From Club Footy to the Wallabies: Connal McInerney's Journey to International Rugby

About the Guest:

Connal McInerney is a professional rugby player, widely recognized within the rugby community for his dedication and skills on the field. Having played for the Brumbies and holding the title of Wallaby number 947, McInerney's career has been marked by his evolution from club rugby to the international stage. Known for his commitment to the sport and his journey through various rugby leagues, McInerney's personal narrative is a testament to his hard work and passion for rugby.

Episode Summary:

In this captivating episode of the Give 'em Rugby podcast, host Liam McGrath sits down with the inspiring Connal McInerney, a true embodiment of relentless dedication to rugby. Listeners get a front-row seat to McInerney's profound journey from his grassroots beginnings to flourishing as a Wallaby.

The conversation unfolds with a heartfelt recount of McInerney's earliest rugby memories and the pivotal moments that sculpted his career trajectory. The episode peels back the layers on his remarkable transition from facing setbacks and hurdling obstacles to grasping the opportunity to don the esteemed Wallabies jersey. His tales of resilience offer an intimate look into the life of a professional athlete maneuvering the ebbs and flows of competitive sport.

Key themes revolve around the significance of formative experiences in McInerney's growth, the nuanced perspectives on rugby's cultural impact, and the influence of strategic decisions in shaping one's athletic path. Filled with insightful anecdotes and McInerney's personal wisdom, this episode promises to leave its audience both informed and inspired.

Key Takeaways:

• Connell McInerney's journey from local club rugby to playing for the Wallabies embodies perseverance in professional sports.
• The importance of facing adversity with resilience is highlighted by McInerney's response to being initially overlooked for a development contract.
• Insights into McInerney's evolution as a player and how critical conversations and rejections became turning points in his career.
• The emotional and proud moment of being called up for the Wallabies and the experiences of representing Australia on the international stage.
• Reflection on the impactful mentors and pivotal decisions that helped shape McInerney's career trajectory, illustrating the power of opportunity and preparation in sports.

Notable Quotes:

• "I remember going for a job interview... But then he [the interviewer] knocked me back and that was the best thing to happen because I just picked up uni and did part-time and just did a little bit just to say I'm doing something, you know, and then I was able to put the time into rugby." - Connell McInerney
• "Yeah, that year I kind of played. Played at east train. Sorry, I trained to Thursday with Brahms and then I'd go and play for east and it was like one of the best years of my life because like I'm having… It's like a split life." - Connell McInerney
• "…and I wasn't ready enough to take chick's position. And club captain… But legend and like. And he never showed any ego around me or anything, you know, he was… Yeah, he was always… He kind of would give off the energy that, you know, I'm only here for a year or two more and then you… Then you'll jump." - Connell McInerney
• "I didn't make my school team. And we're not even a rugby school. Like we're not like you, darlin Marist… This was for a one-off comp." - Connell McInerney, on an unexpected setback in his early rugby experiences.
• "They just gave me a call out of nowhere. And it was before our first trial. Game against swinger." - Connell McInerney, reflecting on the surprise of being called to play for the Brumbies.

Resources:

• Social media @giveemrugby
• Give 'em Rugby club
• www.cardtradr.com
• www.thecover.com
• Asics 

Dive deep into the full episode to unpack Connell McInerney's compelling rugby narrative, and get ready for more enriching and introspective conversations on the Given Rugby podcast.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Creators & Guests

Host

Liam McGrath

Host of the Give 'em Rugby Podcast

Guest

Connal McInerney

Professional Rugby Player with the Brumbies and Wallabies

What is Give 'em Rugby?

The Give 'em Rugby Podcast is a celebration of the game played in heaven: Rugby Union

On this podcast host Liam McGrath interviews those who spend their days in the trenches, on the training paddock preparing themselves to play the game. Liam delves into their stories and tries to get to the bottom of why when there are so many things out there in the world each of these individuals has dedicated their lives (and their bodies) to the game.

If you're a Rugby fan, or just having a passing interest in the game. This podcast will keep you enthralled with stories, analysis and above all good conversation centred around an incredible game: Rugby Union.

[TRANSCRIPT]
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0:01:38 - (A): Okay, without further ado Ono, the next guest.
0:01:44 - (B): Sorry, sorry. Stop, stop, sorry, sorry. I forgot two really important things to.
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0:02:48 - (B): Okay, take, take two.
0:02:50 - (A): I promise.
0:02:51 - (B): Now we're on to the next guest.
0:03:05 - (C): I'm a so small how to party of the let me keep a countdown and release the confett the don't start till I get there I sit as s in the resting it ain't fair I've been waiting on this moment my whole lot. Yeah give me my crown if fix just make look good. Watch yourself, huh? Yeah, you make it look good.
0:03:24 - (A): Welcome back to the Given Rugby podcast. Today I'm sitting down with one of my favorite players of all time. I do say that about everyone, but today I really mean it. He's a brumby. He's wallaby number 947. He is Connell McIneany. How are you, my friend?
0:03:38 - (Connell McIneany): Thanks, mate. Thanks for the reminder.
0:03:42 - (A): Well, you don't know your wallaby number.
0:03:43 - (Connell McIneany): Well, I would have to have a little bit of a think about it, so thanks.
0:03:48 - (A): Are you. Are you upset you didn't get like, you weren't number 1000, you were sort of nine, four, seven. You're, you know, 53 away from. From a thousand. Would that have been a nicer, easier number to remember?
0:03:58 - (Connell McIneany): Didn't really think about it that, but yeah, it would have.
0:04:01 - (E): Yeah.
0:04:02 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah.
0:04:03 - (A): Well, look, you got. You got one more cap than me, so congratulations, mate.
0:04:08 - (Connell McIneany): Thanks, man. And I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad it was the two, yeah. Because then I'd be in one of those stories about like the guys who play one cut and you get a right up in that.
0:04:19 - (E): Yeah.
0:04:19 - (A): Like the Mark Bartholomew comes to mind. I think he obviously a brumby for years, but he. I think his career was about 47 seconds with the wallabies, right. One cap came off the bench. I think he might have even scored a try. So 100% success rates pretty good. I think you're pretty close to thateah.
0:04:37 - (C): 50.
0:04:37 - (Connell McIneany): 50%.
0:04:38 - (A): 50%. One try, two games off the back of a mall.
0:04:41 - (Connell McIneany): That's all. Always. They're always off the back of mall.
0:04:44 - (A): But that story, that story from Mark comes up all the time. You know, almost every lunch I go to someone, someone says, oh, Mark, you know Mark bytholomew here.
0:04:53 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:04:54 - (A): Shortest Wallaby s career.
0:04:55 - (Connell McIneany): Quite a big name. Ye would have assumed he played a few.
0:04:58 - (A): He was. He was incredible. Like, I mean, we're similar in age. So growing up, watching that Brumby team, he was unbelievable. Like in that backline with, you know, Roth and Gregan and Larkham. Like, you know, he started lots of games, but he would also come in off the bench and he would just break games wide open. He was really incredible. So it is, it is. I guess it's a real testament to that time. That's what I was about to in australian rugby when a guy like Mark Bartholomew'only gets one test, you know, so.
0:05:28 - (Connell McIneany): So much quality back then.
0:05:29 - (E): Yeah.
0:05:30 - (A): Just seem to, we just seem to produce, produce different quality. But look, you know, I want to focus on you a little bit today so I want to go right back, right back to the beginning. What is the, what is the first memory you have playing footy or with a footy in your hand?
0:05:48 - (Connell McIneany): First memory that comes to mind is down at Curttain Oval. Yep. Mum brought me to the game. I think it was just me and mum and I think it was my first try.
0:06:00 - (A): Yeah, nice.
0:06:01 - (Connell McIneany): So I don't think it was my first game. Yeah but there was no 100% success rate. But yeah I remember my mum just screaming as I'm just like. And for some reason I must have had a bit of speed back then or compared to the other kids or whatever. I mean pro, a bit less quality for under six royal but um.
0:06:23 - (E): Yeah, yeah.
0:06:23 - (Connell McIneany): Scoring a try down at Curtin Oal. Every time I drive past there I remember that memory. That was probably one of my first, one of my first memories.
0:06:31 - (A): Yeah that's, it's, it's funny like you know that you talk about the drive past the oval thing. When I was a kid, my dad, every oval we drove past he be like played there. It's got to try there.
0:06:42 - (E): Yeah.
0:06:43 - (A): You know and so some of them were cool ovals, like seafood oval obviously. Down, down in Keii he played, played a lot for the Blues, played a lot for the Raiders, not a lot played a season for the Raiders. But then you know you drive past Concordev over and Syney played their, scored a try there play you know, played a lot of shoot shield. So you know when I was a kid I didn't really appreciate that but now I think, you know that's so cool and I do it, I do it now too. Like every overloay drive past I think, you know I played a game there, pretty ordinary played, played poorly.
0:07:09 - (Connell McIneany): But what was your first memory?
0:07:13 - (A): So I didn't, I didn't start playing rugby until I was I think under eight, so seven. So I play, I played soccer, I played basketball. And so originally I was going to play for west because back in the day wests had just this huge junior club, like an incredible junior club. They used to do this thing where you would go down on a Friday night. So the dads would take all their kids down there, boys, girls, didn't matter.
0:07:42 - (A): And like the first graders would run touch for the kids. So they'd break you up into sort of rough ages and you'd do that. And then all the dads would go over to what is now the Southern Cross club, but it used to be the west rugby club and just sink a couple of beers and come back. So, you know, there would be like Jamis and Oval, like hundreds of kids running around playing touch. So originally I was going to play for Wests.
0:08:04 - (A): Then something, something happened and the club my dad played for had just rebranded to Gungal and Gungalan Eagles from the Daramaln All Boys rugby club. And as part of that, they were going to have a junior program, junior club. And dad, dad was like, well, you, like, you're going to go to Dara. You know, he'plan my life out already. You're go, going toa. Go to Dara. So you might as well go play for. Play for Gungarland. So I remember rocking up to a training session and there being like three kids there and just like, so our coach was this guy named Lee Leroy, Leroy O'Sullivan.
0:08:45 - (A): He's still involved.
0:08:46 - (E): Strong name.
0:08:47 - (A): Yeah, ye, it's still involved out with Guangaran.
0:08:50 - (Connell McIneany): Still.
0:08:50 - (A): Still a really good guy. I catch up with him from time to time and, you know, he played games with this or whatever, but I guess my, my first memory is really similar. So it was at Griffith Oval, which was home, home of the Brumbies for a long time on the main, like the big field. No, well, yeah, we, we were playing so under, under eight across field. So, like, I think there was only ten of us on the, on the paddock.
0:09:14 - (A): And I remember in the lead up to the game, I still wasn't sure and our coaches weren't sure whether we were playing touch or tackle, so.
0:09:22 - (Connell McIneany): Good way to learn.
0:09:23 - (A): Y. I was only in the warm up did we learn. Oh, it's, it's touch. Like under eight you play touch, under nines you tackle. And similarly, my, you know, I scored. I scored a try in that game. You know, like a little short ball. Back in the day, I was pretty athletic. You know, I had had a nice little change of direction, change of speed through a little hole and scored a try. And for me, that almost cemented. Like, this is like, this is proper fun.
0:09:49 - (A): Like, I enjoyed basketball and I enjoyed soccer, but there was just something about that moment of like, yeah, just seeing that, seeing the, the defense, seeing the kind of se part and just adjusting my body to go through that gap.
0:10:04 - (Connell McIneany): It's pretty technical that.
0:10:07 - (A): So you know that's. That's what I reflect on now. I think about that now at the time you know it's just like yeah this is. This is cool. This is Funah and you know that. That kind of set me on this path of. Of what what I'm doing now you know so from playing then straight into coaching and now trying to develop this sort of media product around. Around rugby I guess you know you talked about playing for Royals as a junior yeah then you.
0:10:39 - (A): Because we played together at the Vikings ye and I just want to talk to. I just want to ask you a little bit about that time like you know you were sort of in the under twent setup I assume you were training with the Brumbies like at least doing preseason and that kind of thing at the time I know that you came through with guys like Tyrell Lomax and Jordan Jackson Hope and and and that kind of thing so there's you know there was obvious talent you were all sort of at the same club but I just wanted to ask you there was like a pivotal moment a conversation you had with. I think it was Dan McKellar coming out of that twenties program where you really.
0:11:16 - (A): You made a really difficult decision and I've been in a similar. In a similar u similar position but I just wanted to ask you like when you had that talk about that conversation first with Dan where he sort of. I think he basically said you weren't ready for.
0:11:30 - (E): Yeah it's.
0:11:30 - (Connell McIneany): It's funny you bring that up because that's the. That's what I was thinking about yeah yeah I kind of knew we'd talk about that yeah yeah because yeah like I said it was a pivotal moment ye yeah basically so like usually after I was your twenties that's kind of when you get your contracts and stuff like that and I wouldn't know missed out unfortunately'sa right yeah but yeah so I was yeah finish that twenties tournament I remember I went in and like I don't like to use it an excuse but like my shoulder was bugged during that twenties World cup and so I went in a bit underdone and I think like the first time I did contact was the warm up before the game like and anyway and obviously you know as a young hooker like I think I'd been playing hooker for three years throw like there was a lot of pressure on throwing and stuff and I remember just being in my head about that and now my shoulders bugged how am I gonna throw?
0:12:37 - (Connell McIneany): I'm pretty sure it was my right shoulder. That's where I get my.
0:12:40 - (A): Yeah, that's the power. Power hand.
0:12:42 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, for right hander.
0:12:43 - (E): Yeah.
0:12:43 - (Connell McIneany): And anyway, I went into that tournament underdone and not very confident. Hadn't done contact. I haven't thrown. So anyway, I didn't have a great tournament, basically, and that first game, because like, I was named to start against Samoa and pretty much butchered it. I missed 50% of my lineouts, you know, and miss tackles and stuff like that. So I ended up having like, not a great tournament. I started coming good towards the end after, like in that fifth week.
0:13:13 - (E): But.
0:13:14 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, basically I didn't have a good tournament then, and so when I came back, you know, everything, I mucked up a bit as well.
0:13:26 - (E): Yeah.
0:13:29 - (Connell McIneany): I mucked up a bit over there and, you know, probably got on the pier too much and stuff like that. I don't know if that was a coping mechanism at the time because I wasn't playing well, but anyway.
0:13:39 - (A): But I mean, you know, you. I guess you allude to something that's. I guess it's a for better or for worse. It's like a tried and true, almost like a rite of passage going on a rugby tour, play. Playing up a little bit. Yeah. The difference is the stakes are little is significantly higher when you're representing your country.
0:13:59 - (E): Exactly.
0:13:59 - (Connell McIneany): And I've got some good stories there if you want to go back, which in't spoken about much. But anyway, anyway, I came back, you know, not everything was up in the. Up in the air, but I was thinking, you know, I might still, you know, local guy, I might still be offered something. And at the time. So, yeah, Tyrell and I, we were kind of expecting to go back and be put on a development contract, which wasn't much. It was a few bones, but like, it was. It would have just.
0:14:30 - (A): Well, yeah, get you. Gets you in the environment and puts some cash in your pocket. And for a guy who going to uni or whatever, that's. That's your part time job, you know.
0:14:39 - (E): That's right.
0:14:39 - (A): It's a bigger commitment.
0:14:40 - (E): Oblyeah.
0:14:41 - (Connell McIneany): It's a foot in the door.
0:14:42 - (A): Yeah, that's right.
0:14:44 - (Connell McIneany): Anyway, and I just remember having a meeting with Dan McKellar at the time, you and I wasn't. Yeah, I didn't have a good feeling. Anyway, I went up and so this was probably you. We would have had a few weeks off after the tournament, and it would have been during that sort of Nic.
0:15:03 - (A): Period when n was ther Oct, September, October period.
0:15:07 - (Connell McIneany): That feels like a thrrb back, doesn't it?
0:15:08 - (E): Yeah, yeah.
0:15:09 - (A): Well, we haven't had it for 2019. I think was the last season, right?
0:15:13 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.
0:15:14 - (A): It's crazy. It's crazy. It's been that long.
0:15:16 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah.
0:15:16 - (A): Like, I played in that.
0:15:17 - (E): Yeah.
0:15:18 - (A): 2015. That's almost ten years ago.
0:15:19 - (E): Yeah.
0:15:20 - (Connell McIneany): Jersey'up. Y yeahah, I remember that. Yeah, I do remember.
0:15:23 - (E): Yeah.
0:15:23 - (Connell McIneany): U anyway, so, yeah, I had a meeting with Dan and. Yeah, so. So you talk about pivotal moments. Walking in there, sitting down, and just straight away he just rips into me. He just.
0:15:36 - (A): That's his style, though, that, like, did not, not, not, not. Shouldn't say that's his style. He is incredible at giving you what you need in that in the moment.
0:15:44 - (E): Yeah. Yah.
0:15:45 - (Connell McIneany): And, like, I didn't appreciate at the time, but years later, like, yeah. And it taught me so many lessons, right. Not to take anything for granted. Anyway, I'll go back to the conversation. He sits me down and he just goes, mate, I'm not going to offer you development contract. He goes, I don't think you're ready. He goes, look at the spare tire you carry. Pretty much called me, you know.
0:16:08 - (A): Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:16:11 - (Connell McIneany): A fat c word. And he's like, yeah, he's just, mate, you're fat. You need to get rid of that. You know, why are you carrying that around? Blah, blah, blah. You know, and he's like, yeah.
0:16:21 - (A): And his growl in his.
0:16:23 - (Connell McIneany): And I just went, like, at the time, like. And I wish I kind of just asked for a chance, but at the time I didn't because, one, I was pretty over rugby, having a shit tournament in the twenties, not having a good time, coming back, kind of feeling empty. And I struggled in that tournament every night I'd be struggling. I'm not playing well. My shoulder is still buggered. I'm over rugby because it was such a big, drawn out year, you know, um, and, and so much commitment for a young fella.
0:16:58 - (A): I was just going toa say for someone so young, 1819, you know, you come through schoolboy footy where you play. I don't know, you maybe play twelve games, ye, something like that. And then in there somewhere, there's sort of the three or four games you play for your state, if you, if you make that, and then maybe end of an end of year tour or, you know, you play your two games for, for australian schools, if.
0:17:21 - (A): Three games for australian schools if you get there. So you're talking about a season that's maybe 18 to 20 games long. You know, all of a sudden you go into.
0:17:29 - (Connell McIneany): It's the most, most footy I've ever played. Yeah, those years, 18 to 20.
0:17:33 - (A): And, you know, especially for a front row. So you go from doing that where you can only push the scrum o meter and a half and, you know, the scrum'really, control.
0:17:42 - (Connell McIneany): Forgot about that.
0:17:43 - (A): But, you know, everything's kind of controlled, right. You know, there's no crutch binding. Everything's, you know, so, so the, the impact on your body as a front roller is significantly less then you go into, you know, most guys go into cols, but you, you know, you had some exposure in, into first grade and the second grade. So you playing in a full game of cols, then you may be getting a half or 20 minutes in first grade.
0:18:07 - (A): Then in the middle of the year when you're kind of finally getting your, getting your legs, you go off and you play that, that World cup, which is'you, know, it's, it's probably not, it's probably not quite as physical as, as first grade might be because, because you're all kind of the same age. But I watch it. It's so quick. Like you have to make decisions, like, yeah, like that. Then you kind of come back, you come back into club rugby and then you go into an NRC season. So, like, you know, I remember thinking, reflecting back then on, you know, the guys coming in and out because there was a few of you at the Vikings coming in and out with the 20 stuff. Like these guys are playing like 40 games or involved in 40 or 50 games. Like, it's an incredible amount of wear and tear. And then, you know, if you're saying you're carrying an injury, too, that's tough.
0:18:56 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah youeah, 100% right. So back to. Yeah, dan. So, yeah, so basically also, he was also, like, he said before, like, he was talking about that I need to be playing first grade and stuff. And at the time, our good friend Michael Henry was at Vikings and he.
0:19:26 - (A): Was, he'll be so chuffed that you mentioned him.
0:19:30 - (Connell McIneany): We'we'll, have to target the thing. He. Yeah, no, was, was keep, he was keeping quite like a couple of the boys out, like, and he'd play 80 minutes and, like, he was like in the prime of his life because he would have been around that 26, 27 mark, I think that's right.
0:19:50 - (A): Yeah, yeah, yeah, and he was, he was, for a guy, he was unbelievable. You know, he didn't, didn't do didn't do a lot of offse season trainingaining. Didn't lift.
0:20:00 - (Connell McIneany): He was built like a banker.
0:20:01 - (A): Yeah, yeah. But he just had this incredible motor.
0:20:05 - (E): Yeah.
0:20:06 - (A): Just go and go and go. Really, really strong line out. Throw.
0:20:09 - (E): Yeah.
0:20:10 - (A): You know, and hooker, we'll talk about it later. But, you know, I think Hook is one of the toughest positions on the field because it's got so many technical aspects as well. The footy aspect.
0:20:19 - (Connell McIneany): That's right. And I was still. I was still trying to expertise that, you know. Yeah, I wasn't quite ready. Well, I wasn't ready enough to take chick's position.
0:20:29 - (E): Yeah, yeah.
0:20:30 - (Connell McIneany): And club captain. I don't know what he got up to. Brad Harris, there would have been a bit of stuff going on behind the sheds on the film night. No, but anyway, he's. But legend and like. And he never showed any ego around me or anything, you know, he was. Yeah, he was always. He kind of would give off the energy that, you know, I'm only here for a or two more and then you. You'll. Then you'll go jump. So whether I could have been patient then, but I think in the end it was probably best decision I made and I'm not like, I still really appreciate what Vikings did for me back then, you know, and I hold, no, nothing bad against the club, but, yeah, just lucky. There was a position at Royals at the time to play first grade and.
0:21:25 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, and I was still pretty down right after being shunted from Dan and stuff at the time, you know, like, I was kind of held a bit of a grudge and. Yeah, all right, stuff it. Like, I'll go. I'll go to row. Set up a. Set up a meeting with Wayne Southwell, who's a great man, and. Yeah, ended up playing a season there first go. Played every game.
0:21:51 - (A): Won a premiership, too.
0:21:52 - (E): Right. Not that year.
0:21:53 - (Connell McIneany): That year. That year we lost the semi final.
0:21:56 - (E): Yep.
0:21:57 - (Connell McIneany): So it was 20, 1616. Yeah, and Vikings one it, I'm pretty sure.
0:22:00 - (A): Yes.
0:22:01 - (Connell McIneany): Vikings final. Yes.
0:22:03 - (A): Tyrel Lomax kept me off the field that year, so. Yeahyrel.
0:22:07 - (E): Yeah, yeah, he did. Right.
0:22:12 - (Connell McIneany): And, yeah, so. But then it was 2017 when we went undefeated and one, so that was pretty special. And we beat. We beat the Vikings.
0:22:21 - (A): Yes.
0:22:21 - (Connell McIneany): And so it was kind of like, you know, a bit of payback, but no, it was nothing really like that.
0:22:26 - (A): But so from me. And at, at that time. So at the time it happened, it'to. 2016. So I, you know, I. I made a similar decision about a year before you did or roughly, I was playing for another club and I felt there, there. And I don't want to speak badly about them because they're the current premiers and they, and they, really strong club now. Got an awesome coach, really good setup, really good academy.
0:22:55 - (A): But I was the club captain. I had a difference of opinion around how you recruit and how you build a sustainable, sustainably successful club through your.
0:23:04 - (Connell McIneany): Juniors and your cults and stuff.
0:23:05 - (A): Yeah, correct. So I had a really different, different opinion about, about how, how we go about doing that. That was my view. The club shared a different view, which was more of a rugby Australia top down approach. And I also felt like I wasn't the kind of guy at that, at that stage. Happened later in, in my footy career, too late, to be honest with you, but I wasn't the kind of guy who was going to lift on my own, do my own, do my own running and do my own conditioning, you know, do my own extras, do, do film work and that kind of stuff. I wasn't doing that on my own.
0:23:42 - (A): So I needed an environment that was structured. I needed an environment that was more professional than the one that was offered to me. So we, you know, we'we, were in completely different, different mindsets. I'm trying to, I'm trying to put the, I'm trying to put myself in an environment that I think I can be successful in. You know, you're trying to get the opportunity that, that you need to, to make the leap, but the goal is the same, right? Like we're both, we're both trying to get better. So I remember at the time, there was a lot of chatter like, can't believe, can't believe this. You know, he should, he should be, should be trying to, you know, knock chick off, off the perch and all of this kind of thing and I'm just sort of sitting there like, can't, I can't say shit. Like I'm, I admire someone who's like, no, my goal is to get here.
0:24:31 - (A): I'm going to do this thing that I think is right for me and I'm just going to go for it. And, you know, watching you what, you know, 2016, you played the full year, but that year in 2017 where you just, you guys just wiped the floor with the competition and you were a huge part of that. You know, as a, as a young, as a young front rower. Like, it was tough, tough to be involved on the other side of it. But also looking, looking at it going, ye, like, you know, he made this decision and it's it's paid off for him. Like, it's paid off big time. He's, you know, one of the top players now locally and, you know, looking like he's going to get an opportunity in the NRC and then, and then hopefully the break. R but, you know, it's.
0:25:11 - (A): I want to go back to a comment you made, you know, around that sort of under 20 setup. That's, that's the time when you get, you get off offered the contract or typically the time when you get off offered the contract. I feel like that's make or break for so many guys because there's either the guys who get off of the contract and the guys who don't, and then the guys who don't have two options. One is to, to sulk or, you know, flounder in club footy and the other is to go, okay, well, I'm gonna prove, prove everyone wrong.
0:25:39 - (E): And it.
0:25:40 - (A): That's exactly what you did.
0:25:41 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah, I think, yeah, at the time, I, I kind of.
0:25:47 - (E): Yeah.
0:25:47 - (Connell McIneany): Like, I toured away in clubland for a while for a few years, but, like, I always, like, un unlike you, how you needed that structured environment, you know, to train and stuff. Like, I still trained really hard by myself. Like, I.
0:26:05 - (A): That's why you've got the wallowy cab and sit here on the couch interview.
0:26:08 - (Connell McIneany): Well, there's different ways you can go about it. There's different ways you can go about it. But I remember, like, like, I kept putting work in just in case, you know, like, in case that opportunity, like, I never wanted to be underdone if something actually came up. And I guess, like, dan kind of telling me I'm fat, sort of pro, probably put me on a. I mean, yeah, like, I could have sallked and got fatter.
0:26:31 - (E): Yeah.
0:26:31 - (A): You could have slid over and over to the number three jersey, which I did laid later.
0:26:35 - (Connell McIneany): I waited five years staying good, Nick. And then the last couple years I've gotten fatter. Comes with age.
0:26:43 - (E): Age.
0:26:44 - (Connell McIneany): But, yeah, no, I trained the house down and stayed ready. But it wasn't only just to be in case I got picked. It was to play well for royals. Like, everything I did was so I could play well and have no excuses, you know, and like, yah. Kind of going into every game knowing that I've done a bit more than the average first grade player in Canberra. So. Yeah, and I don't know why I think, like, that got trained into me when I was young, when I was around 16, just those habits and plus I probably had a bit more time, because I never went and got a full time job after that, which I've seen a couple blokks do when they don't get off with the contract, and then all of a sudden, they put all their energy into their work. Like, I was doing part time uni, and I was.
0:27:30 - (Connell McIneany): I was actually still working at vikings.
0:27:33 - (A): Oh, wow. Yeah.
0:27:34 - (Connell McIneany): So I was still taking their money, but u yeah. So, like, I was only, like, I had the time to still train, and that was important to me. So, I guess and around about way, that's kind of probably how I just stayed ready to go.
0:27:53 - (A): And I think that's, you know, one of the things I'm, I'm lucky in, in that what I do for work now. I'm around lots of people who've had success in lots of different, lots of different industries, lots of different endeavors. And the thing you just touched on, you know, the. There'll be 1% better keep. Keep ready just in case. That's. That's something they all kind of talk about in that, you know, they were.
0:28:17 - (A): While they were. While they were toiling away at their job or whatever, they had books that they were reading or they were taking classes or they had a mentor or they were making time, you know, to mentor someone else or they were volunteering. So there were all these little nudges towards success, towards the things that they wanted to. Wanted to achieve. And for, for someone on the, you know, for people on the outside looking in, it's like, oh, look at that. Like, that's just happened.
0:28:44 - (A): That seems to have happened out of nowhere. But, you know, there's this real long. Sometimes, you know, sometimes you toil away for a really long time before you get the thing you want. And, you know, some people, some people don't get the thing they want, but there's this real, real commitment to the craft.
0:29:01 - (E): Yeah.
0:29:02 - (A): And I think, you know, that. What you just touched on, I didn't have that. I certainly didn't have that drive as an athlete, but as a coach and as a. As. As someone now trying to forge another career, that's something that I've. I've taken from those people.
0:29:20 - (E): I like.
0:29:20 - (A): Well, you know, I could. I could sit here and watch Netflix or I could, you know, turn the PlayStation on and do that, but maybe I'll read. I'll read a chapter in this book, or I'll sit down and I'll write, you know, write something. Something on my laptop just to keep those cogs turning.
0:29:36 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:29:37 - (A): No, it's very important, and I think yeah, I think you've. You've clearly kind of embodied that and that's mean.
0:29:43 - (Connell McIneany): You would. I wouldn't say embodied. I mean, see, the thing is, like, if whoever's watching, whoever will watch this, they're probably going, what do you mean? Train the house down.
0:29:54 - (C): Up.
0:29:56 - (Connell McIneany): But, like, I was never, like, athletically gifted. Like, I'm still one of the slowest guys in the team, you know, and, like, I had hand eye coordination and I always had that. But, like, I feel like I had to work just to get to where I am now. And ye, like, I'm not the most powerful guy or whatever, but I feel like those habits when I was younger have, like, just allowed me to kind of keep up with the game or, like, the demands or kind of. Yeah, like, ieah, definitely not.
0:30:29 - (Connell McIneany): No means athletically gifted. Like, I mean, running wise, like, I'm kind of naturally fit, but that's about it.
0:30:36 - (E): Yeah.
0:30:36 - (Connell McIneany): Like, everything else, like, I've had to work for just, just to get this. Like, I look like a third, like, fourth grader, you know?
0:30:44 - (A): I wouldn't, I wouldn't say that, but. So, like, were you one of those guys growing up who was in every rep team or did you kind of, did that kind of happen later?
0:30:53 - (Connell McIneany): As you know what's funny, and not many people know this, but in year nine, when I was 15, I didn't even make the St. Mary McKillip college rugby team.
0:31:08 - (E): Yeah. Wow.
0:31:08 - (Connell McIneany): But I still think, like, maybe they just forgot me because I was playing. Like, I played Brums under 13s, under fourteen s, fifteen, sixteen all the way through 1820s. But for some reason, I didn't make my school team. And we, we're not even a rugby team. Like, we're not like you, darl and Eddie.
0:31:31 - (A): I was just.
0:31:32 - (Connell McIneany): This was for a one off comp.
0:31:33 - (E): Yeah.
0:31:33 - (Connell McIneany): And, like, I shouldn't have even played, you know, because I thought I was up here. I was in, like, the, I was in the highest I could be at the time outside of school. And then I didn't make it. And I remember going to the teacher, knocking on his door and going, mate, like, did you forget me? What's the go? Like, I've. And it wasn't an arrogant thing. It was honestly, like, genuine. Like, did you just, like, forget. Like, I tried it out and everything.
0:31:58 - (Connell McIneany): It wasn't even that. I just threw my name in. Like, I I trial and didn't make it. Like, I. And I couldn't believe it and I. So, yeah, so it's funny. So that's the only thing I also tried out for under sixteen'Raiders league.
0:32:11 - (E): Yep.
0:32:11 - (Connell McIneany): Because I was playing a bit of league from 13 through to 16. I didn't make that either. So yeah that was a bit of an ego hit because like I thought I was good enough to play that. But then again I'm not built like a league. Like I wasn't fast enough and stuff and maybe they saw that back then. So yeah I didn. So there was a couple teams I didn't make but in general like the Brumbies, underage stuff.
0:32:37 - (E): Yeah.
0:32:37 - (Connell McIneany): Kind of went through from 13 through the twenties.
0:32:39 - (E): Yeah. Okay.
0:32:40 - (A): It's interesting, I had a similar moment. So I went from Darren Marn College here in year ten. I went to St. Joseph's College in Hunters Hill.
0:32:48 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:32:49 - (A): And so you started the year. So we, we got there sort of. You get there February or whenever school starts and so you're sort of halfway through the summer sport season. So I played cricket because you know whatever.
0:33:06 - (Connell McIneany): Well a lot of rugby guys do during summer.
0:33:08 - (E): Right? Yeah.
0:33:08 - (A): Offse season, low impact sport. You know rugby are wish I up played.
0:33:14 - (Connell McIneany): Wish I love cricket.
0:33:16 - (E): Yeah I love.
0:33:16 - (A): It's a great sp. I still, still love it. Hopefully my son will pick it up. He loves to smack stuff with a bat. So hopefully, you know, hopefully he goes down that path. But so did, did that and then rugby trials at that time started so you could do athletics sort of as your presason for rugby or you just go straight into, you just go straight into rugby trials and you know old school like everyone at Joey's played rugby or soccer or cross country were. Or golf was the other one. So there were fours.
0:33:50 - (A): Yeah there were four winter sports boys.
0:33:52 - (E): Yeah.
0:33:55 - (A): There were four mean golf was the joke like.
0:33:58 - (Connell McIneany): Right because ner.
0:34:00 - (A): Well not even. It was just like I don't want to play a winter sport. I'm gonna, I'm gonna go play golf like. But so there were, those were your four options. You had to play a summer in a winter sport that was a non negotiable at Chey's. So everyone, you know, everyone played rugby. There are a couple of soccer teams like age group soccer teams and then maybe like ten guys who do cross country and maybe another ten who would play, who would play golf.
0:34:23 - (A): So of a year of like 200 people, there was probably 130 guys playing rugby. And you old school your name got put up on the board and so there was like I don't know, ten pieces of paper right. And each, each paper had a list of 15 names on it and so I've come out of Canberra, you know, where I was a big fish, small pond. You know, I was the captain of the act under fifteen's back rowler back then. You know, I was tall. Like, I was six foot two. Same height I am now.
0:35:00 - (A): Yeah, I was pretty, pretty big. It was about 90 kilos and, you know, relatively athletic, skillful, whatever up. And I'm looking. I'm going through the list.
0:35:11 - (E): I'm going.
0:35:11 - (A): I'm not there. Maybe not there. And I think I ended up with the G's, right? Like the 16 G's. So a, B, c, d there.
0:35:20 - (Connell McIneany): That many teams, that's crazy.
0:35:22 - (E): Yeah.
0:35:23 - (A): And I was like, it's like, what? Like what? Like what? What is this? So similar thing. I went. I went to the office of a guy named Darren June. Darren June'an? Ex walaby. He played for the Roosters with Phil.
0:35:39 - (E): Go.
0:35:39 - (A): Like, I feel Gould was his coach, you know, he was really accomplished footballer. And I walked in and he goes. And I sort of said, you know, like, these are my accolades. And he's like, do you even want to play rugby at Joey's? What? He's like, no one cares about your accolades here, mate. He's like, trial with the G's. If you're any good, we'll bump you up. And he sent me on my way now. Now. So I did.
0:36:07 - (A): I did the first two sessions with the G's and. And he saw me. So the G's were on one field, the team, he coached the 16 as's on the other field. And I could see, like, he was watching me.
0:36:20 - (Connell McIneany): Promising.
0:36:21 - (E): Yeah.
0:36:21 - (A): And about, I don't know, I was so. I was salty. I was sulking. I'd never had any adversity up and up until that point, you know, again, big fish, small pond. And he comes up and he goes, your body language is awful. I like, excuse me. He's like, it is terrible. He's like, he made a tackle over there. I counted. It took you 5 seconds to get up. Sort your attitude out before. You got to sort your attitude out before.
0:36:48 - (Connell McIneany): Before you come knocking on my door.
0:36:49 - (A): Come knocking on my door, like, geez. Okay. And. But, but, you know, similar. I don't want to compare them, but, you know, the thing that the Dan said to you, that in that moment, that's what I needed. I needed someone to give me a kick.
0:37:04 - (E): Yeah.
0:37:05 - (A): And say, like, so important.
0:37:06 - (E): Yeah.
0:37:07 - (A): And. And to his credit, you know, throughout the trial period each week, he would bump me up.
0:37:14 - (E): Yeah.
0:37:14 - (A): You know, based off performance. Like, there was merit he would bump me up, bump me up, bump me up. And eventually I worked my way in, into the a's sor of like half.
0:37:23 - (Connell McIneany): An hour a bit, taking you twelve weeks.
0:37:29 - (A): But, you know, the, the other thing that I reflect on now is I did a lot of talking back then. It was really important for me. It was really important for me for people to know how good I was.
0:37:40 - (E): Yeah.
0:37:40 - (A): And the only way I felt like I could do that was through saying how good I was.
0:37:45 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:37:46 - (A): And he taught me that no one cares. No one cares what you say. It's what, it's what you do. And if you say, if you say you're going to do something, go and go and do it. So, you know, he's, he's had such a big impact on me as an adult and he probably doesn't, he probably doesn't even realize. He probably had that conversation with, with, with so many or similar conversations with so many, so many other kids, you know, but he's, he's an educator and he gave me what I needed in, in that moment.
0:38:15 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, very similar. Like with Dan. Like, that's probably what I needed. I mean, not to say I had'face adversity or whatever, you know, I didn't have the perfect upbringing, whatever, and I was a little shit as well, but, but, yeah, so obviously toiled away with Royals for a few years and then got to the stage. I thought, you know, there's not much doing here. And then got an opportunity to play for east in Sydney.
0:38:42 - (E): Yep.
0:38:43 - (Connell McIneany): And then, yeah, it was funny. It was like, because I went away to Sydney, I played for the country eagles and stuff and that was good fun.
0:38:52 - (A): And then was Pete playedford, you coach, was he involved?
0:38:56 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, no, he was. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he was involved. Y he was like our invited skills coach. Decorated. Very decorated. Yeah, he coached, he was stars.
0:39:09 - (A): He coaches at the stars. And he, he, he's another guy who's, who's left an imprint on me. Um, and, and he's actually shaped some of, some of the way that I approach management and coaching just, just from some of the things he did as a coaching. You got to remember, too, like when I, in 2015 when he took over and I can't remember who the coach was before him, but when he took over at the Stars, they'd finished second last in 2014 in the NRC the year before.
0:39:39 - (A): And they had a good, like, they had a good team. They had guys like Patdty Ryan, they had guys like Chuber Hann. Tom Carter was playing in the centers, Jake Gordon playing halfack, the young Jake Gordon playing halfback, Tom Kingston playing fullback. Like he, you know, he'd come out of the sevens set up and had played a lot for the tit. So they had this, they had this quite talented team, but whoever the previous coach was just couldn't, couldn't work it out.
0:40:08 - (A): Pee sort of came in and he inherited a lot of those guys but then he brought in some other guys and he, you know, he reached out to a few coaches in Canberra and brought a bunch of us up. So Senio Toia Foa, I think he's played for Samoa now.
0:40:22 - (E): You.
0:40:22 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, he spendt a little bit times.
0:40:25 - (E): Yeah.
0:40:26 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, he did a couple offse seasons.
0:40:27 - (A): Yeah, he was one. Andrew Robinson who's, you know, a stalwart here in Canberra now, you know, with a, with a ton of first grade games. He was another. And then I got to call up sort of halfway through the year, but he, and I won't tell you what he said in this meeting, but basically he took, he took this side and we had, we, we came in fourth but we had two huge losses. We had one huge loss to the Canberra Vikings, which you might have played in or.
0:40:58 - (A): I'm not sure, but.
0:40:59 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, that was that Viking park.
0:41:00 - (E): Yeah.
0:41:01 - (A): It was like 70.
0:41:02 - (E): Yeah. Yesah.
0:41:03 - (A): So I got the call up to the side the week, the week after that.
0:41:06 - (E): Yeah.
0:41:07 - (A): Um, Tom Robinson.
0:41:09 - (Connell McIneany): Damage control.
0:41:10 - (A): Yeah. Well, Tom Robinson did his shoulder in that. That's right.
0:41:12 - (E): Yeahah.
0:41:13 - (A): Um, it's funny.
0:41:15 - (E): Yeah.
0:41:15 - (Connell McIneany): Like it's like a blur and then.
0:41:17 - (E): You saying stuff like.
0:41:19 - (A): I remember that.
0:41:19 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:41:20 - (A): So, so I got the call after that game and then, then the following game. So I sort of did that weekaker training. Pete was good. Me, he was like, mate, you're not going to play this week, but we've got to, we've got a second grade, you know, remember they used to have those sort of one off like development team games. So he's like, you're playing that game. I'll make sure I'll get there early and I'll watch.
0:41:42 - (A): So we played. I played in that game.
0:41:44 - (E): Played, it.
0:41:45 - (A): Played okay. But we played Brisbane, Brisbane City. And they pumped us like 50 to 50 to 15 or something. So then I think I played the next two games. And in the lead up to the semi final, we. So we'he, gave us an option. He said, do you want to fly in on the Friday night because game was Saturday. Do you want to fly in on the Friday night, play Saturday, come home Saturday night or do you want to play fly in Saturday morning, play the game, fly home Sunday.
0:42:15 - (A): So the boys obviously want to fly home Sunday. Right? Big opportunity, but we're playing. We're playing Brisbane City.
0:42:23 - (Connell McIneany): Big opportunity after the game.
0:42:24 - (A): Yeahe, exactly. But we're playing Brisbane City, who pumped us, like, two weeks, two weeks before, and he sort of brings us. He brings us in this room, and he had a bunch of these plain white t shirts, like, just white t shirts from Kmart. And he was like, I want you to write a word on these. On these t shirts. You know, whatever this team means to you or whatever this, you know, this. This opportunity means for you. I want you to write.
0:42:55 - (A): I want you to write a word. And so everyone sort of went around, you know, some guy's got, like, toul Latu, who got pretty fancy with his. He, like, made a necklace and whatever, like, so. So everyone's riding on these t shirts, and then he sort of launches into this really, where he. He made himself really vulnerable.
0:43:13 - (E): He shared.
0:43:14 - (A): Shared some stuff that I don't know that he's shared with. With anyone ever before or since. But he really, like, was so inspiring. Like, it was the first time I'd really had this. I don't know, I felt like a really strong connection to a. To a coach on a personal level. And, you know, we go into that game and we're warming up in these plain white.
0:43:36 - (Connell McIneany): I think I remember, but at the time, we just thought, jeez, I got.
0:43:40 - (E): They really.
0:43:41 - (Connell McIneany): They're really struggling. Well, you know, like, whatever video they had.
0:43:48 - (E): Yeah.
0:43:48 - (Connell McIneany): On the stream or whatever.
0:43:49 - (E): Yeah.
0:43:49 - (Connell McIneany): It just looked like.
0:43:50 - (A): Yeah, I think it was on really.
0:43:52 - (E): Y yeah.
0:43:52 - (Connell McIneany): You couldn't really tell.
0:43:53 - (E): Yeah.
0:43:53 - (Connell McIneany): There was, like, riding and stuff. Yeah, because.
0:43:56 - (A): Yeah, but. And, you know, like, I guess it was for us, but, yeah, and. And then he. And then, and then after the warm up, he sort of brings us in and he's like, all right, we're gonna. We're gonna line up on halfway. We're going to run out before they do. Like, we're going to run out early, and we're going to line up on halfway. In a line, like you do in school, and we're gonna. We're going toa shake everyone.
0:44:16 - (A): Shake everyone's head. Lucky, you know, like you do in school. And I was like, it's different, but, you know, whatever. Like, I'm. At that point, I was like, I'm just happy to be here. And win or lose, I'm. Have a good time tonight.
0:44:29 - (E): Yeah.
0:44:30 - (A): So I have this vision seared into my brain of Ben Hy and Liam Gill running out of the tunnel and seeing us standing there at halfway, like, with that hands out and just this perplexed, completely perplexed look on their face.
0:44:49 - (Connell McIneany): They just got set up for the kickers.
0:44:50 - (E): Yeah, yeah.
0:44:51 - (A): No, they said Liam, to his credit, was like, she all right. And he brought, like, he brought this because I think he was the captain. He brought the team out and they like, sh. Everyone's hands. There are a couple of guys who sort of shot off at the back and took off. And for like, 60 minutes in that game, it looked like. Like we might actually. We might actually get. Get over the line. I think it was like 35 25 with, you know, 16 minutes to go or whatever. And then they scored two quick tries and it was over.
0:45:19 - (A): But Pete had. Yeah, he just. And I'sorry to derail you, but he just. Yeah, he just had this really big impact on me purely from. Purely because he was happy to be vulnerable in front of a room full of guys. And, you know, at that time, I hadn't really experienced that. Like, I'd come through an old boys school where it's boys, boys, boys like, to see someone. To see someone who. Yeah. Who would achieved a lot in his footy career and was sort of transitioning into this coaching business career. At the time, he was selling sunglasses. But, you know, to see.
0:45:56 - (E): Yeah.
0:45:56 - (A): To see a guy like that be really vulnerable with us was really cool.
0:45:59 - (E): Well, makes you.
0:46:00 - (Connell McIneany): It makes you want to play for him.
0:46:01 - (E): Yeah. Right. Yeah.
0:46:03 - (A): If he called me today, like, I've been retired for five years, but if he recall me, if he called me today and was, like, coaching a team, I want you to play, I'd. Yeah, seriously think about it.
0:46:11 - (Connell McIneany): Ye cou. All of a sudden, like, because a lot of the time growing up with the coaches, like, you kind of think they're. Well, one, like, you know, they know better than you and they're kind of up here, and then they show that vulnerability, that they're human, and then all of a sudden, you can relate to that, and then all of a sudden you're going, geez, this guy's al right. And, like, he's literally dropped his ego or he's coaching ego, taking his coaching hat off, and, like, now he's just one of the boys, and all of a sudden you're like, yeah, he's all right.
0:46:43 - (A): Like, I. I ride with this guy.
0:46:45 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. So, no, it's cool. But, yeah, you know, back to Dan, like, he. They just gave me a call out of nowhere. And it was before our first trial. Gam against swinger.
0:46:55 - (A): Yep. Yep.
0:46:56 - (Connell McIneany): And he's like. He's like, mate, you come down and train with us or whatever. Like, I don't know if at the time there was a hooker down or not. No, there must have been. Um. It was tw.
0:47:12 - (E): Hang on.
0:47:12 - (Connell McIneany): Sec 2018.
0:47:14 - (A): Okay.
0:47:15 - (E): Yeah.
0:47:15 - (A): So I think so you probably had like.
0:47:17 - (E): That's.
0:47:17 - (A): What if we had like, Josh, man Ray was probably there.
0:47:21 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah.
0:47:22 - (E): Robbie Abel.
0:47:22 - (A): Robbie Abel. Chris Alcock, maybe.
0:47:25 - (E): Yeah.
0:47:26 - (Connell McIneany): Well, he was. He was a back rower.
0:47:28 - (A): Yeah, that's right.
0:47:29 - (Connell McIneany): Ye no, he was, um.
0:47:31 - (E): Yeah. Bongo.
0:47:31 - (Connell McIneany): Robbie Abel and, um.
0:47:37 - (A): ##E I't remember anyway.
0:47:39 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah. Which. Which is sh. Because I'm pretty sure I'm.
0:47:43 - (A): Forget fullau fau. Right.
0:47:46 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahah. Who ended up being the starter later because those two guys got injured.
0:47:52 - (E): Yeah. Yeah. Sorry.
0:47:53 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, it was for Lao.
0:47:54 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:47:55 - (Connell McIneany): Because Bongo was like the start of that year and then he got injured. But anyway, so I went downm he's like, oh, we want you to have a trial with us or whatever. And then I didn't tell the east coach because I was like o. You know, like, well, because I was playing that game and I. I played. I'm pretty sure I played 80 that game or 70 or something.
0:48:16 - (E): Yeah.
0:48:17 - (Connell McIneany): And I didn't want him. I don't know, I wanted to get through the game for him and not have him thinking, oh, crap, now can only play him 40 or. Yeah, you know, or I'll bring him off the bench. Keeping fresh for the Brums game. Or I don't know. I just went, o'll tell him after the game. So then I played. Luckily I didn't get injured because I was thinking shit, like. And it was a big deal back then to even play a trial game for BR, you know.
0:48:43 - (Connell McIneany): So then I came back and played the trial game and went pretty well. And then. And then. Remember the, like the Brisbane tens.
0:48:53 - (A): Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's a throwback too.
0:48:56 - (Connell McIneany): That's a massive.
0:48:56 - (A): That was a good. That was a good tournament.
0:48:58 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, that was good fun.
0:49:00 - (E): Yeah.
0:49:00 - (Connell McIneany): So played anyway. And then played that when. Right there and then went back to east. Didn't really hear from Brahms after that, but I knew I did what I could and then. Yah, Bongo got injured one. And I was watching in Sydney at a pub and then I get a call. I still wasn't sure. I'm just thinking, you know, he might get another hooker or whatever. Anyway, he gave me the call next day and he's like, mate.
0:49:27 - (Connell McIneany): Oh, so I remember, sorry. I remember a few days before, they were worried because I think maybe Robbie had soft tissue injury going on and Dan asked if I could come down and train for like $200 a week. And because I felt like'I didn't want to be taken advantage of. And by that age, I could actually think for myself rather than just go, oh, yeah, no worries, I'll do whatever for anyone.
0:49:55 - (E): You.
0:49:55 - (Connell McIneany): And I was like, you know, I was earning, like, like I was working full time for Ford. Yeah, delivering cars. And it was great gig, but. And I was getting, actually, it was the first time I was getting paid decent money.
0:50:06 - (E): Yeah.
0:50:06 - (A): And it's interesting, you know, that's, I guess, a drawback to what you're saying before. You know, guys don't get the contract, they get a full time job. Money is addictive, too, that's all. When you see that, see that paycheck hit your account. Oh, and buy some stuff now.
0:50:19 - (Connell McIneany): And I finally had bills, like, I was paying rent. And anyway, so I just said, mate, like, I can't do that for $200. So that's, that's just fuel, you know?
0:50:30 - (E): Yeah.
0:50:31 - (A): Coming back and forth.
0:50:32 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah, like, can I, can st mums or whatever, butah I'm like, I actually have bills, you know, now or whatever. And I said, like, sorry, mate. And he didn't reply to me. And I was just like, well, like, he's got to understand, you know? Yeah, likeuz that, that's say, like, I'm almost 23. Like, it's not like I'm 18. You know, when you can get away and living home.
0:50:51 - (E): Yeah.
0:50:52 - (Connell McIneany): ##Eah actually, yeah, because I couldn't have lived at home because I would have had to come back to Sydney any.
0:50:56 - (E): Yeah, yeah.
0:50:57 - (Connell McIneany): Anyway, so I said no. And then, and then a couple of days later, they played and I watched and Bongo got injured. And then the next day he rang me back and he's like, okay, mate, like, because Bongo, I think he did his ACL.
0:51:09 - (A): Yeah, that sounds right. Yeah, yeah, he had a couple of those in a row. Yeah, I remember he sort of got back from one and did it.
0:51:14 - (E): Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:51:16 - (Connell McIneany): So anyway, so he's like, mate, I could put you on an injury contract for six weeks, you know, it'll be this much. I think it was seven. Seven $800 a week, which was a lot better. And he's like, this should help with your finances, you little prick.
0:51:32 - (E): Yeah.
0:51:32 - (A): So, yeah, you, he, he read that message.
0:51:36 - (Connell McIneany): But if I had said yes, to the $200, then I would have just still been on that.
0:51:40 - (A): Yeah, you would have. You 100%. And I know.
0:51:43 - (Connell McIneany): I don't think they would have put.
0:51:44 - (A): Me on, like, I know. I know.
0:51:45 - (E): Cover.
0:51:46 - (A): I know of guys who've agreed to that.
0:51:49 - (E): Yeah.
0:51:49 - (A): And then they're around, so. And. And then I know. I know a couple of guys who had, like, they had managers and the manager was like, yeah, take the 200, but make sure they give you, like, a matchy. Yeah, a $1,000 for a game or whatever. So I know a you guys at that happened too, so that was okay. But, yeah, I know guys who. Who agreed to come in as an injury cover, but for the, you know, the minimum, whatever the. Is you. It's like.
0:52:18 - (A): It's like $170 after tax or something.
0:52:20 - (E): Yeaheah.
0:52:22 - (Connell McIneany): Like, it's crazy that that's even allowed, but love of the game, right?
0:52:27 - (E): Yeah, that's it.
0:52:28 - (Connell McIneany): But, yeah, anyway, so then that's kind of when my whole world just, you know, took a turn for the. For the best. And then. And then I was kind of. Yeah, that year I'd kind of played. Played at east train. Sorry, I trained to Thursday with Brahms and then I'd go and play for east and it was like one of the best years of my life because, like, I'm having. It's like a split'a. Split world. Split life.
0:52:52 - (E): Right.
0:52:52 - (Connell McIneany): Because I'm having half my week in Sydney, half my week in Canberra. It was awesome.
0:52:56 - (A): Yeah, well, you're getting your cake and eating it, too, right? You know, your hometown team, Brumbies. You're getting that exposure. And then on the weekends, you're living it up in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, like.
0:53:06 - (Connell McIneany): And. Yeah, and I was on. I was on match. I played six games that year. Brahms.
0:53:11 - (E): Yep.
0:53:11 - (Connell McIneany): It was from about halfway through the season onwards. So, yeah, then the matches start coming in and everything's going pretty well. And then that's when I signed. I think I signed two years.
0:53:22 - (E): Yep.
0:53:23 - (Connell McIneany): And it was a wider training the next year, so I was still on matches and I played ten games on matches, which is pretty good.
0:53:29 - (A): It's pretty good, yeah.
0:53:30 - (Connell McIneany): And. Yeah, they were two grand back then. Yep. So I'm assuming they've gone up since.
0:53:36 - (E): Yeah.
0:53:37 - (Connell McIneany): So it.
0:53:37 - (A): Inflation killer.
0:53:39 - (E): Yeah. Yeaheah.
0:53:40 - (Connell McIneany): But anyway. Yeah, so that's kind of. Yeah, so, like, my point was that, you know, Dan told me to go and. But lose my belly and go and play 40, play first grade, blah, blah, for three years. And then he called me back and then when I came back. He goes, like, mate, you're in good nick. Like. He goes, this is why, like, I couldn't useoo back then. You weren't. I didn't think you were ready. And that's when I went, you know what? I probably wasn't ready.
0:54:07 - (Connell McIneany): Like, I wasn't ready. And that's the best thing, I mean, financially, for the next few years, you know, like, I was living week to week, but it was still the best lesson, you know, not to take things for granted. And then all of a sudden, like, I come back like this, got a.
0:54:23 - (A): New man, but it sounds too, like, you know, you say that was the best year, your life. You were, you were enjoying, obviously enjoying your footy.
0:54:32 - (E): Yeah.
0:54:33 - (A): But enjoying, you know, the, the lifestyle you were living, too.
0:54:36 - (E): Yeah, yeah.
0:54:37 - (Connell McIneany): And east is such a good club for that. Like, it's the best. I'd go back there in heartbeat and play if I could.
0:54:42 - (A): I know lots of guys who are involved there, you know, from all. From all over Australia. Played all kinds of different clubs around the world and they. Everyone who's you, I have no affiliation to them, but everyone who I know who's been, who's been there, who's been involved, who's played there or had an affiliation, loves it.
0:55:02 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:02 - (A): Just raves about it.
0:55:03 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:04 - (Connell McIneany): And, you know, I mean, you're in one of the best spots.
0:55:06 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:06 - (Connell McIneany): In the world, right. In the eastern suburbs, you know, and I went, there's a lot going on.
0:55:09 - (A): I went up there one year for East Lady's day.
0:55:13 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:13 - (A): And I was used to Vikings Ladies Day, where it's, you know, the couple bottles of wine. Yeah, a couple bottles of wine. And, you know, everyone's mum come ten and.
0:55:20 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:21 - (Connell McIneany): And spread out.
0:55:22 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:22 - (A): And it's, it's, it's good. It's good. Like, you, you know, you hang and you get to meet a lot of your teammates, partners or sisters or mothers and stuff.
0:55:30 - (E): That's.
0:55:30 - (A): It's nice, right? It's nice.
0:55:31 - (Connell McIneany): Son's usually. Yeah.
0:55:33 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:34 - (A): It's usually front end of the year because it gets to too cold y in July.
0:55:38 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:38 - (A): Then I go up to. I go up to east, go up to Wlara oval number one. It was the year that they put down the synthetic.
0:55:49 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:50 - (A): And I sort of CRW those.
0:55:53 - (Connell McIneany): It would have been the first year I played.
0:55:55 - (E): Yeah.
0:55:55 - (A): I think 2018. Yeah, I think that's right. And I roll into the clubhouse at, like, I don't know, like 02:00 and the line for the bar is like 20 deep.
0:56:08 - (E): Yeah.
0:56:09 - (A): There are women everywhere. And it's just like the biggest party. Like just this huge day.
0:56:17 - (Connell McIneany): I just'a couple bars around the field as well.
0:56:19 - (E): Yeah.
0:56:20 - (Connell McIneany): Just chalkerss.
0:56:21 - (A): I'just never seen anything like it.
0:56:23 - (E): Yeah.
0:56:23 - (A): And then I'm thinking like, you know, because I had my. At that time I was working in rugby trying to run a, run a high performance program. I was like, God, imagine how much money they're making off this. Like they're charging at the door for starters that you got to buy a ticket.
0:56:37 - (E): Yeah.
0:56:37 - (Connell McIneany): Then they're scored up in recent times.
0:56:40 - (E): Then you. Then you.
0:56:41 - (A): Then you got your bar takings. Like I was just. It was incredible. And as you like, as you say, it's a pretty impressive setup.
0:56:48 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, it's great. So yah.
0:56:50 - (E): Bars.
0:56:50 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, very close to the view.
0:56:51 - (E): Yeah.
0:56:52 - (Connell McIneany): And they gott. They have a DJ on later on so they keep people around. You know, like I think the DJ starts at nine cl or 10:00 like. Yeah, massive party. It's good fun.
0:57:02 - (A): So look, I'm conscious that you got other stuff to do today so I want to ask you about. I don't really.
0:57:10 - (Connell McIneany): I don't play much on my day off.
0:57:13 - (A): Which is why we appreciate you coming.
0:57:14 - (Connell McIneany): Looking forward to this. For weeks they gave me a bit of purpose.
0:57:19 - (A): I want to ask you, you know, you talked about you. You toiled away in club footy, then you toil away in super footy and kind of cement yourself as a. As a vet, you know, as someone who's reliable with the Brahms. Then you get a call from Dave Rennie. First let. I want to ask you about the first phone call you get from Dave Redy. What was that like to get to get the Wallabies coach calling your phone?
0:57:46 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:57:48 - (Connell McIneany): Because I was in preseason at the time andah, I had no idea I'd be considered at all. But I didn't get a call. I got added to a WhatsApp group and then I'm going, what's this? And then I just didn't read into it because this is either an accident or like, I don't know because like I got added into this group and I saw a few familiar numbers and whatever but there was no messages yet like for ages. And then like I reckon that for like a day or two like that was it. Yeah, sort of thing. And like told. Told the misses and that. Like.
0:58:21 - (E): Oh yeah.
0:58:22 - (Connell McIneany): Like I don't know what this is but whatever.
0:58:24 - (E): Yeah. And then.
0:58:25 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, Dave called me.
0:58:26 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
0:58:29 - (Connell McIneany): I don't know. Like I was pretty nervous and stuff. On the phone, but, yeah, it's pretty cool, I guess, just from being thinking, like, you're not being considered at all, you know, and then, yeah, or because. Because noss at the time, locky Logan, like, because he played in the games before that. So this was for the spring tour.
0:58:53 - (E): Yep.
0:58:53 - (Connell McIneany): So I assumed he'd carry on. He'd carry on, but they obviously saw him as a long term prospect and me as a bler who could probably just do a job, but for him, they wanted him to have a preseason and, like, develop a bit more, you know, put a bit of weight on it. All that and then maybe. Yeah, and then, yeah, I guess, as you said, like, maybe because I was reliable. That's why that kind of threw me bone, but, yeah, yeah, so, yeah, it was pretty, pretty cool to go on that tour.
0:59:22 - (A): And then, you know, you get. Assume you went into a team room, you know, after some weeks of training and, you know, where they announced the team and your name gets announced. What did that. What was that like?
0:59:37 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, it was pretty emotional.
0:59:39 - (E): Yeah.
0:59:41 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, I guess, like, cu I, like, I'm one of those guys youeah. You like at the time, everything's a surprise and, like, I don't know what what I'm trying to say, but just weren't expecting. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it, like, wasn't expecting it. And also, like, I'm one of those guys who, like, I never saw, like, the Wallabies as achievable. And I'm not even just saying that to try and be humbled. Like, I just honestly didn't think that it was achievable because I guess maybe growing up in that age where the Wallabies were, like, the champions of the world, and then later on, I guess I still had that arm like that.
1:00:31 - (Connell McIneany): I don't know how to say it.
1:00:32 - (E): But.
1:00:34 - (Connell McIneany): I guess, like, maybe guys coming through now might see the quality of the Wallabies at the moment and kind of expect that they could play for them, whereas, like, back then, I still saw the Wallabies as kind of what they were. So I don't know what I'm trying.
1:00:49 - (A): To say, but, yeah, you had them up on this pedest pedestal.
1:00:54 - (E): Yeah, y exactly.
1:00:55 - (Connell McIneany): And that's from all our memories from growing upeah, watching them and, like, they were genuine soupars.
1:01:01 - (A): Well, end to me, you know? You know, like, George Greiggan was kind of a transcendent athlete.
1:01:07 - (E): Yeah.
1:01:07 - (A): You know, even if you didn't follow rugby, you kind of knew who he was.
1:01:10 - (Connell McIneany): Exactly. Well, most people knew, like, yeah.
1:01:13 - (A): Who the Walies were.
1:01:14 - (E): Yeah.
1:01:14 - (Connell McIneany): Like they were in wheat big ads.
1:01:15 - (A): Yeah, that's true.
1:01:16 - (E): That's truee. Yeah.
1:01:17 - (A): How many do you do?
1:01:18 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
1:01:18 - (Connell McIneany): How many do you do?
1:01:19 - (E): Yeah.
1:01:20 - (Connell McIneany): So anyway, and then I guess, like, I still had that feeling for them. So then, so, yeah, so it was pretty emotional even to get a game and then.
1:01:30 - (E): Yeah.
1:01:30 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, so, yeah, I guess you just reflect on your journey and stuff and you just like, know, it's pretty cool. And there's like still players around there, you know, like James Slipper and, you know, James O'Connor, Quai Cooper. Like, you know, they're all in that group. So you kind of. Yeah, it kind of has a feeling of like the Wallabies v sort of thing. Yeah.
1:01:57 - (E): Yeah.
1:01:57 - (Connell McIneany): So, yeah, no, it was cool, mate.
1:01:59 - (E): Yeah.
1:01:59 - (Connell McIneany): It's all a bit of a blur, you know.
1:02:02 - (A): Well, I think. I think it's one of those things and I think lots of people, this happens to lots of people and lots of endeavors, they achieve something. And because it moves so quickly, you don't really get the opportunity to enjoy it and reflect on it at the time because you're like, well, I've got to do the job.
1:02:17 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, that's right.
1:02:18 - (A): So it's only in hindsight, in retrospect, where you go, wow, like this is, this is what it, what it meant to me.
1:02:24 - (E): Yeah.
1:02:24 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah, exactly. So, yeah, and I knew that. I mean, like, because like I'm. Yeah, I knew it was only, it was probably gon toa be, you know, everyy, every game was a bonus.
1:02:37 - (E): Yepah.
1:02:37 - (Connell McIneany): And then I play that second game in Scotland. I'm like, this is, this is epic. You know, just to play two in a row.
1:02:43 - (E): It's cool. Yeah. Yeah.
1:02:44 - (Connell McIneany): And I kind of knew in the back of my head, like, I'd have to, you know, do something pretty special to be there again.
1:02:51 - (E): Yeah.
1:02:51 - (Connell McIneany): And I haven't been since, you know.
1:02:53 - (E): Yeah.
1:02:53 - (Connell McIneany): And, you know, injuries and confidence and stuff like that have played a part, but, yeah.
1:03:00 - (E): Yeah.
1:03:00 - (Connell McIneany): It'd be good to string a few games together, but I guess that's, that's 40 a.
1:03:05 - (A): But it is. And there's a, there's a big season ahead. You know, you sort of alluded to locky before. We've also got Billy Pollard there, you know, two guys who, who clearly the Wallabies regard pretty highly in the two jersey.
1:03:19 - (E): Yeah.
1:03:19 - (A): And then, you know, you're, you know, and I love how humble and, and the humility you're showing here. It comes off as really authentic. It doesn't come out just realistic. Yeah, yeah, sure.
1:03:32 - (Connell McIneany): But I always. I've been realistic about everything. Like I'm.
1:03:36 - (A): But, you know, yeah, it doesn't diminish what you've achieved and you ve, you've really become a. From my perspective, you've become a real. Maybe not a. Your master may be the wrong word, but you've. You've developed your craft. You continue to develop your craft. You know, even, even the way you came in and we were talking off air, you know, you really seem to enjoy footy. So I'm going toa going to finish on this question.
1:04:03 - (A): What is it about rugby that you love and what is it about it that made you want to go down this path?
1:04:10 - (E): Yeah.
1:04:12 - (Connell McIneany): With the path thing. Like, I guess I wasn't really good at much else, honestly. Like I. Yeah, as I said before, like I've always had to kind of try, work hard just to stay not ahead of the game, just to stay at that level. But, yeah, you at the time probablyude to my upbringing a bit. Like there wasn't much opportunity elsewhere, you know, as a young fella. So it'I kind of could have gone one way or the other and because I had something to focus on and, you know, I wasn't good at studying, I wasn't good at school. I was a little shit.
1:04:48 - (E): Yeah.
1:04:49 - (Connell McIneany): Like if it wasn't rugby then who knows where I'be, you know, like I probably be like struggling somewhere. Yeah.
1:04:56 - (E): Yeah.
1:04:56 - (Connell McIneany): You know, so, yeah, like it wasn't really. I didn't really have a choice to go down any other path, you know, like.
1:05:05 - (A): And that's what gave you the focus to do it and what to do it.
1:05:09 - (Connell McIneany): Yeah, yeah, exactly.
1:05:10 - (E): Yeah.
1:05:10 - (Connell McIneany): I had to throw all my eggs in into the basket and I remember going for a job interview to being an apprentice sparky for a big, big company in Canberra and I went in and because this was after. This was around that, yeah, after twenties when I got knocked back and I was in limbo and I'm so glad they told me, no, I knocked you back. They knocked me back and I went in thinking, yeah, they'll give me a job, you know, I'm a likable enough guy.
1:05:42 - (Connell McIneany): I'll just tell them what I'm about and they'll give me the job. And that for some reason the manager was or the boss of the joint was just like, what about rugby? What if we put all these, all these finances into getting you to be a good sparky and then you get a contract somewhere? And at the time I was thinking, I'm not going to get a contract. But that if that did happen, then I'll probably choose rugby because I'm still young, but I don't think that will happen. That's why I said to him, at the same time, I don't think that will happen. And then he goes, okay, yep, no worries. And then the interview happened. However it happened, I can't really remember, but he knocked me back and that was the best thing to happen because I just picked up uni and did part time and just did a little bit just to say I'm doing something, you know, and then I was able to put the time into rugby.
1:06:37 - (Connell McIneany): So, yeah, I guess, yeah, if it wasn't rugby, maybe I'd do something like that. But, yeah, with pathway, I guess it was meant to be, you know?
1:06:50 - (A): Well, it certainly sounds to me like there was a couple. There's obviously a couple of pivotal moments, but there were things that have happened to you that. That guided you down this path.
1:06:59 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
1:07:00 - (Connell McIneany): It's funny how it happens.
1:07:01 - (E): Yeah.
1:07:01 - (A): And, you know, life is about opportunities and chances and all of that, so. But it sounds to me like, you know, rugby really gave you the direction, the purpose, the strength and the drive, which hopefully, you know, when it's all over, as a player, you can take those things that you've learned and your degree and all of those things and, and, and take it into the.
1:07:23 - (Connell McIneany): To whatever's next. So I'll have to start again. Right. And this is where it's scary because it's always been rugby.
1:07:29 - (E): Yeah.
1:07:29 - (Connell McIneany): So it's quite scary.
1:07:30 - (E): Yeah.
1:07:30 - (Connell McIneany): But, um. Yeah, you know, like, I've got degray now in business management, but I still have no idea. Maybe we'll be doing a podcast together.
1:07:41 - (A): Ma. Mate, I would. I. Firstly, I would love to do that. Secondly, I still don't know what I want to do, mate, you know?
1:07:47 - (E): Yeah. Yeah.
1:07:48 - (Connell McIneany): That's what I've heard fromah. From people, which kind of. Yeah, it kind of gives you a little bit more confidence.
1:07:53 - (A): Yeah, it's. It's a scary thought because I got two kids and a mortgage, but, yeah, you know, I really, you know, I like what I do, but is it what I want to do at it?
1:08:02 - (Connell McIneany): You're doing all right, mate.
1:08:04 - (A): I appreciate it. This was fune. Connell, thank you very much for coming and sitting down with me.
1:08:08 - (E): I.
1:08:08 - (Connell McIneany): Thanks. First time ever with a full kit.
1:08:10 - (A): You didn. You did well.
1:08:11 - (E): Yeah. Thank you.
1:08:12 - (Connell McIneany): Appreciate it. Till next time.
1:08:14 - (A): Till next time. That's it for this week of the given Rugby podcast. I'd like to thank everyone for listening or watching. Please don't forget to like us on social media. We're giveruugby. We'd also really appreciate a subscribe on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts from. If you'd really like to show. We'd love a review because that helps permeate the podcast across all of the platforms and we will show the podcast to others who like rugby.
1:08:41 - (A): Finally, don't forget to join the Given rugby club where we're going to be giving away exclusive content, early episodes access to guest access to me. So please don't forget to head over to giveruugby.com and sign up for the Given rugby club, which is just $5 a month. Finally, thank you to our sponsors and we look forward to the next episode. Next week.
1:09:18 - (C): I'm a show more how to party to let me keep a countdown and release the confett the problem don? T start till I get there I sit as sn resting it ain't fair I've been waiting on this moment my whole life. Yeah give me my crown if it just make look good watch yourself, huh? Yeah, you make it look good. Look, don't let it watch yourself, huh? Cause you make it look good.