Julian O'Neill (New Zealand rugby league)

For the Australian rugby league footballer Julian O'Neill, see Julian O'Neill.

Julian O'Neill (born 24 July 1973) is a former United States international rugby league footballer who spent most of his career playing in the Super League. His position of preference was at prop.

Julian O'Neill

Personal information
Full name	Julian O'Neill
Born	(1973-07-24) 24 July 1973 (age 49) Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	109 kg (17 st 2 lb)
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1994–95 Waitakere City 1995–96 Auckland Warriors 16 0 0 0 0 1997–00 St Helens 126 5 0 0 20 2001–02 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 25 2 0 0 8 2002–05 Widnes Vikings 96 4 1 0 18 Total 263 11 1 0 46 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–00 USA 3 2 0 0 8
Source: ^[1]

Background

O'Neill was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

Early years

After attending Liston College, O'Neil started his career with the Marist Saints before making the Waitakere City Raiders side in the Lion Red Cup.^[2]

He was an Auckland Warrior 1995-1996 where he played a crucial role in laying a platform for the reserve grade to reach the 1996 grand final.

Playing career

St Helens

In 1997 O'Neill moved to England and joined the St. Helens in the Super League competition where he gained the club's highest tackler and most offloads in the 1997 season. He played for St. Helens at prop forward in their 1999 Super League Grand Final victory over Bradford Bulls.

O'Neill went on to play in 82 games for the Saints, including being involved in the side that won the 1997 Challenge Cup and 1999's Super League IV title. Having won the 1999 Championship, St. Helens contested in the 2000 World Club Challenge against National Rugby League Premiers the Melbourne Storm, with O'Neill playing at prop forward in the loss. O'Neill played for St. Helens at prop forward in their 2000 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan Warriors.

Widnes

In 2001 O'Neill joined the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats but at the end of the 2001 season was signed by Widnes Vikings to boost their forward pack.

O'Neill spent four years at the Vikings, playing in 96 games for the club. In 2003 he played alongside namesake Julian O'Neill, who adopted the nickname Jules to avoid confusion.^[3][4][5]

Return to Auckland

In 2006 he returned to Auckland, playing for the Auckland Lions in the Bartercard Cup.^[6] He also made the New Zealand Residents side that competed in the 2006 Trans Tasman Quadrangular Series.^[7] He scored a try in the Auckland Lions 2007 Bartercard Cup Grand Final win over Harbour League.

In 2009 O'Neill played in the Fox Memorial competition for the Mt Albert Lions and was awarded Man of the match.

Representative career

O'Nell represented NZ playing for the residents team in 1996 and again in 2006 O'Neill also represented the United States national rugby league team.^[8]

References

1. RLP
2. Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 1-86950-154-3. p.183
3. Widnes get a shot in the arm from new crown Jules The Guardian, 7 April 2003
4. How Julian O'Neill got his name back Sydney Morning Herald, February 9, 2005
5. O'Neill duo give Widnes cutting edge The Telegraph, 29 May 2005
6. Coach talks up his pride ^{[dead link]} The Press', 27 March 2006
7. Rangers Campaign Gets Underway 2012-02-13 at the Wayback Machine QRL Official Site
8. "Julian O'Neill - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League project. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

External links

• Saints Heritage Society
• 2001 Super League Team-by-team guide