Having scored 180 points while playing in the University Cup competition for Mount St Mary in 1980, he was noticed by Wests coach, Roy Masters.
[3] Having only played 3 under-23s matches, Conlon debuted for Wests in round 6 of the 1981 NSWRFL season, scoring a try against North Sydney.
Conlon had a successful season with Canterbury, and the team made it to the preliminary final against Parramatta Eels.
His performance for NSW City earned him selection for game I of the 1984 State of Origin series for New South Wales.
In June 1984, with Eric Grothe injured, Conlon made his first and only appearance in an Australian representative side.
At the end of the 1988 season, at the age of only 29, Conlon retired from first-grade rugby league and returned to country football as a player and coach.