Enter Big Bear

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33959, 27 September 1975, Page 48

Enter Big Bear

Bob O'Reiliy, the "big bear” — a nick-name bestowed affectionatelv or otherwise, depending on one’s club allegiance — of Svdnev Rugby league, will make his first appearance at the Show Grounds tomorrow.

Fhe powerful O’Reilly played in the only test of Australia’s short tour of New Zealand in 1971. travelled to Britain and France with the 1972-73 Kangaroos, and was a nrop in the first two internationals against Britain last vear.

After having been somewhat out of form earlier this season. O’Reilly stormed back into test calculations with rousing displays for the Parramatta club during the Amco Cup tournament, and he was a surprise omission from Australia’s “train-on squad" when Parramatta was eliminated from the Sydney championship.

His meeting with the experienced West Coast and former Kiwi forward. John Hibbs, should be a highlight of Parramatta's game with the Marist-Westem Suburbs Invitation Kill tomorrow. O'Reillv has been joined by another 1971 Australian tourist. Keith Campbell, in the Parramatta squad. A loose-forward and goalkicker, Campbell had an interrupted season because of injuries and has been named as a reserve. The Parramatta side includes quite a number of regular first-grade players, suonorted by reserves and urder-23 representatives wt.o have rep'aced the club’s four members of the Australian squad to oppose the Kiwis at Auckland today.