Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Chairman Peter V’landys AM today paid tribute to a legend of Rugby League media, Ian Heads OAM, who died this morning following a long illness.
Heads, who was 81, was last year inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in a special event at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
He wrote for Sydney’s Daily and Sunday Telegraphs, Rugby League Week, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun-Herald, while also authoring more than 40 Rugby League biographies and histories, including the Centenary History of Rugby League (2008).
He was honoured with an OAM in 2010 for service to the media as a sports journalist, author and mentor, and was inducted into the Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Honour in 2014.
“Ian is quite simply a doyen of Rugby League journalism,” Mr V’landys said.
“I know that yesterday, Ian was still enjoying Rugby League, listening to the game between Manly and Parramatta on the radio with his family.
“As a game, we’re truly thankful that we were able to recognise and acknowledge Ian for all that he has done for the game with deserved induction into the NRL Hall of Fame.
“Ian was one of the great storytellers, but what struck me during last year’s induction were the incredible stories which were told about him.
"He was a revered part of the sport, respected and knowledgeable through covering the sport for more than five decades, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.
“On behalf of the Commission, I extend our sincerest condolences to wife Joy, children Phil and Katherine, his family and all those who knew him.”
