James Lawrence O'Brien (2 August 1896 – 6 April 1988) was a New Zealand rugby league player. He represented the New Zealand rugby league team in 1 match in 1925 against Queensland. In the process he became the 182nd player to represent New Zealand. He also represented Auckland 20 times from 1922 to 1927, and the North Island side in 1927. He played his club rugby league in Auckland for the North Shore Albions (who at this time were named Devonport United) from 1921 to 1928, captaining them at times later in his career. He played for the Maritime club in 1920 and 1921 in his early years after returning from World War 1.
Early life James (Jim) Lawrence O'Brien was born on 2 August 1896, in Stillwater, Grey, on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. His parents were Catherine (Kate) O'Brien (née Hughes) (1856–1908), and James O'Brien (1859–1927). Kate was born in Kilmore, Dublin, Ireland, while James was born in Tipperary, Ireland. He had 4 sisters; Elizabeth Mary O'Brien (1887–?), Johanna Theresa O'Brien (1890–?), Margaret O'Brien (1891–?), and Mary Kathleen O'Brien (1894), and 2 brothers; John Terence O'Brien (1897–1975), and Patrick William O'Brien (1900–1983). His mother died in 1908 in Stillwater aged 52 when Jim was 12 years old. His father died in 1927 in Brunner, West Coast aged 68.
World War 1 In 1915, O'Brien enlisted in the World War 1 effort. It appears as though he falsified his age as he was only turning 19 in this year which was too young to be eligible. On his enlistment papers it was stated that his date of birth was 2 August 1894. At the time he was a sheep farmer and living at "Sea Homestead". His fathers address was the Liverpool Collieries, Rewanui, on the West Coast. It was the Liverpool State Coalmine which had opened in 1889 and was closed in 1994. His sister, Mrs. H. Day, was listed as his next of kin and was living at 17 Milton Street in Nelson.
Distinguished Conduct Medal He commenced duties on 13 December 1915. O'Brien was part of the 11th Reinforcements in J Company as a Private but was later promoted to Sergeant serving in the Auckland Infantry Regiment in the 2nd battalion. He fought in Egypt in 1916 and Western Europe in 1916–18. O'Brien was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. In the London Gazette on 30 May 1919, it was written that it was awarded "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has fought in every action but one in which the battalion has been engaged. He distinguished himself at Grevillers and Bancourt in August, 1918, by the cool handling of his section and his gallantry under heavy fire. One 10th October, in the advance of the River Selle, he was again noticed for his excellent work". He served overseas for 3 years and 60 days with his total service 3 years and 179 days. He was also awarded the British War Medal, and Victory Medal. In an extract from the fifth supplement to the London Gazette on the same date it was also stated that "His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to the undermentioned Non-Commissioned Officer for gallantry and distinguished service in the field ... 10250 Sergt. J.L. O'Brien, Auck. Inf. Battln.".
After the war he was due to arrive back into Wellington, New Zealand on 27 May 1919 on the troopship S.S. Pakeha, but ultimately arrived on 30 May. He was discharged on 27 June 1919. After returning to New Zealand he moved to Auckland and took up residence at 12 Rutland Rd, in Devonport, on the North Shore of Auckland.
Playing career Rugby league for Maritime Jim O'Brien began his rugby league career playing for the Maritime club in Auckland Rugby League in 1920. His debut was on 17 April against Otahuhu Rovers in a practice match. He did not play in their opening game on 8 May but made his first appearance in an official competition match a week later against Marist Old Boys at Victoria Park. They won 16 to 11 and the Auckland Star said "Arndt, Herring and O'Brien did good work for the pack". He played in 8 further matches before scoring his first try. Maritime had "worked the ball to the City line, where from a scrum O'Brien obtained possession and struggled over the line" to give Maritime a 15–8 lead with them holding on to win 15–11. The following week they defeated Ponsonby United to win the championship. It is unclear if he played in Maritime's remaining 4 matches but it is likely that he played in at least 3 of them.
Transfer to Devonport United In 1921, O'Brien was elected on to the Maritime committee. He only played in 3 matches for Maritime out of their first 5, not being selected to start in games against Newton Rangers on 14 May, or Ponsonby United on 28 May.
On 25 June, O'Brien was surprisingly listed in the Devonport United squad for their match against Newton. There had been no reports in any of the newspapers of his transfer which was normally the case. The match was postponed. He made his senior debut for Devonport United on 2 July in a loss to Ponsonby 18–11. It was then reported that he was being "reinstated as a member of the North Shore club" implying that he had played there initially after returning from the war, most likely in a junior side.
In 1923 O'Brien began the season in Devonport's second grade team with his brother Terence playing in their 3rd grade side. Teams were typically listed in the Friday edition of the Auckland newspapers in their approximate playing order with the first thirteen named being the starting side. O'Brien was listed from 14 to 18 most weeks and was not mentioned in any match reports so it is unlikely he played until their round 10 match on 15 July when they defeated Fire Brigade 21–7. He was named in a match report as playing a "great game" along with Alf Scott, Harry Douglas, Neville St George, and Wheeler. O'Brien was involved in a try on 5 August against Athletic in an 11–9 loss. It is possible that he played in additional matches though he was not named in any other match reports.
Auckland debut At the end of the 1922 season Auckland traveled to Bay Of Plenty to play the fledgling Bay of Plenty side that George Iles had been instrumental in starting. O'Brien was chosen in the second row alongside W Hanlon, with Devonport teammate Harry Douglas at lock. Early in the match when Australian boxer Mike Flynn had made a break "Somers and O'Brien further improved, and Johnson joining issue the last mentioned swept over to open the visitors' score". Auckland went on to win the match by 33 points to 26 at the Tauranga Domain.
O'Brien became established in the Devonport side in 1923 when he played in 12 matches and scored 3 tries. After their first match with Athletic on 5 May the New Zealand Herald said that "O'Brien and St George were very busy among the forwards". In round 4 he scored a "fine try" in a 12–3 win over Richmond Rovers at the Devonport Domain. He "secured from the loose and scored a brilliant try". In their round 6 loss to Ponsonby United he was "the pick of the forwards" along with Johnston and Harry Douglas. He scored a week later in another loss, this time to Marist Old Boys by 18–13 at the Devonport Domain. His try came after he "made the best of an opportunity and dribbled over, falling on the ball, giving Devonport their initial try". He "shone in the attacking" along with St George and Douglas. He "showed up well" in the forwards in 14–8 loss to Athletic at Carlaw Park on 30 June. The following week against City Rovers he scored a try in a 13–10 win when he followed a break by Garrett and "took the ball on [and] beat the opposition, and scored between the posts". He was again "the pick of the forwards" with Douglas and Johnstone where they were "prominent in all the good work". He played in a match with Richmond before not being listed in the side in their round 11 and 12 matches before returning for round 14. In their round 1 Roope Rooster final win over Athletic by 21 to 16 he was "frequently prominent". His club season finished a week later in a Roope Rooster semi-final loss to City Rovers.
O'Brien's good form was rewarded when he was selected for Auckland in their match against Hamilton on 12 September at Carlaw Park. He was chosen at prop however there were several changes made to the side on the day of the match and he did not play. He was picked again for Auckland's match against an Auckland Province side on 29 September. He was named in the second row with Hec McDonald, while Nelson Bass was at lock. The Auckland City side won by 44 points to 15 before 7,000 spectators at Carlaw Park. He was involved in Hec McDonald's try after toeing the ball through the Province sides defence. He took the ball and passed to McDonald who scored in the corner. O'Brien later scored a try when Clarrie Polson "got the ball and sent it to O'Brien, who transferred to Dufty, and when being crowded out he sent a long pass to O'Brien, who gathered in to score". The Auckland Star said afterwards that McDonald was easily the best forward and "he received solid support from Stack and O'Brien". O'Brien was then selected for Auckland's next match against South Auckland (Waikato) which was their final game of the season. The match was played once again at Carlaw Park and saw Auckland win 35–11 before a crowd of 6,000. Early in the second half with Auckland trailing 7–8 "Thomas and O'Brien made an attack but lost the ball when within an ace of scoring".
In 1924, O'Brien played 15 matches for Devonport and once again played 2 games for Auckland. Interestingly former All Black Andrew O'Brien switched codes and joined the Marist Old Boys rugby league club. He also went by the name Jim O'Brien which caused some confusion at times as to which player was being named in newspaper reports as they also both played prop and would be regularly selected for Auckland and later the New Zealand side.
In Devonport's second match on 10 May "O'Brien, who had been playing well, distinguished himself by tackling Mike Flynn, who was making a good run with the ball" with the match finishing a 2–2 draw. The following round he had a try disallowed in a 13–7 win over Richmond on 24 May. After round 5 on 31 May he was selected in a 22-man Auckland squad to prepare for the touring Australian University side. With the first match scheduled for midweek on 4 June. O'Brien was not selected for the starting side with Auckland winning the match 15 to 7. He was again left out of the starting side initially for the second match 3 days later on 7 June but was then brought into the side to replace Bill Stormont due to injury. Stormont would tragically die a year later from rheumatic heart disease. Auckland won the second match 17 to 2 before 4,000 spectators with the two Jim O'Brien's propping the scrum and Alf Townsend at hooker. Jim O'Brien (Devonport) was involved in the lead up to the first try to Ben Davidson. He was named to start again in an unchanged front row for the third match on 14 June. The match was drawn 14–14 before 12,000 spectators. O'Brien was involved in Auckland's first try when Craddock Dufty made a good run before "he handed on to O'Brien [who] transferred to Douglas, who dashed over and scored a fine try". The Auckland Star said that Hec McDonald was the best forward on the ground, "and of the others O'Brien (Devonport) played a great game".