All those who had the privilege to know Ron Massey would be the first to say he was a very special bloke.
The rugby league visionary lost his long battle with cancer yesterday, aged 86.
In all the time I’ve known Ron, the best part of 50 years, he never once had a bad word to say about anyone, nor had anyone a bad word to say about him.
That was a true reflection of his rare standing.
But his legacy to the 13-man code will live forever in tandem with Jack Gibson.
Ron was the back-room maestro, his clubs worked like Swiss watches, while Jack was the master coach and tactician who made good footballers into world-beaters – both thoroughly deserved their tag of rugby league legends.
And it would be fair to say one wouldn’t have been as successful without the other.
They were an unbeatable team, firstly with Easts in 1974 and 1975, then Parramatta in 1981, 1982 and 1983 – claiming five premierships.
When Jack died in 2008, aged 79, it hit Ron hard, they had been through so much together with such phenomenal success, and it didn’t help that Ron’s health was failing as well.
Ron also had a two-year stint in 1990 and 1991 as Cronulla’s CEO, and if the Sharks manage to break their premiership drought this year, Ron Massey will be to the fore in their celebrations.
And there are plenty of rugby league’s past players who have fallen on tough times who will be forever grateful to Ron for setting up the Men of League Foundation in 2002 to lend assistance.
The Foundation was just another example of Ron Massey’s vision.
And his name will be remembered every year with the Ron Massey Cup for annual competition in rugby league’s third tier.
At the two big games this weekend, there will be a minute’s silence to salute a gentle man who was a gentleman making a life-long and outstanding contribution to the game.
Ron Massey is survived by wife Patty, and two sons Luke and Paul.
So thanks for the memories Ron, they are long and lasting.
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