 During Game 2 of the 1985 State of Origin series at the Sydney Cricket Ground, O'Connor kicked 4 goals and his only field goal in Origin football as NSW won 21–14 in front of the then biggest crowd in Origin history of 39,068 fans.Following his performances for NSW in the first two games of the 1985 Origin series, O'Connor was selected for the mid-season tour of New Zealand.Though he didn't play in a test match, he did play in the minor games of the short tour.