Vale Cyril Connell

[Steve]

From The Courier Mail online.

LONG-serving Brisbane Broncos recruitment chief and former Queensland and Australian rugby league halfback Cyril Connell has died today, aged 81.

Connell had been ill for sometime and was admitted to hospital on Saturday. He was still attending Broncos games as recently as last month.

Connell, who played 24 matches for Queensland between 1952 and 1957, was responsible for signing most of the Broncos' star players since joining the club in 1990.

He was still involved at the Broncos until long-serving coach Wayne Bennett left the club last year.

A former prominent ABC Radio commentator, Connell played his two Tests from Rockhampton Norths in 1956 against New Zealand. He also toured Great Britain and France with the 1956-57 Kangaroos, without playing a Test.

The Broncos named their re-developed gym The Cyril Connell Performance Centre in his honour in 2007.

He had one of the best eyes in the business...

 

[Coxy]

Not unexpected but still very sad. Probably the soul of the Broncos imo. Wonderful man. Rest in peace cyril.

 

[Kaz]

RIP Cyril

He was a wonderful human being.

 

[schmix]

That's sad, but it's great that he could have such an active life for so long.

I'm sure I knew his name long before I knew all the players' names. A really lovely guy by all reports.

 

[GCBRONCO]

One of the finest men ever involved at the Broncos and did a lot for the game on and off the field, will surely be missed.

 

[rissi_gurl]

Thats so sad... he will be missed!

 

[GCBRONCO]

You know whats even more sad, he had to witness(assuming he watched) that gutless performance shown last round as his final Broncos game.

 

[broncosil]

That is really sad. RIP Cyril

 

[Jeba]

That's sad, but it's great that he could have such an active life for so long.

I'm sure I knew his name long before I knew all the players' names. A really lovely guy by all reports.

The nicest bloke I have ever met. I did work experience at the Broncos in grade 10, and I was only there for a week, everytime he passed me he'd stop for a chat asking how my week was going etc, and he gave me a pair of footy boots.

An absolute legend who will be missed.

Surely we will see black arm bands on the Broncos on Friday, and I think a minute's silence would be very appropriate as well.

 

[Bucking Beads]

RIP Cyril you were a champion.. Let us all hope the Broncos can put in a performance on Friday night that is worthy of the great man.

 

[schmix]

Just some of the players he discovered:

Shane Webcke
Tonie Carroll
Petero Civoniceva
Darren Lockyer
Wendell Sailor
Lote Tuqiri
Shaun Berrigan
Brent Tate
Karmichael Hunt

Now that's a list of achievements if I've ever seen one.

 

[Fozz]

RIP Cyril, you'll be missed.

 

[Kimlo]

RIP Cyril, a Broncos legend if there's ever been one. The broncos wouldn't be as successful as they've been without him, 2006 grand Final 14 out of the 17 were broncos juniors Cyril was a big reason for that.

He'll me missed by many I hope the broncos wear armbands this week in his honour and a minute of silence perhaps.

 

[jarro65]

As Wayne Bennett said : "he was the best signing the Broncos ever had"

Farewell to a truly great man.

R.I.P. Cyril Connell

 

[Flutterby]

Legend! I was fortunate to have met him on many occassions as he taught with my dad years ago and they still remained friends. As Jeb said one of the nicest people you could have ever hoped to meet - always had time for everyone no matter who you were.

You will surely be missed Cyril.

 

[Renegade]

Cyril. Legend. Sad he's gone but I guess everyone goes at one point or another.

 

[Kris]

Whoa. RIP Cyril.

 

[Russo]

Damn shame still the shrewdest eye in the business even in retirement, he will be missed.

2 legends of our game off-field lost in consecutive Origin periods with Tosser Turner last year. A sad sad day.