Pascoe’s gutsy return for finals: 'I owed it to the boys to make it back'

Author: Rikki-Lee Arnold Statewide content producer
Timestamp: Fri 8 Sep 2023, 10:51 AM

When Oliver Pascoe dislocated his elbow in the opening minute of Wynnum Manly’s 2023 finals campaign, he thought his season was over.

But just six days later, in a remarkable turnaround, the gutsy Seagulls hooker was back out on the field, elbow heavily strapped and ready to guide his side to a stunning semi-final victory over the Souths Logan Magpies.

For Pascoe, it was a no-brainer.

As the scans came back clear and his ability to pass a ball became evident, he knew he would do everything he could to help keep Wynnum Manly’s premiership hopes alive.

“I think it was the second tackle and my elbow dislocated,” Pascoe said of the incident in his side’s golden point victory against Northern Pride in week one of the finals.

“To be honest, I thought I was gone. They kind of popped it back in and I tried to get back on that game and they wouldn’t let me. I thought it might have been done for me.

“It was so stressful watching on. I would have rather been playing... Sometimes there I thought we might not get there but the effort from the boys did it… it was very, very stressful.

“Once the boys got the win, I tried everything I could to be right for the weekend. (Coach Mat Head) sent me to physios and I did everything I could to get the swelling down to pass the footy.

“I just felt like, if I can pass a footy, then I owed it to the boys to make it back and play.

“We’ve made it so far and I think we deserve whatever comes and I don’t want to miss out on that. I just kept saying to Heady I would do whatever it takes to make it back.”

In last week’s knockout win against Souths Logan, Pascoe put in an entire 80-minute effort with a huge 37 tackles, three tackle busts, one line break, line break assist, and a try as the cherry on top.

He required some needles and felt a bit of pain in the aftermath but said during the match his elbow was “sweet”.

And his efforts certainly paid off with Wynnum Manly to take on minor premiers Burleigh Bears in a preliminary final showdown at UAA Park on Saturday.

Just 80 minutes away from qualifying for the big dance, Pascoe is hopeful Wynnum Manly can cause yet another upset this weekend.

Pascoe after dislocating his elbow in Finals Week 1. Photo: Jim O'Reilly/QRL

“We lost the last three games (of the regular season) but in those games we versed who was on top, who was second and who was third,” he said.

“We knew within the group we would get another chance at them all and could win the ones that count.

“Burleigh are always tough. They have old heads in their side, very experienced, it will definitely be an 80-minute game. We have to show up and back ourselves.

“I feel like we’ve got good momentum in the right time and I think we’ve just got to put everything together this weekend.”

This year has been a breakout season for Pascoe, who joined the Seagulls from the Brisbane Tigers, following in the footsteps of former Cup coach Jon Buchanan, who across to Wynnum Manly as the club’s academy manager.

Prior to his arrival at BMD Kougari Oval, the 23-year-old had made 10 Cup appearances across two seasons and saw his opportunity to go to a new level at a fresh club.

“I took a leap to go from (Brisbane) to Wynnum,” he said.

“It’s paid off for me, I guess. I didn’t expect to play nearly all year but I’ve tried to make the most of the opportunities when they come about.

“I knew the Tigers always get good players back from Storm so there might be more of an opportunity at Wynnum.

“It’s been really easy coming here. We’ve got a whole new side. There was only three boys from Wynnum the year before and it didn’t take us long to gel and get used to each other’s company.

“We’ve all got each other’s back.”

Pascoe – whose biggest supporters are his dad Paul Pascoe, mum Bron Rose and pop Don Pascoe – was in and out of the starting side up until Round 13, when he was given the No.9 jersey.

From here, he was the starting hooker every week, which even came as a surprise to him.

Coming off the back of a shoulder reconstruction, Pascoe – who hails from Gunnedah in New South Wales - just wanted to use 2023 to get some consistency. He did not envision he would be a regular Cup starter and playing finals footy.

He said the support of coach Head had helped a lot throughout the year, with his confidence growing each and every week.

“Cup was always a bit of a hurdle to me but now that I’m used to it, it’s just another game now,” he said.

“I have the confidence. Heady has backed me along the whole way.

“He’s a really good coach. He’s a smart arse… we have really good banter. You can tell he’s come from a higher level of coaching and I feel like he can build something very strong at Wynnum.

“I’m still learning off him every week and getting better at what I do. He’s always telling me to back myself and run when it’s on. It makes me more confident and it reassures me.”

Pascoe will carry that confidence into Saturday’s clash.

While he doesn't want to get too far ahead of himself, he knows what a win this weekend would mean and further to that, what a premiership would represent for himself and the club.

Finals Week 3 - Finals Week 3 - Saturday 9 Sep

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