Vale Ron Massey

Born 17 October 1929
Passed Away 19 September 2016

One of rugby league’s most respected men passed away this morning aged 86.

Ron Massey has given a lot to the game over a period of 70 years or more. Ron grew up in the Illawarra district, where his ancestors had lived for around a century.

Ron played with the Collegians Club in Wollongong as a young man and when he moved to Sydney became friends and formed a tight bond with rugby league’s Team of the Century coach Jack Gibson. The two established a great record over many years with their first success being the 1974 and 1975 Premierships with the champion Eastern Suburbs Roosters. Soon after that they took Parramatta to their first ever First Grade title in 1981 and then onto win three premierships in succession.

Ron also assisted Wayne Bennett over the years and was always willing to help any coach, player or official that contacted him for advice.

Former Australian (2 tests), NSW, Cronulla and Western Suburbs player Gavin Miller was a long term and close friends of Ron’s and said, “He was a great friend to me and will greatly be missed by the Australian sporting community in general and the rugby league community in particular.”

Over the years Ron has been associated with some of the game’s greatest ever players including Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote, John Brass, Peter Sterling, Bob O’Reilly, Brett Kenny and Michael Cronin. During his illustrious career, Ron also worked as Secretary of the Cronulla Sharks.

The wider Sydney community recognised Ron at a Men of League lunch on 9 May 2012 at Doltone House, Darling Harbour. John Singleton among many others attended this very successful lunch to pay tribute to Ron.

In 2013 the New South Wales Rugby League recognised Ron’s contribution to the game by renaming their second tier competition, behind the Intrust Super Cup, the Ron Massey Cup. The Grand Final of the Ron Massey Cup for this season will be played this Sunday 25 September at Parramatta Stadium between Mounties and St Marys Saints.

Ron is survived by his wife Patricia and sons, Paul and Luke and their respective families. The Men of League Foundation sends their deepest condolences to all of Ron’s family and many friends.

Funeral details at this stage are not known and will be communicated when available.