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- Mar 4, 2008
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Some may have missed the coverage of this years award night, but during it there was a great tribute given to Cyril Connell and his service to the game and the club.
For those interested here it is
In handing boom youngster Corey Oates the Broncos Rookie of the Year award, chairman Dennis Watt made a stirring speech about the man the trophy is named after - the late Cyril Connell. Here is the speech in full and Corey's highlights video.
I am deeply honoured tonight to present the Cyril Connell Rookie of the Year Award in memory of one of the most loved individuals in the history of the Brisbane Broncos. It is not often in the world of rugby league that men are referred to as beautiful but Cyril - our legendary recruiting scout - was indeed a beautiful man, a truly inspiring human being.
He was only small in stature but he remains an absolute giant of a man in our history, in the history of our game and within our hearts. Cyril played for his state and he played for his country. He was a revered figure in his brilliant earlier career as a teacher, school principal and administrator. But you would never hear these things from Cyril.
It was never about Cyril. It was about finding and building young men of character. It was about being a positive force in their lives. It was about doing whatever he could for this club and the people in it. Cyril brought humanity and decency to his work every day, whether at Red Hill or in his relentless Queensland-wide search for untapped potential.
Quiet, humble, respectful and caring - when Cyril spoke to you, to him you were the most important person in the room. Nothing else mattered. Aside from his famous love of pies and his equally famous dislike of flying, Cyril had only one small fault - he hated taking holidays.
There was simply too much to do in helping ensure that his beloved Broncos club was where it should be - and will be again - the best rugby league club in the world.
Brought on board by another two great men in our history, our foundation coach Wayne Bennett and club visionary and then chairman, the late Porky Morgan, Cyril signed on to head up our recruiting in 1990 and did not leave until age 80 in December, 2008.
His health faltered in those last few years but through sheer courage and willpower, he kept striving, kept turning up, doing all he could to take this club forward. Sadly, Cyril passed away four years ago on June 9th, 2009, at age 81. The man himself and what he stood for will never be forgotten here.
Cyril left his mark through his humility and selflessness but also through the development of many of the magnificent young men who played in our six premierships from 1992 to 2006. And he also secured as juniors two members of the current team in Ben Hunt and Andrew McCullough.
In that wonderful 2006 team - headed by one of Cyril and this club’s greatest champions in Darren Lockyer and including present players - Sammy Thaiday, Corey Parker, Justin Hodges, Ben Hannant and David Stagg - Cyril was responsible for bringing the bulk of that 17- man squad to the club. He not only brought them here. He was a father figure to them and he believed in them, both as footballers and as young men.
In the riotous celebrations of the dressing sheds that grand final evening in Sydney, the great man stood quietly to one side, as inconspicuously as he could. Not for him the slaps on the back, the applause of the crowd or the bright lights of the TV cameras.
It was enough for Cyril to see his young men and this proud club stand tall that night as champions of the NRL. He didn’t need thanks. He didn’t need recognition. His reward came from seeing the dreams of his young men and this great club come true.
In Cyril that night, as always, we again saw those mighty qualities of selflessness and sacrifice which we are determined to live and breathe to ensure this club remains a caring club, a family club and an enduringly successful club.
Beginning with Cyril and the original Broncos and all those who have followed - including those here tonight – players past and present, including those sadly leaving tonight, staff, supporters, members, sponsors, directors, families, wives and partners - it must be said that the courage, the character and the invincible core of this club has never been in doubt.
The challenge for all us within the broader Broncos family is to stand united with Paul, with Anthony, with Andrew Gee, and with Sammy, Corey, Justin and the team and to find that little extra within ourselves - drawing on our deep reserves of toughness and tenacity - to turn the ordinary into the extra-ordinary.
In doing that, we honour the spirit of Cyril. The spirit of our sacred jersey. The spirit of the Broncos.
Our 2013 Rookie of the Year embraces that very spirit and he is just the sort of impressive young man Cyril would have recruited himself had he still been with us. Born and bred in the bush, our winner - just like Cyril - is from Central Queensland.
Named in the national under 20s team of the year; scorer of eight tries in his nine inaugural NRL games this year, he is the big-smiling, long-striding Boy from Baralaba - Corey Oates. If Cyril were here now Corey, he would put his skinny arm around you - if he could reach that high - and he would quietly ask you to:
Always honour and respect your sacred Broncos jersey:
- By doing your very best at all times, with integrity and with humility
- By standing by your team mates, your family and this club. No matter what.
- And by never giving up. Not once. Not ever. That’s the Broncos way.
Congratulations Corey Oates -the 2013 Cyril Connell Rookie of the Year.
For those interested here it is
In handing boom youngster Corey Oates the Broncos Rookie of the Year award, chairman Dennis Watt made a stirring speech about the man the trophy is named after - the late Cyril Connell. Here is the speech in full and Corey's highlights video.
I am deeply honoured tonight to present the Cyril Connell Rookie of the Year Award in memory of one of the most loved individuals in the history of the Brisbane Broncos. It is not often in the world of rugby league that men are referred to as beautiful but Cyril - our legendary recruiting scout - was indeed a beautiful man, a truly inspiring human being.
He was only small in stature but he remains an absolute giant of a man in our history, in the history of our game and within our hearts. Cyril played for his state and he played for his country. He was a revered figure in his brilliant earlier career as a teacher, school principal and administrator. But you would never hear these things from Cyril.
It was never about Cyril. It was about finding and building young men of character. It was about being a positive force in their lives. It was about doing whatever he could for this club and the people in it. Cyril brought humanity and decency to his work every day, whether at Red Hill or in his relentless Queensland-wide search for untapped potential.
Quiet, humble, respectful and caring - when Cyril spoke to you, to him you were the most important person in the room. Nothing else mattered. Aside from his famous love of pies and his equally famous dislike of flying, Cyril had only one small fault - he hated taking holidays.
There was simply too much to do in helping ensure that his beloved Broncos club was where it should be - and will be again - the best rugby league club in the world.
Brought on board by another two great men in our history, our foundation coach Wayne Bennett and club visionary and then chairman, the late Porky Morgan, Cyril signed on to head up our recruiting in 1990 and did not leave until age 80 in December, 2008.
His health faltered in those last few years but through sheer courage and willpower, he kept striving, kept turning up, doing all he could to take this club forward. Sadly, Cyril passed away four years ago on June 9th, 2009, at age 81. The man himself and what he stood for will never be forgotten here.
Cyril left his mark through his humility and selflessness but also through the development of many of the magnificent young men who played in our six premierships from 1992 to 2006. And he also secured as juniors two members of the current team in Ben Hunt and Andrew McCullough.
In that wonderful 2006 team - headed by one of Cyril and this club’s greatest champions in Darren Lockyer and including present players - Sammy Thaiday, Corey Parker, Justin Hodges, Ben Hannant and David Stagg - Cyril was responsible for bringing the bulk of that 17- man squad to the club. He not only brought them here. He was a father figure to them and he believed in them, both as footballers and as young men.
In the riotous celebrations of the dressing sheds that grand final evening in Sydney, the great man stood quietly to one side, as inconspicuously as he could. Not for him the slaps on the back, the applause of the crowd or the bright lights of the TV cameras.
It was enough for Cyril to see his young men and this proud club stand tall that night as champions of the NRL. He didn’t need thanks. He didn’t need recognition. His reward came from seeing the dreams of his young men and this great club come true.
In Cyril that night, as always, we again saw those mighty qualities of selflessness and sacrifice which we are determined to live and breathe to ensure this club remains a caring club, a family club and an enduringly successful club.
Beginning with Cyril and the original Broncos and all those who have followed - including those here tonight – players past and present, including those sadly leaving tonight, staff, supporters, members, sponsors, directors, families, wives and partners - it must be said that the courage, the character and the invincible core of this club has never been in doubt.
The challenge for all us within the broader Broncos family is to stand united with Paul, with Anthony, with Andrew Gee, and with Sammy, Corey, Justin and the team and to find that little extra within ourselves - drawing on our deep reserves of toughness and tenacity - to turn the ordinary into the extra-ordinary.
In doing that, we honour the spirit of Cyril. The spirit of our sacred jersey. The spirit of the Broncos.
Our 2013 Rookie of the Year embraces that very spirit and he is just the sort of impressive young man Cyril would have recruited himself had he still been with us. Born and bred in the bush, our winner - just like Cyril - is from Central Queensland.
Named in the national under 20s team of the year; scorer of eight tries in his nine inaugural NRL games this year, he is the big-smiling, long-striding Boy from Baralaba - Corey Oates. If Cyril were here now Corey, he would put his skinny arm around you - if he could reach that high - and he would quietly ask you to:
Always honour and respect your sacred Broncos jersey:
- By doing your very best at all times, with integrity and with humility
- By standing by your team mates, your family and this club. No matter what.
- And by never giving up. Not once. Not ever. That’s the Broncos way.
Congratulations Corey Oates -the 2013 Cyril Connell Rookie of the Year.
