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The quiet achiever
9 June 2004
Mark ONeill will become perhaps the lowest profile NRL player to play 200 first grade games when he runs out against the Dragons in a fortnight. Wests Tigers full-time squad member Chris Paterson, also a journalism student, provides an insight into an unsung hero.
Mark ONeill jokes he has never had so much attention in such a short space of time.
On Saturday week, he will celebrate his 29th birthday. The following day against the Dragons, he will run out onto OKI Jubilee Stadium for his 200th first grade game.
If ONeill had his way, the latter milestone would pass without fanfare.
His mates say hes too humble for his own good. But for one of the games most unheralded servants, the recognition could not come soon enough.
I always dreamt of playing first grade, says ONeill, who was raised in Ryde, came through the Tigers junior clubs of North Ryde and St Pats Dundas and holds the distinction of being the longest-surviving Balmain player at the joint venture club.
When I played my 100th game for Balmain before the merger I was really happy and now I feel very lucky that Im nearing my 200th.
When I was growing up I just wanted to lock the scrum in first grade. I guess when the goals come in sight you think about them a little more, when theyre within reach.
I just wanted to enjoy my footy and play as many games as I could. If that turned out to be 100 or 50 so be it.
When ONeill made his debut in 1994, Balmain legend Ben Elias was the Tigers captain. Now, in his 11th season, he commands the respect of both senior and rookie players.
Youll often see him during a training session at Concord Oval, pulling a colleague aside to give him some valuable tips or answer a request on the run.
At the Tigers, he is famous for his work ethic.
He works hard off the field, he is very determined and always gives 100 per cent, says skipper Darren Senter.
He has a good support base around him as in family and friends and also a few players that have played with him throughout a number of years that have helped.
ONeill has also dealt with the pressures of his wife Belindas battle against breast cancer, overcoming the hardships and emotion involved, while continuing to support her through thick and thin.
She recently finished a course of chemotherapy and doctors are encouraged by her progress.
Typically, the ONeills have faced the battle together, happy not to receive special attention.
Its an attitude to life mirrored in his approach to football.
If you persevere and train hard generally the game looks after you, thats the strong quality hes got. You see it in his game as well, he hangs in there and keeps coming at you, says coach Tim Sheens.
Casting his mind over the games hes played, ONeill comes up with two that stick out.
The first was a Balmain victory over arch-rivals Parramatta at Leichhardt Oval in 1999, the Tigers last game as a stand-alone entity.
Despite torrential rain which saw some players battle hypothermia, the Tigers beat the co-competition leaders 20-10, in front of over 15,000 people who had bravely weathered the shocking conditions.
The second is a match hell never forget. It was also against the Eels, while playing for the Wests Tigers in 2002.
Before another bumper Leichhardt crowd of 15,500, the Tigers withheld a late comeback by the Eels before ONeill scored a long-distance try in the dying minutes to propel the Tigers to a 22-16 win.
There are always big crowds and a big expectation at Leichhardt when the two teams meet, he says, days after another stirring Leichhardt win over the Eels in round 12.
After finishing the 2003 season as the clubs best forward, playing all 24 of last seasons games, the respect he has among all the players is obvious.
I certainly have benefitted from his advice as has in-form prop Anthony Laffranchi who admits ONeill has been his sounding board in times when the pressure of first grade football has taken its toll.
Last year when we were playing in the back row together every week wed sit down and have a chat about the game and how we were coping mentally, Laffranchi says.
Because hes been in the game for 10 years, he probably knows better than anyone. Hes a great talker on the field, he always lifts you and is very helpful.
For an achiever who rarely receives the accolades, ONeill is not the least bit bothered about an apparent lack of identity.
It doesnt bother me at all. If Im getting picked every week to play first grade and the coach is happy with the way Im going, Im enjoying my football and Im happy with my own form, well, theres not too much else you can ask for, he says.
Im out there competing with all the players every week. Thats what I enjoy.
And for coach Sheens hes proven a valuable asset in a team that is beginning to make its mark on the competition.
He doesnt get the accolades because he doesnt score the tries or make the big runs, Sheens says.
What he does is the little things, the dirty yards, the extra tackle that has to be made, he talks well and constructs well, the little things that arent always obvious to the commentators. But as a coach you understand that hes doing what you ask him to do.
The one thing missing in ONeills 199 games is a finals appearance, something he is desperate to correct.
And hes confident that will happen this year.
Its something that Ive wanted for so long now, its my 11th season in first grade, he says.
Id just be so happy to get a chance to play semi-finals football if it comes around.
No-one at Wests Tigers would deserve that moment more.
http://www.nrl.com.au/myclub/news.cfm?ID=8906&TeamID=15
Hmmm a big occasion for Buckets in round 15....too bad it wasnt at leichhardt......hope its a memorable one for him.
9 June 2004
Mark ONeill will become perhaps the lowest profile NRL player to play 200 first grade games when he runs out against the Dragons in a fortnight. Wests Tigers full-time squad member Chris Paterson, also a journalism student, provides an insight into an unsung hero.
Mark ONeill jokes he has never had so much attention in such a short space of time.
On Saturday week, he will celebrate his 29th birthday. The following day against the Dragons, he will run out onto OKI Jubilee Stadium for his 200th first grade game.
If ONeill had his way, the latter milestone would pass without fanfare.
His mates say hes too humble for his own good. But for one of the games most unheralded servants, the recognition could not come soon enough.
I always dreamt of playing first grade, says ONeill, who was raised in Ryde, came through the Tigers junior clubs of North Ryde and St Pats Dundas and holds the distinction of being the longest-surviving Balmain player at the joint venture club.
When I played my 100th game for Balmain before the merger I was really happy and now I feel very lucky that Im nearing my 200th.
When I was growing up I just wanted to lock the scrum in first grade. I guess when the goals come in sight you think about them a little more, when theyre within reach.
I just wanted to enjoy my footy and play as many games as I could. If that turned out to be 100 or 50 so be it.
When ONeill made his debut in 1994, Balmain legend Ben Elias was the Tigers captain. Now, in his 11th season, he commands the respect of both senior and rookie players.
Youll often see him during a training session at Concord Oval, pulling a colleague aside to give him some valuable tips or answer a request on the run.
At the Tigers, he is famous for his work ethic.
He works hard off the field, he is very determined and always gives 100 per cent, says skipper Darren Senter.
He has a good support base around him as in family and friends and also a few players that have played with him throughout a number of years that have helped.
ONeill has also dealt with the pressures of his wife Belindas battle against breast cancer, overcoming the hardships and emotion involved, while continuing to support her through thick and thin.
She recently finished a course of chemotherapy and doctors are encouraged by her progress.
Typically, the ONeills have faced the battle together, happy not to receive special attention.
Its an attitude to life mirrored in his approach to football.
If you persevere and train hard generally the game looks after you, thats the strong quality hes got. You see it in his game as well, he hangs in there and keeps coming at you, says coach Tim Sheens.
Casting his mind over the games hes played, ONeill comes up with two that stick out.
The first was a Balmain victory over arch-rivals Parramatta at Leichhardt Oval in 1999, the Tigers last game as a stand-alone entity.
Despite torrential rain which saw some players battle hypothermia, the Tigers beat the co-competition leaders 20-10, in front of over 15,000 people who had bravely weathered the shocking conditions.
The second is a match hell never forget. It was also against the Eels, while playing for the Wests Tigers in 2002.
Before another bumper Leichhardt crowd of 15,500, the Tigers withheld a late comeback by the Eels before ONeill scored a long-distance try in the dying minutes to propel the Tigers to a 22-16 win.
There are always big crowds and a big expectation at Leichhardt when the two teams meet, he says, days after another stirring Leichhardt win over the Eels in round 12.
After finishing the 2003 season as the clubs best forward, playing all 24 of last seasons games, the respect he has among all the players is obvious.
I certainly have benefitted from his advice as has in-form prop Anthony Laffranchi who admits ONeill has been his sounding board in times when the pressure of first grade football has taken its toll.
Last year when we were playing in the back row together every week wed sit down and have a chat about the game and how we were coping mentally, Laffranchi says.
Because hes been in the game for 10 years, he probably knows better than anyone. Hes a great talker on the field, he always lifts you and is very helpful.
For an achiever who rarely receives the accolades, ONeill is not the least bit bothered about an apparent lack of identity.
It doesnt bother me at all. If Im getting picked every week to play first grade and the coach is happy with the way Im going, Im enjoying my football and Im happy with my own form, well, theres not too much else you can ask for, he says.
Im out there competing with all the players every week. Thats what I enjoy.
And for coach Sheens hes proven a valuable asset in a team that is beginning to make its mark on the competition.
He doesnt get the accolades because he doesnt score the tries or make the big runs, Sheens says.
What he does is the little things, the dirty yards, the extra tackle that has to be made, he talks well and constructs well, the little things that arent always obvious to the commentators. But as a coach you understand that hes doing what you ask him to do.
The one thing missing in ONeills 199 games is a finals appearance, something he is desperate to correct.
And hes confident that will happen this year.
Its something that Ive wanted for so long now, its my 11th season in first grade, he says.
Id just be so happy to get a chance to play semi-finals football if it comes around.
No-one at Wests Tigers would deserve that moment more.
http://www.nrl.com.au/myclub/news.cfm?ID=8906&TeamID=15
Hmmm a big occasion for Buckets in round 15....too bad it wasnt at leichhardt......hope its a memorable one for him.
