KEY POINTS:
The league world lost a genuine legend when former NZRL president Ron McGregor passed away this week.
It's normally the superstars on the field such as Sonny Bill Williams, Benji Marshall, Steve Price, and Ruben Wiki who are considered the indispensable men of league.
A statesman of Ron McGregor's stature has rarely been seen and his passing was a sad moment.
He was a giant when it came to New Zealand's position in the international game.
Ron was certainly a fine player; but his greatest contribution to the sport came at the board table in New Zealand and all around the league world.
Ron McGregor was simply indispensable. And I will go as far as to say the qualities, style, class and delivery of Ron McGregor will never be seen again in the New Zealand game.
To me he was like a great player who will always stick in your mind.
I last spoke with Ron and his wife Hazel just a few weeks ago at Mt Smart Stadium before a Warriors game.
Ron asked me: "How is everything going? It's not an easy time for you at present but you have to stick at it." He added: "Trust your instincts."
We both smiled because I knew what he meant - he was never one to shrink from turmoil if he knew it was best for the game.
I first met Ron when I was coaching Otahuhu in the 1970s.
I immediately found him to be a man I could learn from.
And he gave me his final lesson that afternoon at Mt Smart. This was from a man of 83 and obviously not well, but still proudly displaying a league heart.
A few of my league friends have passed away in recent times and they all helped to shape my philosophy on the game. But none did so more than Ron McGregor.
I remember he called me aside after the first test against Australia in 1983 at Carlaw Park.
It was my first game as coach of the Kiwis and I was upset at losing (16-4) and struggling for answers. Under the Carlaw Park grandstand, in the kitchen of the Auckland Rugby League boardroom, Ron poured us a cup of tea and delivered a speech to me that I believe won us the second match (19-12) which we played a week later in Brisbane.
He said: "Now you know what test football is all about, Graham, and you've got to learn from it. That scoreline flattered Australia and the Kiwis allowed it to happen because they didn't play football.
"League is about playing football. Never mind any of the fancy tricks you might have learned over in Brisbane. You need to play the game at their end of the field and if you manage that, the Kiwis have got the players to win the game.
"Test football isn't easy. Never forget it."
They may not be the exact words, but they're pretty close. And they are still in my soul today.
In this day and age, when many people think the game owes them something, Ron McGregor was an example to us all. His view was that we all owed the game; the game didn't owe us. Ron McGregor dedicated his life to league and we should all cherish that memory.
AFTER another powerful display against the Titans last Saturday the Warriors have got themselves into the anything-could-happen area. They could go all the way, and every other NRL club will be well aware of this.
The Raiders of the lost art of playing football should be no match for Ivan Cleary's men this weekend in Canberra. The momentum his team has created has an unstoppable look about it.
The Warriors then head back to Mt Smart to host Manly, who will be a real test.
Manly are still my tip to win the NRL but this is a premiership anyone can win. The Warriors are managing to not only win now, but equally important, they are entertaining.
I've commented before on how history is proving the wisdom of the men in the coaching box and back office of this Warriors outfit.
Former Parramatta fullback Wade McKinnon is a great example of this. Who remembers (or more to the point still misses) Brent Webb?
Last Monday night proved another point in this regard. Former Warriors (now Cowboys) backrower Sione Faumuina showed just how astute the Auckland club was in culling this serial offender.
Many people are questioning the impending departure of gutsy hooker George Gatis. But mark my words. Cleary will have been looking long-term in his acquisition of a younger replacement in Ian Henderson from Bradford.
I'm confident it won't be long into next season when we're thinking fondly of Gatis, but singing the praises of a new talent in Henderson.
