The irrepressible Joe Murray is going to Australia

There are people who always bring joy and happiness to everyone around them. Joe Murray is one of them. Later in February this talented and infectiously irrepressible scrum half will take his rugby, business and people skills to New South Wales, Australia. The Aussies are going to love our Joe.

October 2021 and Caldy had used three different half – back combinations in their first 6 games in their return to National One but with mixed success. 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses was patchy at best. Caldy’s Director of Rugby Gareth Davies and Head Coach Matt Cairns became aware that former Cheshire scrum half Joe Murray was playing 2^nd xv at Wirral. An approach was made, and Joe became a Raver. What a brilliant decision that was !

An initial 2^nd xv game for Joe against Blackburn was followed by a home 1^st xv debut for both Joe and his ever present National One half back partner Ezra Hinchcliffe against Tonbridge Juddians. Both Joe and Ezra, who had also stepped up from Caldy’s 2^nd xv, were untested at this level and although they looked half decent against Tonbridge there were much bigger tests to come starting the following weekend with a long away trip to probably the biggest team in the league, Plymouth Albion. The reports from Plymouth were clear Joe was the real deal and the new pairing with Ezra was a revelation.
The Joe / Ezra half back pairing changed Caldy’s National One fortunes securing 21 wins from the remaining 22 games.

Joe Murray on the break
Image – Steve Flynn

On 23 April 2022, the Ravers’ promotion to the Championship was clinched in the climactic game at Paton Field against Sale FC. This game was the rugby pinnacle for Joe as he explained. “The buzz in the changing room before the game and the whole atmosphere at Paton Field packed with 4,000 excited Ravers fans was unlike anything I had ever experienced in rugby. It was even better than our subsequent stunning win over Ealing in our first season in the Championship”

In the tightest of games Sale FC, reinforced by six full time professional players from Sale Sharks, were formidable opponents. On 78 minutes the Ravers led by the most slender of margins 10-9 but a trademark Joe Murray box kick delivered a 50/22 line out for Caldy and a subsequent penalty for the home side.

“My relief when Ben Jones slotted the winning penalty in the last play of the game quickly gave way to immense pride as I realized we had earned promotion to the Championship. We were such a tight group; it topped off the best year of my rugby career.”

Joe Murray against Sale FC
Image – Barry Quatermass

Caldy’s current stand off Lewis Barker’s testimony to Joe’s talent and character hits the mark. “Deceptively quick, great service off both hands, strong and fearless and with a most effective box kick, Joe was a revelation when he came to Caldy. On a cold Tuesday in December Joe brings an uplifting energy to the changing room and on to the pitch, every team needs a character like Joe. He is just a top, top bloke !”

Ebullient and resilient Joe Murray is rarely injured but when it did happen before a must win game away at Rams, Joe still travelled to support his mates. He could have rested up in the pub and watched his beloved Liverpool FC contest the League Cup semi final against Manchester City. However, Joe did the next best thing. During the return stop at the motorway services after a close win for Caldy, and a 3-2 semi final win for the Reds, Joe and his guitar led a couple of hundred returning Liverpool FC fans in a rendition of “You Will Never Walk Alone”. Even the Manchester City fans who looked on seemed to be uplifted by Joe’s impromptu service station concert.

Now Joe is on his way to Australia to take up a position as a site lead for Amazon in a new depot in Sydney. Previously managing 200 members of staff and 300-400 drivers for Amazon in the Northwest of England is probably wonderful experience for his new role but of course Joe hasn’t had to ever deal with funnel web spiders or red bellied black snakes. It is going to be different !

All Joe’s friends at Caldy and on the Wirral will miss him hugely but they can take comfort in knowing that this most ebullient and engaging of men will take the ‘Murray Magic’ to the antipodes and cast the uplifting Joe Murray spell over every Australian he encounters. The Aussies will love our Joe !

Joe Murray against Sale Sharks
Image – Steve Flynn