Barry O'Connor was a tall lock forward who represented Queensland in 1958 against Great Britain and New South Wales, and also won a Brisbane Premiership that same year, alongside older brother Brian.
Barry's Queensland jersey took pride of place in his Brisbane home, and he often spoke fondly of those matches against the powerful British and New South Wales outfits, with the 1958 Lions regarded as one of the best teams to tour Australia.
Brothers defeated Valleys 22-7 in the 1958 BRL grand final, with Barry at lock and Brian in the second row. Barry had also been a part of Brothers' 17-10 win over Wests in the 1956 grand final at the Gabba.
Brisbane coach of the century, Bob Bax, declared the 1958 pack – known as 'The Terrible Six' – as the best he had seen since he joined Brothers in 1947. And despite a long, successful stint as coach of Norths in the 1960s, the Brothers' pack of '58 remained his favourite.
Barry represented Brisbane in the inter-city Bulimba Cup competition in 1957, with his outstanding cover defence, and tall, movie star looks, making him a crowd favourite. He was also chosen as a reserve for Queensland's match against Great Britain's World Cup side, at the Exhibition Grounds, but did not get on the field.
After a late start to the 1958 season, Barry forced his way back into the Brisbane side, and then was chosen for his Queensland run-on debut, in Game I of the series against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Blues won 25-14, but Queensland's rugged defence often upset the star-studded home side.
The Courier-Mail's Jack Reardon wrote that Barry, and fellow newcomer, Jim Patterson, were somewhat overawed in the first half, and were caught out of position a few times.
"But both improved immensely in the second half, and played a big part in Queensland's rally, which almost pulled the game out of the fire," Reardon wrote.
Barry returned to club duty with Brothers, and his next representative match was for Brisbane against Great Britain at the Exhibition Grounds, with the home side displaying great fortitude in a 34-29 loss, playing with 12 men for 59 minutes, after the loss of winger, Kev Hancock to injury. No replacements were allowed.
Down 13-6 at half-time, Brisbane fought back to make the score 29-29 with seven minutes left.
Barry, who had already scored one try, looked set to score the match winner, but converging defenders knocked the ball from his grasp, as he was about to force it between the posts.
Five days later, Barry played for Queensland against the tourists, with the Maroons going down 36-19, with Britain's pace and guile in the backline, providing the difference.
Barry was joined by older brother, Brian in the Brisbane representative side for the Bulimba Cup match against Toowoomba at Lang Park, with the winner to meet Ipswich in the final.
A record Cup crowd of 23,000 turned out, but the fans' vocal support was not enough to help Brisbane to victory, with the Clydesdales scoring five tries to three in a 21-13 result.
"Brisbane players had the thrust to break the line, and in the first 20 minutes, Barry O'Connor got through four times, only to find insufficient support," wrote Jack Reardon.
"Barry also kept a close check on Toowoomba's Test lock, Ian 'Ripper' Doyle. O'Connor's one-handed lob passes were criticised, but at least these passes were better than the ones which were knocked down, or intercepted. He did the lead-up work for Brisbane's first try, with a one-handed pass to Mick Mulgrew, and then in a similar fashion, he sent Mulgrew over for the last try."
Barry played his entire senior career with Brothers, while his brother, Brian pursued opportunities in regional centres. A knee injury brought Barry's career to a premature end in 1959.
"He was a real athlete, and should have played for Australia," Barry's Brothers teammate, Noel Garvey, said.
"I think he went to Canada for knee surgery, hoping to play again, but it was to no avail.
"I remember Bob Bax often yelling 'Get him, 'Little BOC', because Barry was so fast, and could cover defend so well. Brian was 'Big BOC' and Barry was 'Little BOC', but that referred to their age, not their size."
Barry O'Connor, a successful businessman, and much-loved family man, died on December 12, 2022, aged 86. His funeral took place on January 12, after overseas-based family members had arrived in Australia. He is survived by his partner, Glenda; children, Simone, Andrea, Kirsten and Adam, and four grandchildren.
"I don't remember there ever being a cross word between us, and we played football together, and were in the surf club together," older brother, Brian, said.
Never far from Barry and Brian's thoughts, throughout their football and working lives, was their brother, Liam, one of three children killed when a RAAF Wirraway aircraft crashed on Maroochydore Beach in 1950. Liam was 11.
"When Liam was killed, I think Brian made it is business to always look after Barry," Garvey said.
