Nev Callaghan

Neville Alan Callaghan (17 February 1936 – 3 December 2016) was an Australian rugby league player, who played one representative game for Queensland in 1959.

Rugby league Spectators in the Nev Callaghan Stand at Browne Park watching an NRL match between the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys in 2021Born in Rockhampton, Callaghan became interested in rugby league as a primary school student when Cyril Connell Jnr. took up a teaching position at Allenstown State School in 1947.

After playing the sport at school, Callaghan rose through the junior rugby league grades through the 1950s while playing for local clubs Colts and then Fitzroys. He was acknowledged as being Fitzroys' most improved junior player in 1954.

In 1956, he represented Central Queensland when he played in the second row against New Zealand at the Rockhampton Showgrounds during the 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia.

Callaghan's career highlight came in 1959 when he was selected to play as a hooker for Queensland in the second game of the 1959 Interstate series at Lang Park on 30 May 1959 as a replacement for an injured Noel Kelly. Playing in a team alongside Elton Rasmussen, Bob Banks, Barry Muir, Paul Pyers, Dud Beattie, Henry Holloway and Jim Paterson, it was seen that Callaghan had a promising rugby league career. In 2012, Callaghan said he "retired too early" because he "couldn't afford to get hurt". In 2008, a new undercover seating area at Browne Park was named the Nev Callaghan Stand in his honour, in recognition of his service to the sport. The business grew to become a respected company in Central Queensland which continues to trade although Docherty died in 1981 with Callaghan selling the business in 2006.

Death Callaghan died on 3 December 2016, prompting tributes from various sporting, political and community figures.