year will be your fourth season playing for Brisbane City in the NRC. How important has the NRC been to your development as a player?

Oh it’s been massive. It’s helped me a lot with my game and just getting that experience at that level, before you get to Super Rugby. I think it’s a good program and they should keep it going for the next few years.

What would you say to young players, both boys and girls, that someday want to do what you’re doing and play for the Reds?

The first thing I’d say, because I’m really close with my parents, if you want to make it, make sure you listen to your parents, do what they say, and do the right things under the roof, off the field, before you go on the field. Off field, listen to your

parents and work hard. Working hard will get you very far. If you have talent, or even not much talent.

It’s like one of the boys DZ, Dane Zander, he’s worked hard, didn’t come through playing firsts, but he just worked his but off. Now he’s playing top level rugby, which is awesome for him.

So yeah, just work hard, listen to your parents.

Thanks T for the interview! Can’t wait to watch the boys smash ‘em on Saturday!

That’s alright! Thank you very much for having me on. Hopefully I’ll see you around soon and we’ll have a chat in person.

The Reds play the Brumbies in Canberra this Saturday, kicking off at 7:15pm!! I’ll be watching on Foxtell, you can catch it on Kayo as well.