Former Greats - Larry 'Jersey' O'Malley /

Larry O'Malley

Larry ‘Jersey’ O’Malley was 25 years of age when the Roosters played their first premiership match in 1908. He played second row that day and through a six-season career at the Roosters he played prop, lock and second row and was regarded as the hard man of the Easts pack. Born in Ireland, O’Malley’s family settled in Paddington and he was genuine pioneer in the very earliest of days of rugby league in Australia and of the Eastern Suburbs club. He played in the very first NSW v Queensland interstate match, alongside team mates Dally Messenger (captain) and Lou Jones and later that year he was chosen for the 1908/09 Kangaroo tour, where he played in the first Great Britain v Australia test match, alongside team mates Dally Messenger (captain) and Sandy Pearce. He played a record 35 matches on that tour, including all three tests, despite being sent off twice.

In 1909 he became Australia’s fifth test captain and the second from the Roosters, when he led Australia against New Zealand in two tests in Australia. He was part of the Easts team that won three successive premierships in 1911, 1912 and 1913 and the City Cup Final in 1914. He was one of the toughest forwards of his era. On retirement he became a first grade referee.