Larry O'Malley

Pioneer Easts forward played in the club’s first match (against Newtown) and for NSW in the first interstate match before touring with the 1908-09 Kangaroos. O’Malley was a workhorse on the unhappy tour and played in more matches than any other player in the history of overseas tours (despite the fact that he was twice sent off, he appeared in a record 35 games including all three Tests). In 1909 he captained Australia in two Tests against NZ, his final Test appearance being the 10-5 win against the Kiwis in Brisbane. The following year he played for Warrington in England but returned to Australia in 1911 to win premierships with Easts during the next three years. (O’Malley was sent off in the club’s 11-8 win over Glebe in the 1911 final). After touring NZ with the NSW team in 1913, he retired as a player the following year and became a first grade referee.