{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{distinguish|Rory O'Brien (Australian rules footballer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Rory O'Brien |fullname = |image = roryobrien.jpg |imagesize = 180px |caption = <small>O'Brien playing for the Illawarra Cutters in 2014.</small> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|6|2}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|195|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|126|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|PR}} |club1 = St. George Illawarra |year1start = 2015 |year1end = |appearances1 = 3 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |club2 = Parramatta Eels |year2start = 2016 |year2end = 17 |appearances2 = 11 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |retired = |source = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/rory-obrien/summary.html|title=Rory O'Brien - Career Stats & Summary|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=|access-date=2016-03-21}}</ref> |updated = 4 March 2018 }}

'''Rory O'Brien''' (born 2 June 1989) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He most recently played for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League, as a {{rlp|pr}}. He previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

==Background== Born in Sydney, New South Wales, O'Brien is of Māori and Irish descent and played his junior football for Hurstville United, before being signed by the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

==Playing career==

===Early career=== In 2008, O'Brien played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons' NYC team,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/league-teams-for-nrl-finals/story-e6frexp0-1111117436055|title=League teams for NRL finals|publisher=Dailytelegraph.com.au|access-date=2015-03-09}}</ref> before giving up the game in early 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Carayannis|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/st-george-illawarras-rory-obrien-prepares-for-unlikely-debut-at-25-20150307-13xuge.html|title=St George Illawarra's Rory O'Brien prepares for unlikely debut at 25|publisher=Smh.com.au|date=2013-10-24|access-date=2015-03-09}}</ref> In 2013, he took up rugby league again, playing with the Collegians in the Illawarra Rugby League and winning the 2013 Country Rugby League Player of the Year award along with former Newcastle Knights, Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast Titans player Riley Brown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crlnsw.com.au/aami-country-players-of-the-year-announced/|title=AAMI Country Players of the Year Announced - Country Rugby League of New South Wales|publisher=Crlnsw.com.au|date=2013-10-04|access-date=2015-03-09}}</ref> In October 2013, he played for the New South Wales Country Residents team that toured South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rlp-nations/south-africa/1286-nsw-country-outclass-south-african-rhino-s-match-report|title=NSW Country outclass South African Rhino's - Match Report|publisher=Rugby League Planet|date=|access-date=2015-03-09}}</ref> In 2014, he joined the Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales Cup.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jennings|first=Mitch|url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2379634/cutters-to-the-rescue-dragons-sign-prop-rory-obrien/|title=Cutters to the rescue: Dragons sign prop Rory O'Brien|publisher=Illawarra Mercury|date=2014-06-26|access-date=2015-03-09}}</ref> On 26 June 2014, he signed a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year contract to return to the St. George Illawarra Dragons effective immediately.<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2014/06/26/dragons_sign_local_junior.html|title=Sign Local Junior|publisher=Dragons|date=|access-date=2015-03-09}}</ref>

===2015=== In round 1 of the 2015 NRL season, O'Brien made his NRL debut for St. George against the Melbourne Storm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2015/round-1/st-george-illawarra-vs-melbourne/summary.html|title=NRL 2015 - Round 1|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=|access-date=2015-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2015/03/09/late_mail_round_1_v_.html|title=Late Mail: Round 1 v Melbourne Storm|publisher=Dragons|date=9 March 2015|access-date=2015-03-09}}</ref> On 26 August, he signed a 1-year contract with the Parramatta Eels starting in 2016, after being released from the final year of his Saints contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/eels-re-sign-duo-and-sign-prop-18746/#3DtqLGvgjOImLFlQ.97|title=Eels re-sign duo and sign prop &#124; NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=|access-date=2015-08-28}}</ref>

===2016=== In round 14 of the 2016 season, O'Brien made his debut for Parramatta against the Gold Coast Titans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2016/round-14/parramatta-vs-gold-coast-titans/summary.html|title=NRL 2016 - Round 14|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=2016-06-11|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> In August, he re-signed with Parramatta on a contract until the end of the 2017 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/eels-re-sign-obrien-until-end-of-2017-23480/#7URbRTRa0DgR8QVS.97|title=Eels re-sign O'Brien until end of 2017|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=30 August 2016|access-date=2016-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/rugby-chases-wests-tigers-star-english-sbw-eyes-nrl-canberra-trio-resign--market-watch/news-story/08118041c89a9b14c5d40855511174a6?from=public_rss|title=Home &#124; Live Scores & Latest News|work=Fox Sports|date=2016-07-24|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref>

===2017=== O'Brien played two games for Parramatta in the 2017 season. In the opening round against Manly and then the following week against St George. O'Brien spent the rest of the season playing for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW. On 29 November 2017, it was revealed that O'Brien's contract with Parramatta was not renewed and he was released by the club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-market-watch-panthers-code-switch-consideration-knights-contract-twist/news-story/45ad45917a5cd394331f28fc77110b53|title = NRL Market Watch: Panther's code switch consideration, Knights contract twist|date = 29 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/Ny0xNjk2LTQtLS0tLS0yMTQ3MS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0=|title=Custom Match List - Rugby League Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://wentymagpies.com.au/N3wS1t3/2017/05/16/wenty-intrust-super-premiership-nsw-round-13-team-2017/ |title=Wenty Magpies » Wenty Intrust Super Premiership NSW – Round 13 Team |website=wentymagpies.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033443/http://wentymagpies.com.au/N3wS1t3/2017/05/16/wenty-intrust-super-premiership-nsw-round-13-team-2017/ |archive-date=2017-12-01}} </ref>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://www.dragons.com.au/team/profiles/rory_o_brien.html St. George Illawarra Dragons profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Rory}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian people of Māori descent Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players Category:Parramatta Eels players Category:Illawarra Cutters players Category:Rugby league players from Sydney Category:Rugby league props Category:People educated at Endeavour Sports High School Category:Wentworthville Magpies players Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen