By JON GEDDES                                   

FIVE weeks ago Rory O’Connor would have expected to start this Saturday with a leisurely walk and then catch the Shute Shield finals on Stan from the comfort of his loungeroom.

“I didn’t think I would be putting my head anywhere near a scrum,” he told Rugby News.

But instead of watching the game on TV, O’Connor will be in the middle of the action for Gordon in their do-or die clash with Randwick at Coogee Oval in what has been the greatest comeback of the year.        

After retiring at the end of last season, the Warringah Rats premiership winning prop made a shock return for the Highlanders in their round 15 game against West Harbour and will be a key figure in their clash with the high-flying Randwick.

O’Connor made his reappearance after an SOS phone call from Gordon head coach Billy Melrose on the Wednesday before the Wests game and turned up to his first training session at Chatswood Oval the following evening.

“I had commitments early on in the year, but then I was free to play a few games,” O’Connor said. “It looked like a winning team, so it was a chance to see what would happen.”

What a bonus it was for Gordon to acquire a player of O’Connor’s quality when hit by an injury crisis in the countdown to the finals.

He has been one of the competition’s best frontrowers over the past decade, a strong scrummager who also possesses great ball and running skills.

It was scandalous that O’Connor did not receive the opportunities he deserved when at the Waratahs in 2020.         

HOME IN THE HIGHLANDS   

WHILE away from the game O’Connor kept himself in shape by running four or five times a week, coupled with a bit of strength work.

But that is a lot different from the physical demands of being a first grade frontrower.

And after just one training session O’Connor displayed true grit by then playing 30 minutes against Wests.

“It was a bit of a shock to the system, but I’ve been around long enough that there a lot of Shute Shield muscle memory and I just got into it,” he said.

And after eight years as a Green Rats’ stalwart, O’Connor admits it did feel strange pulling on the Gordon jumper for the first time.

“It was bizarre, even just driving around Chatswood Oval looking for a park at training on Thursday I had a bit of a weird shudder down my spine,” he revealed with a chuckle.

But it didn’t take O’Connor long to feel a part of the team and he knew about half the players previously, which made it a lot easier.

“It was pretty smooth,” he said.     

As expected, O’Connor received plenty of comments and rev-ups from his former Warringah teammates following his switch.

On the morning of his Gordon debut, O’Connor received a text from Manly and former Rats assistant coach Damien “Turtle” Cummins.

“You’re kidding,” was the message.             

PROP NEAR THE TOP  

WITH four games under his belt at his new club, O’Connor has really started to hit his straps and was impressive in last Saturday’s big 36-7 win over Sydney University.

“I felt good on the weekend, the last few weeks I’ve got a bit of match fitness and felt a bit stronger,” he said. “I’ve probably felt as good I could at this stage.

“To be honest the comp is a lot more stressful and intense than it used to be – there are no down weeks.”

That comes down to the incredible closeness and cut-throat nature of the 2023 competition.

“There are no easy games and if you do lose you drop down and constantly have that ladder pressure,” O’Connor said. 

“I’m glad we are in the finals because that is where everyone wants to get to and makes the grind worth it.”

The in-form Randwick outfit at home pose a huge challenge for Gordon, who must win to keep their season alive.

But O’Connor’s team will take a lot of confidence from their performance against Uni.

“It was probably as good a game as you could have before a finals series,” he said. “You really want that momentum.”