Graham Lowe: Just how big an influence Mad Butcher has

The Mad Butcher, Peter Leitch, and Kiwis wing Manu Vatuvei jubilant after winning the Four Nations rugby league final last year. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Sir Peter Leitch, aka The Mad Butcher, has made an impact on the game of rugby league in New Zealand as powerful as any Kiwi team has ever done in the history of the game.

And it is history that is the most important judge.

In my life time in the game I've had the privilege of meeting many great characters from all walks of life some of who have made game changing contributions, but when I think back, few can match the Mad Butcher.

I've known Peter since I coached Otahuhu back in the 70's and he was in the process of starting his business.

He sponsored Mangere East at the time but it was very apparent to me, he was more than a sponsor. He saw the big picture.

When I came back from Brisbane to coach the Kiwis, Butch was a person I spent a lot of time confiding in, just bouncing ideas off him.

These ideas were not anything to do with the tactics of footy, they were more important than that.

They were to do with the vision and direction of the game going forward.

On nearly a weekly basis I would call into his shop and we'd have a ham sandwich and a cuppa. While I loved the sandwiches he would make me and I certainly enjoyed his company, the main purpose of me calling in was just to run things by him to see what he thought.

It's difficult for the players of today to get their heads around it but in the 80's, and it was even more so in the decades earlier, rugby league really struggled to get their fair share of anything, from decent training grounds, to reasonable media coverage.

Much of our conversations at that time were based around how to fill the grounds when the Kiwis were playing.

While winning is critical to gaining public support, Peter, I think, was the first person in sport in New Zealand, to understand that fans can also be attracted by thinking outside the square.

He became the master of small promotions around footy events which quickly became part of the game.

And his style of promotion has lasted the test of time and also given the game of rugby league a platform of delivery it would never have enjoyed otherwise.

And it is not only rugby league Sir Peter helps out. He is ambassador for many worthy causes and he also supports all other sports.

Watching him over the last forty years he has done things that are simply so heart-warming it brings a lump to my throat writing about it.

But I've also seem many occasions where I've been of the opinion that he has been taken for granted or even taken advantage of.

He knows but it has never deterred him. He is a very kind and generous man who now has friends in the game throughout the world.

He's often said to me that his time is the valuable thing he can give, and gee, hasn't he given the game of rugby league and the people in it, some time.

He's a bit rough around the edges and you couldn't mistake him for James Bond but he is all heart, and this is his secret.

He's a good man who lives by old fashioned values and by this alone, he is setting an example for us all, particularly the young.

He is hosting a luncheon on Friday this week at the Ellerslie Race Course for rugby league, in particular the current and former Kiwis. Kiwi icon Mark Graham is a special guest and as usual he will have many other former great Kiwi identities along as well.

It is open to the public so anyone and everyone is invited you just need to go to his website for ticket info at www.sirpeterleitch.co.nz .

If you get there, make sure you come and say hello.

Graham Lowe ONZM, QSM