NZRL grieve deaths of three favourite sons

The New Zealand Rugby League family is grieving the recent deaths of three favourite sons - former Kiwis Jack Fagan and Rex Cunningham, and noted administrator Peter McLeod.

Aged 82, John Edward Fagan was made an NZRL life member earlier this year, recognising a lifetime of involvement in the game.

As a goal-kicking fullback, he represented New Zealand 53 times, including 17 tests, from 1961-65. At the time, he was the second-most prolific Kiwis scorer behind Des White and a significant contributor to the Kiwis' success as official world rugby league champions from 1960-64, playing 10 of the 18 tests over that period.

Fagan, who played club football for Ponsonby, retired in 1966 after breaking an arm, and later coached Mt Albert and Auckland University.

He also served on the NZRL judiciary, the NZ Kiwis Association and NZRL Museum board.

Cunningham, at 91, was one of our oldest surviving Kiwis and the longest standing, having made his debut in the first post-war side against the Great Britain tourists of 1946.

The speedy Auckland halfback went on to play 21 games for the national team, including four tests, over the next three years.

The voyage to England for the 1947/48 tour of Great Britain and France was delayed by strike action on the Auckland waterfront, but after arriving 17 days late, the Kiwis agreed to play all of their allotted games, which made for a crowded schedule.

As a result, Cunningham played the first six games within 15 days and, by the seventh, he was injured. He returned, however, to score the final try of the tour in a 25-7 loss to France at Bordeaux.

McLeod was best known as a founding father of the Auckland Warriors franchise, now the New Zealand Warriors.

In the early 1990s, he chaired Auckland Rugby League, as it assembled the club for entry into the Australian premiership, compiling feasibility reports, signing sponsors and recruiting key personnel.

At the time of his death last week, McLeod had spent a decade as Rotorua events and venues general manager, having hosted a Warriors pre-season game against Penrith Panthers at Rotorua International Stadium earlier this year.