Vale: A tribute to members of the rugby league family who passed away in 2025

Respected historian and author of the 2025 Rugby League Annual, David Middleton, pays tribute to the much-loved members of the footy family we have farewelled in the past 12 months.

VALE

Gary Stevens (1944-January 29, 2025) 

Stevens was an old school second-rower, best known for his fitness and rugged defensive style and was a respected member of South Sydney’s champion teams of the late 1960s and early 70s. The grandson of former Test forward Arthur Oxford, Stevens was born in the heart of South Sydney territory at Pagewood and played his junior football with Pagewood and Chelsea United. 

He was graded with the Rabbitohs after playing in the club’s President’s Cup-winning team of 1964 and made his first-grade debut the following season. Stevens won reserve grade titles with Souths in 1966 and 1968 before he cemented a first-grade berth in 1970. He went on to play 161 first-grade games for the club, including grand final victories in 1970 and 1971.

Stevens made his first senior representative team in 1970 when he was chosen for Sydney Colts against the touring Great Britain team and after playing for New South Wales in the 1972 interstate series was chosen in Australia’s World Cup squad later that year. 

He made his Test debut against the Kiwis in Paris and was in the Australian pack for the final against Great Britain that ended in a draw after a try to Australian fullback Graeme Langlands was controversially disallowed. Great Britain was awarded the World Cup on countback.

Stevens toured Great Britain and France with the Kangaroos in 1973 and played in Australia’s Ashes-winning third Test at Warrington. He played in a second Ashes-winning series against Great Britain in 1974 and ended his international career at the age of 31 when he played in three of Australia’s games during the 1975 World Series. 

Stevens played 25 first-grade games for Canterbury in 1977-78 before retiring. He was named a Life Member of the Rabbitohs in 1988 and was selected in South Sydney Juniors Team of the Century in 2008.

He passed away after a long illness on January 29, aged 81. 

Bob Hagan (1940-February 2, 2025) 

Hagan had a long and varied career in Rugby League, first as a player who rose from club football in Brisbane to selection for Australia in 1962 and later as a coach and then a long-serving administrator. 

Born in Warwick in 1940, Hagan moved to Brisbane in his teens to accept a cadetship in the police force and played junior football with Eastern Suburbs before breaking into the district’s first grade team in 1959. He played in the centres for Easts until 1961 when he was transferred to Townsville.

In 1962 he was captain-coach of Centrals and represented Townsville and Queensland before he was selected in Australia’s team to play Great Britain in the opening Test of the Ashes series in Sydney. But against a Great Britain team of outstanding quality, Australia was trounced 31-12 and although Hagan was spared harsh criticism, he was one of seven players dropped for the second Test.

Hagan returned to club football with Easts in 1963-64 before an off-season stint with Huddersfield in 1965-66. While in England, Hagan was among the first players to play under a limited tackle rule when a rule experiment was conducted during the Floodlit Trophy competition. He had played in a game against Hull KR in which it was claimed that Hull KR had “killed off the old rule” by holding the ball for 56 possessions, while Huddersfield touched the ball only twice in the first half. “The new rules have made a colossal difference, and fans are seeing the real rugby league – as it should be played,” Hagan said at the time.

Hagan joined Canterbury in 1967, playing 45 first-grade games over the next three seasons before taking charge as non-playing coach in 1971-72. Hagan was part of a consortium, with fellow internationals Peter Gallagher and John Sattler that backed the first Gold Coast team in the NSWRL premiership in 1988 and later served as CEO of Canterbury from 1995-2002.

He passed away on the Sunshine Coast on February 25, aged 85. 

Alan Gil (1938-March 19, 2025) 

Alan Gil holds a special place in the history of the game in far North Queensland as the first player from Cairns to represent Australia.

Born in the northern city in 1938 to a Spanish father and Irish mother, Gil played first grade with Cairns Kangaroos from the age of 17 and developed into one of the north’s leading centres. He played in the first of six winning Foley Shield Final winning teams for Cairns while still a teenager and represented Far North Queensland for the first time in 1958 when they played the touring Great Britain side. 

Gil accepted an offer to move to Toowoomba in 1959, joining the powerful All Whites club and in two seasons on the Darling Downs, Gil won consecutive premierships. In 1960 he captained Toowoomba to victory in the Bulimba Cup and played the first of 15 games for Queensland. 

Returning to Cairns in 1961, Gil earned selection on Australia’s mid-season tour of New Zealand and although he did not win a Test jersey, he played in six out of seven minor games on tour. In 1962, Gil was chosen to make his Test debut, ironically replacing another Queenslander, Bob Hagan, in Australia’s side for the second Test.

Australia lost the Test at Lang Park – and the Ashes – however Gil retained his place for the third Test in Sydney, won 18-17 by Australia. It was a Test made famous by the dismissal of rival forwards Dud Beattie (Australia) and Derek ‘Rocky’ Turner (Great Britain) after Beattie, a virtual passenger after breaking three ribs, was accused of goading Turner into a fight. It was also famous for referee Darcy Lawler allegedly advising Australian goalkicker Ken Irvine to adjust his ball placement before he kicked the match-winning goal. 

Gil played on for Cairns until 1970 when he led the city to Foley Shield victory in his final game. He later became coach of Queensland Under-18s teams in the 1980s and continued to manage Cairns teams until 2008.

He passed away in Cairns on March 19, aged 86. 

Dick Poole (1930-June 6, 2025) 

Dick Poole reached the summit of a high-achieving career when he captained Australia to victory in the 1957 World Cup. 

Australia’s stocks had taken a hit after losing the Ashes in a convincing third Test defeat to Great Britain on the previous year’s Kangaroo tour. It was a defeat that followed consecutive series losses to New Zealand in 1952 and 1953, ensuring that Australia was far from favourites to win the first World Cup tournament to be played on Australian soil. 

Poole’s elevation to the Australian captaincy would prove a revelation. He had been a resounding success as leader for New South Wales in interstate series in 1956 and 1957 but despite representing Australia since 1955 and touring with the Kangaroos in 1956-57 he had not been considered for the captaincy, not even for minor games on tour. 

But Poole was given the job ahead of Kangaroo captain Ken Kearney for the mid-season tournament and he went on to lead the country to dominant victories over New Zealand (25-5), Great Britain (31-6) and France (26-9) to claim Australia’s first World Cup title. At the end of it, former Australian captain Clive Churchill declared ‘(Poole) must join the army of Australia’s greatest footballers'.

Poole played 115 first-grade games for Newtown (1950-58) and another 31 in two final seasons with Western Suburbs before an asthmatic condition forced him into retirement. He led Newtown to consecutive grand finals against South Sydney in 1954-55 however a premiership title eluded him. He played 13 Tests for Australia and 16 games for New South Wales. Until the time of his passing he was Australia’s oldest living Test player.

He died at Ashfield on June 6, aged 94. 

Sam Backo (1961-August 3, 2025) 

Backo was a giant front-rower from Ingham who made a lasting impression on the game from his days with the Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos and his high-achieving efforts for Queensland and Australia. 

He arrived at the Canberra Raiders from Cairns in 1983 but had already earned a reputation for toughness playing for the Woden Valley Statesmen two years earlier.

Backo had raw talent and over the ensuing seasons developed into a potent attacking front-rower for the Raiders and in 1987 he was a major factor in the club’s rise to their maiden grand final appearance. The Rugby League Annual noted that Backo was one of several Raiders’ players who had “become household names” through their efforts that year. 

Backo had his first taste of representative football in 1987 when he was chosen for the “NSW Maroons” in a selection trial for State of Origin against Queensland-based Maroons players. He missed out on interstate selection that year, but he was not forgotten in 1988 and was among the Maroons’ best performers in a 3-0 Origin whitewash. Backo was named player of the match in the final two games and made a walk-up start to Australia’s Test team for the Ashes series against Great Britain. 

The first Test in Sydney was a huge occasion, the first Test match at the new Sydney Football Stadium and the 100th Anglo-Australian Test match – all in Australia’s bicentennial year. While Raiders’ team-mate Peter Jackson received most of the acclaim with two tries on Test debut, Backo was equally happy to have scored just once. Over the course of the three Tests, Backo crossed in each one, making history as the first front-rower to have scored tries in all three Tests of an Ashes series. 

Backo had become a major target for opposition clubs and in 1989 accepted an offer to reunite with Wayne Bennett when he joined the Broncos. Backo shared in the Maroons’ second series clean sweep in 1989 and starred on Australia’s tour of New Zealand that year. He played on with the Broncos in 1990 but ongoing problems with a chronic knee injury forced his retirement at the age of 29. 

Backo was proud of his heritage and worked hard to further the rights of the Warrgamay and South Sea Island communities in North Queensland. 

He fought a three-month battle with a tropical soil disease, melioidosis, however complications relating to an ongoing heart condition led to his death in Cairns on August 3, at the age of 54. 

Johnny Mayes (1947-July 30, 2025) 

Johnny Mayes’ career was marked by an acute sense of timing. After five seasons with Eastern Suburbs, he took the chance on an offer from Manly to play the 1973 season with the club and finished the year with a premiership. After 12 months on the northern beaches Mayes was convinced to move back to Bondi where Jack Gibson had returned as coach. Mayes played in premiership-winning teams for another two years. 

And even though he had never represented New South Wales, the halfback’s form in the Roosters’ run to their second straight title in 1975 was so compelling it led to his selection in Australia’s touring squad for that year’s World Series. 

It was a “good-as-it-gets” period for Mayes, despite the disappointment of his omission from the 1973 Kangaroos. It was considered a significant shock that Mayes was left out of the team after his brilliant season with the Sea Eagles. He scored 16 tries in 24 games, was named Rugby League Week player of the year and finished third in voting for that year’s Rothman’s Medal. 

Mayes played his junior football with Bondi United before playing the first of 110 top grade games for Easts in 1968. He received minor recognition from rep selectors when he was chosen for City Seconds in 1973 and 1975, but it wasn’t until late in 1975 that he won the approval of Australia’s selection panel. His form was of such quality at that time that he consigned Tommy Raudonikis to play in the minor fixtures on tour. 

Mayes played on with the Roosters until 1977 before joining Norths Newcastle for two final seasons.

He led the club to a premiership as captain-coach in 1979. Mayes battled an aggressive brain cancer before he passed away at Evans Head on July 30, aged 78. 

MAX FERGUSON, lock forward for Parramatta in one first-grade game in 1953. Ferguson, an accountant, combined duties as secretary of Mt Pritchard junior club with his football activities. He died on January 8, aged 94. 

LES GEEVES, hooker for Norths Brisbane under coach Bob Bax in four grand final-winning teams in the 1960s. Geeves played Bulimba Cup for Brisbane in 1967 before representing Queensland in two interstate games and in one game against a touring New Zealand side that year. Geeves played for Norths from 1960-67 before two years as captain-coach of Brisbane Easts. He later became a long-serving selector for Queensland and Australia. He died on January 10, aged 84. 

KERRY BUCKERIDGE, television commentator for Channel 10, who called the first Amco Cup midweek competition match alongside Ray Warren in 1974. The pair called much of the first competition in tandem before Warren became sole caller by the time of the finals. Buckeridge began his broadcasting career at 2LF in Young. He passed away on February 12, aged 85. 

NOEL SOLOMON, five-eighth or halfback for North Sydney and North Queensland in 35 first-grade games from 1992 to 1995. Of Torres Strait Island descent, Solomon joined Norths from Charters Towers in 1991 and helped the Bears to consecutive reserve grade titles in 1991-92. He joined the Cowboys for their first season in 1995 and played in the club’s inaugural game against Canterbury. He went on to play for Mackay in the Queensland Cup. He passed away on February 13, aged 53. 

ED FARISH, Chief Financial Officer of the NRL from 1998 to 2011, who held similar roles with the Gold Coast Titans 2011-13, Salford Reds 2013 and Parramatta Eels 2014-16. Farish was a popular figure in all his roles and was a devoted supporter of the game. He passed away on February 14, aged 63. 

BILL HEIDKE, halfback for North Sydney in four first-grade games 1983-84. Heidke played junior football for Cromer and represented Manly in SG Ball and President’s Cup competitions before being graded by Norths. He played for French club Carpentras in 1984-85. He passed away after battling pancreatic cancer on January 17, aged 63. 

JOHN FLOYD, hooker for the North Sydney Bears in one first-grade game in 1965. Floyd later enjoyed success at Thirroul in the Illawarra competition, winning a premiership with the club in 1973 and represented Southern Division v Great Britain in 1970 and Illawarra v Great Britain in 1974. He died on February 24, aged 81. 

ROGER BUTTENSHAW, five-eighth for Western Suburbs in 29 first-grade games from 1959 to 1964. Originally from Grenfell in southern NSW, Buttenshaw played junior football with Burwood United. He captained Wests to a reserve grade premiership in 1961 and later played at Boggabri in 1966 and represented Northern Division against Great Britain that year. He passed away at Gunnedah on March 5, aged 89. 

JACK JEFFRIES, hooker for St George and Western Suburbs in 63 first-grade games from 1978 to 1981. A member of the inaugural Australian Schoolboys team in 1972, Jeffries played juniors with Thirroul before joining St George in 1978. Best known for his time with Western Suburbs under his old schoolboys coach Roy Masters, he was famously captured by 60 Minutes cameras face-slapping Magpies team-mate Tommy Raudonikis during a pre-game motivation session in 1979. Jeffries passed away at Culburra on March 14, aged 68. 

DOUG LAUGHTON, second-rower for Great Britain in 15 Test matches, including the third Test against Australia in 1970, the country’s last Ashes victory. Laughton appeared in five first grade games for Canterbury in a short-lived stint in 1974 and played with English clubs St Helens, Wigan and Widnes across 17 seasons (1963-79). He won Challenge Cup titles for Wigan in 1970 and for Widnes in 1975 and 1979 and led Widnes to an 11-10 victory over the 1978 Kangaroos. Laughton captained the 1979 Great Britain team on its tour of Australia and New Zealand. He died on March 16, aged 80. 

ROBERT PIVA, prop forward for North Queensland in nine first grade games in the Cowboys’ first season of 1995. Piva was a stalwart of the Wellington competition, playing with St George 1985-87, Randwick 1988-90 and Porirua City 1991-93. He represented Wellington in 40 games, including a game against Australia in 1988 and represented Taranaki against the touring Great Britain team of 1990. He toured Great Britain and France with the Kiwis in 1993 and played in a Test win against Wales before injury cut short his tour. Piva played for the Taranaki Rockets in 1994 and Wakefield Trinity in 1994-95 before joining the Cowboys in 1995. He represented Samoa in the Super League World Nines in 1996. He played on until 2001 with Porirua Pumas in New Zealand’s Bartercard Cup. Piva died suddenly on March 24, aged 58. 

PERCY KNIGHT, clever five-eighth for Balmain and Canberra in 88 first-grade games from 1978 to 1985. Knight joined Balmain after he and winger Larry Corowa, who scored five tries, starred for Monaro against Great Britain in 1977. Knight won a reserve grade title at Balmain in 1978. A Wiradjuri man from Condobolin, Knight had a short stint with Widnes in England in 1976 before returning to ACT club Woden Valley in 1977. He passed away on April 6, aged 70. 

DENNIS LEE, front-rower for South Sydney in 30 first-grade games from 1962-72. A Mascot junior, Lee rose through the ranks at the Rabbitohs, playing in the club’s President’s Cup-winning team of 1961 before debuting in first grade the following season. He played 176 grade games for the Rabbitohs, including grand final victories in reserve grade in 1966 and, as captain in 1968. He passed away on April 6 after battling dementia, aged 81. 

Dr JOHN MAYHEW ONZM, highly respected club doctor for the Warriors for 14 seasons from 2006 to 2019. Mayhew had served as All Blacks doctor from 1988 to 2004, attending four World Cup campaigns. He was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sports medicine in 2016. Mayhew passed away on April 9, aged 70. 

RON SIGSWORTH, fullback or centre in 38 first-grade games for Newtown (1982-83) and Canberra (1984). The younger brother of former international Phil Sigsworth, Ron played a season at Castleford in 1984-85 before playing lower grades at South Sydney in 1986 and a coaching stint at Ayr in North Queensland in 1987. Sigsworth scored Newtown’s last first-grade try at Henson Park against Balmain in 1983. He passed away on April 28, aged 63. 

TERRY WELSH, hooker for Newtown in four first-grade games in a single season with the club in 1974. A stalwart of country football in Northern NSW, Welsh represented Country Seconds in 1972 and 1973 and played for Northern Division against touring New Zealand teams in 1975, 1978 and 1982. Welsh had playing stints at Casino, Tenterfield, Denman and Gunnedah. He passed away on May 1, aged 72. 

DON HOBSON, second-rower for Canterbury in 24 first-grade games 1963-65 and for Penrith in three first grade games in 1968. Hobson played with Wests Wollongong in 1966-67. He served with the NSW Police Force and passed away in May, aged 72. 

DEREK HALLAS, English-born centre who played 43 games for Parramatta 1963-65. He began his career with Keighley in 1953 before playing three seasons with Leeds, alongside Australian fullback Ken Thornett, from 1959 to 1962. Hallas represented Great Britain in two Tests in 1961 and returned to Keighley in 1962 before linking with Thornett at Parramatta. He was later captain coach at Inverell 1966-68 before returning to England. Hallas passed away on May 12, aged 89. 

ALF HEMSWORTH, fullback for Parramatta in five first-grade games in 1952. He also played 39 lower-grade games for the club 1951-53. He passed away on May 18, aged 92. 

BRUCE OLIVE, highly respected prop forward who played 69 first-grade games for Newtown from 1964-67 and represented New South Wales in eight interstate games (1958-62) and in games against touring Great Britain teams in 1958 and 1962. Olive’s career began with Casino All Blacks in 1948 and by 1957 he accepted an invitation to join Western Suburbs in Wollongong and helped the club to a premiership in his first season. He remained at Wests until 1963 before joining Newtown. He returned to Wollongong to play out his career with Dapto in 1968-69. Named in Illawarra’s Team of the Century in 2011, Olive is considered one of the finest Indigenous players not to play for Australia. He passed away in Wollongong on May 22, aged 94. 

FRED STRUTT, five-eighth or lock in 17 first grade games for St George (1960) and Eastern Suburbs (1963). Strutt spent most of his career in the country, playing for Harden-Murrumburrah 1961, Inverell 1962, Wagga Turvey Park 1964-66 and 1969 and Nowra 1968. A St George Sailing Club junior, he appeared twice for St George in 1960. He represented Country Firsts 1961, Northern Division v Great Britain and Country Seconds 1962, Riverina v France 1964 and Southern Division v New Zealand in 1967. Strutt’s son Darren played eight first grade games for Illawarra in 1988. He passed away in Junee on May 24, aged 85. 

GREG HEDDLES, second-rower who played three first-grade games for Parramatta in 1978. Originally from Waratah-Mayfield, Heddles played mostly lower grades for the Eels 1978-79 and in a season with Penrith 1980. He joined Central Charlestown in 1981, representing Country Seconds that year and Newcastle against France. He moved to Macquarie United in 1982 and represented Country Firsts. He died on May 25, aged 69. 

RUSSELL MULLINS, winger for Western Suburbs and Penrith in 131 first-grade games 1971-79. Younger brother of Eastern Suburbs winger Bill Mullins and uncle of 1990s Test fullback Brett Mullins, Russell played junior football with Bankstown Sports but was graded with Wests in 1970. He was a prominent try scorer for the Magpies, crossing for 53 tries in 113 games before playing two final seasons with the Panthers. He passed away on the Gold Coast on June 23, aged 72. 

FRED GARDNER Jnr, prop for St George in four first-grade games 1954-55. The son of Saints’ 1933-34 Kangaroos winger Fred ‘Yappy’ Gardner, Fred Jnr played in a reserve grade grand final team in 1955 that was coached by his father. Gardner continued in Saints’ lower grades until 1958. He passed away on July 13, aged 93. 

DANNY PEACOCK, fullback and winger in 127 first-grade games for Western Suburbs, Gold Coast and South Queensland and in 34 Super League games for Bradford Bulls 1997-99. Born at Augathella in western Queensland, Peacock played juniors in his hometown and at Charleville before moving to Valleys in Toowoomba in 1987. He represented Queensland Under-19s in 1987 and joined Wests Magpies the next year. Peacock achieved a career highlight in 1997 when he played before 78,000 in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley but his Bradford side fell to St Helens. Peacock died in Toowoomba on July 24, aged 57. 

RAY FRENCH MBE, dual rugby international for England and Great Britain, but best known for his 27-year career commentating rugby league for the BBC. French represented England in four rugby union Tests before joining St Helens in 1961. The second rower played 204 games for the Lancashire club, including the 1966 Challenge Cup Final victory over Wigan, before playing five seasons with Widnes 1967-71. French represented Great Britain at the 1968 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand before succeeding legendary commentator Eddie Waring as the voice of the British game in 1981. He died on July 26 after battling dementia, aged 85. 

NEVILLE KESHA, New Zealand referee, who controlled five Test matches in the 1980s, including three involving Australia. Kesha famously earned the ire of Australian captain Wally Lewis when New Zealand upset Australia at Lang Park in 1987. Kesha was widely respected and devoted much of his lifetime to the game, refereeing and coaching at senior and grassroots levels. He passed away on July 29, aged 81. 

RAY MILLINGTON, fullback and centre in 18 first-grade games for Eastern Suburbs 1957-59. Millington played Australian rules for Eastern Suburbs in his early years and in 1952 joined the Fitzroy club in Melbourne where he played two VFL games. Returning to Sydney, he won a (rules) premiership with Eastern Suburbs in 1953 before switching to rugby union with Randwick and representing Sydney Colts. He changed codes for a third time in 1957 and made his rugby league debut for Eastern Suburbs at the age of 25. He is believed to be the first player to play at first grade level in these three football codes. He died on July 19, aged 93. 

GARY PRICKETT, hooker for Wests Brisbane in the 1970s and for Queensland in four interstate games 1977 and 1981. A Wests Mitchelton junior, Prickett was named Courier Mail Best and Fairest Player and Queensland’s Rugby League Week Player of the Year in 1979. Prickett joined Sunshine Coast club Palmwoods in 1980 and played for Wide Bay in the first State League competition in 1982. He died on the Sunshine Coast on July 20, aged 70. 

ROBIN WHITFIELD, renowned English referee of the 1980s and 1990s who controlled over 400 professional games, including a series-deciding State of Origin match at Lang Park in 1983. Whitfield played with Widnes, Barrow and Huyton before taking up the whistle in 1980. He was in the centre for two NSWRL premiership games in 1985-86 and controlled numerous Test matches, including eight involving Australia, and was named English Referee of the Year on three occasions. He passed away on July 20, aged 81. 

MICHAEL TILSE, prop forward for North Sydney and Canberra in 15 first grade games in 1980 and 1982. Tilse joined Norths from Scone in 1980, making his first grade debut late in the season. After a year with Wests Newcastle, Tilse joined the Raiders for their first season in 1982 and played in the club’s inaugural game against South Sydney. His son, Dane played 201 first grade games for the club. Michael and Dane were the first father-son pair to play for the Raiders. Michael died at Scone on August 4, aged 67. 

BILL ‘BOZO’ JONES, prop or hooker for Parramatta in 27 first-grade games in 1964 and 1966-69. He played a season at South Newcastle in 1965 and after a season in the lower grades at the Eels in 1970, took on a captain-coach role at Yass Magpies in 1971. Jones played a final season with Second Division club Wentworthville in 1972. He passed away at Noosa Heads on August 3, aged 84. 

GUS MILLER, legendary figure of the NSW South Coast, who played his entire career with the Berry Magpies and represented New South Wales in three interstate games in 1947-48. A six-time Country representative, Miller also represented South Coast, Southern Division and Southern Districts against touring international teams for over a decade. A lock forward, Miller won South Coast premierships with Berry in 1941 and 1952-54, captaining the club to a third straight title in 1954. Miller was a Life Member of Group 7 and passed away after a short illness on August 4, a few weeks short of his 100th birthday. 

TOM WHITEHOUSE, prop forward for Parramatta in six first grade games in 1956-57. Whitehouse played a total of 32 grade games in his two seasons with the club. He passed away on August 14, aged 87. 

STAN MARTIN, one of the leading hookers in the Auckland competition in the 1970s and 1980s and later a prominent player agent who acted for dozens of leading NRL players for more than 20 years. He won back-to-back premierships with the Richmond club in 1979-80 and was named Auckland player of the year in 1980. He coached Cook Islands in the 2000 World Cup and guided the Kiwi Ferns to victory in the 2008 Women’s World Cup. He passed away on September 10, aged 72. 

WAYNE BEAVIS, pioneering player agent who was the first to take on the role on a full-time basis in the early 1990s. Beavis had a client list that included some of the biggest names in the game including Phil Gould and Brad Fittler and was an influential figure during the Super League split in 1995 when he had over 100 players on his books. Beavis passed away on the Gold Coast after battling illness on September 14, aged 73. 

MIKE JACKSON, English winger, who joined Parramatta from Workington Town in 1962 and played 48 first-grade games for the club from 1962-64. The Eels played finals football for the first time in 1962, and Jackson appeared in the club’s first five finals games over the next three seasons. He also played for Parramatta against a touring South African side in 1963. He played a final season with Second Division Wentworthville before retiring in 1965. He passed away on September 3, aged 87. 

MICK McGEE, halfback for Canterbury in 12 first-grade games in 1955. McGee joined the club from Berry on the NSW South Coast. He passed away in September, aged 91. 

PETER RYAN, lock forward for Newtown in 119 first-grade games 1953-59 and in 14 games for Parramatta 1961-62. Ryan played in successive grand finals for Newtown in 1954-55 when they were defeated on both occasions by South Sydney. He was player-coach at Mareeba in North Queensland in 1960 and represented Far North Queensland against the touring French team. He later joined Second Division club Arncliffe Scots from 1964-68. He passed away on September 21, aged 91. 

JOHNNY DOUGHERTY, five-eighth for South Sydney in 56 first-grade games, including premiership-deciding games in 1953-54-55. Newcastle-born, Dougherty graduated from teacher’s college in 1951 and was posted to Warren in western NSW where, as captain-coach, he led the town to back-to-back premierships. He represented New South Wales in six interstate games 1954-56 and played for Sydney and New South Wales against the Great Britain touring team in 1954. Dougherty went close to selection for the Kangaroo Tour of 1956-57 but required surgery for a hernia. He later played for Bathurst St Patricks 1957-58 and retired after two seasons with Central Charlestown 1960-61. Dougherty died on September 27, aged 94. 

MICK ALCHIN, winger for Western Suburbs in 38 first-grade games 1968-69 and 1971 and for Eastern Suburbs in 19 games 1972-73. Alchin was born at Cootamundra and began his junior career with the local De La Salle team before moving to Newcastle and playing first grade with Western Suburbs 1962-67. He played out his career as captain-coach of Second Division club Wentworthville 1974-76. He then took over as non-playing coach at Wentworthville before coaching Parramatta’s reserve grade team to a grand final win in 1979. Alchin passed away on the Central Coast on September 30, aged 82. 

PAUL CUMMINGS, administrator for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, who played an important role in the club’s rebuild following the dissolution of the Northern Eagles joint venture. Cummings was CEO of the Sea Eagles 2003-05 and Executive Chairman in 2006. He passed away at Coffs Harbour on October 9, aged 84. 

RAY CONNELLY, long-serving clubman for St George and St George Illawarra. Connelly gave years of service as trainer and strapper with St George junior league teams and continued as gear steward and trainer with St George Illawarra. His work was recognised with Life Membership of the St George Rugby League. Connelly passed away on October 14, aged 78. 

JOHN BELL, prop forward for Eastern Suburbs in 52 first-grade games 1951-55. Educated at Paddington in Sydney’s east, Bell moved to West Armidale in 1947 in his work as a surveyor before transferring to Grafton where he played in 1948-49. He returned to Sydney in 1950 and played juniors with Bondi before being graded with Easts in 1951. Bell later moved to Scott’s Head on the NSW mid-north coast, where he resided for 50 years. He died on October 17, aged 95. 

KEVIN BRASCH AM, former halfback for Valleys in Brisbane and long-serving administrator in Queensland. Brasch played for a Queensland Primary Schools team soon after World War II before joining for Valleys in the early 1950s. He also had playing stints with English clubs Huddersfield and Whitehaven and in a season at Mt Isa in 1964. Brasch was chairman of Brisbane South-East Division for 19 years and ARL Chairman for a brief period in 1997. He was a manager of Queensland and Australian teams at home and overseas. He passed away on October 23, aged 91. 

CLIFF CARTWRIGHT, prop forward for Penrith in one first-grade game in 1977. Cartwright was the son of Panthers’ inaugural club secretary Merv Cartwright and served as the club’s first ballboy in 1967. The eldest of four brothers to play first grade for the club, he passed away on October 25, aged 60. 

JOHN FARRAGHER OAM, prop forward for Penrith in seven first-grade games in 1978. Farragher was a Gilgandra junior who joined the Panthers in 1978 and suffered serious spinal injuries when a scrum collapsed in a game against Newtown at Henson Park. He became a quadriplegic but after a long period of rehabilitation returned to the club in 1982 and took on a public relations role, warmly greeting members and guests over the next four decades. A much-loved figure in the Panthers’ community, Farragher passed away on November 1 after suffering a cardiac arrest, aged 68. 

GRAHAM RICHARDSON AO, influential Labor politician, who was a key negotiator for the Australian Rugby League at the height of the Super League war of the mid-1990s. Richardson was close to Channel Nine boss Kerry Packer and was at the coalface as News Limited operatives attempted to convince leading players and entire clubs to jump ship to Super League. A staunch St George supporter, Richardson passed away on November 8, aged 76. 

JOHANNES LOGAN, middle forward for South Sydney’s SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams in 2025. From Orange in central-western NSW, Logan was a gifted sportsman who attended St Joseph’s College at Hunters Hill and excelled at rugby, water polo and swimming before joining the Rabbitohs’ pathways program in 2025. He passed away on November 15, aged 19. 

JOE WALSH, second-rower for Balmain in 54 first-grade games 1969-73. Walsh played in Balmain’s famous 1969 grand final-winning team in his first season with the club. Originally from Quandialla in southern NSW, Walsh joined Balmain from Queanbeyan Kangaroos after completing his National Service. He had played in the famous Maher Cup for Barmedman 165-67 and after leaving the Tigers he had a season with Temora (1974) and coached Quandialla (1976) and Cowra (1978) to premierships. Walsh died after a battle with cancer on November 18, aged 79. 

GREG HYDE, fullback for Parramatta in three first-grade games in 1970. The eldest son of legendary radio commentator Frank Hyde, Greg played President’s Cup for North Sydney in 1963 and lower grades at the club from 1964-68. He later became a NSW Police Inspector and after a period of poor health, passed away on November 20, aged 82. 

DENNIS MOUNT, goalkicking front-rower who played 19 first-grade games for Parramatta 1970-72. Raised at Gravesend in north-west NSW, Mount played for Warialda and represented Northern Division v New Zealand in 1967 and Country Firsts in 1970 before transferring to the Eels. A more than useful goalkicker, Mount kicked 35 goals and seven field goals for the Eels. Mount passed away in December.