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Legend dies at 59
May 4, 2004
LEGENDARY rugby league journalist Peter Frilingos, 59, died of a heart attack at his desk at The Daily Telegraph yesterday afternoon.
His death came in the week he was to celebrate 40 years covering the sport he loved.
Tributes to Frilingos flowed in from rugby league stars and from John Hartigan, chief executive of News Limited, publisher of The Daily Telegraph and The Australian.
"He was one of the greatest sports writers this country has produced, a master writer of rugby league," Mr Hartigan said. "Although celebrating his 40th anniversary as a league writer, he retained the infectious enthusiasm of a person on the first day of the job.
"Legend is a word that is often overused, but that is what he was.
"Rugby league was his passion, but his great love was his wife and family. Our thoughts are with them."
Campbell Reid, editor of The Daily Telegraph, said: "More than any other person, Peter was the heart and soul of The Daily Telegraph and of rugby league. And more than any other person, we considered him bulletproof.
"In the last couple of days, we had celebrated with Peter an unbelievable career as this city's leading rugby league writer, a job he performed with unsurpassed passion and professionalism. He said to me last week that 'The day I don't want to watch a football game is the day I stop' - but that day had not arrived yet."
Frilingos - known affectionately as Chippy because of his Greek background - started on the Daily Mirror as a copy boy in February 1962. Radio presenter Ray Hadley, who worked with Frilingos on 2GB's Continuous Call, said: "Chippy was my mentor. He took me under his wings. He helped mould my career.
"Rugby league was a passion for him, but his greatest love was his family.
"The greatest piece of advice he ever gave me was that your family comes first, second and third." National Rugby League chief executive David Gallop said: "Rugby league won't be the same without Chippy. He was one of the most dedicated men to his profession that you could imagine.
"He was part of the game for four decades and his death represents an enormous loss. I offer his family the deepest sympathy from everyone in rugby league."
He is survived by his wife Maureen and children Matt, Anna and Alison.
The Australian
May 4, 2004
LEGENDARY rugby league journalist Peter Frilingos, 59, died of a heart attack at his desk at The Daily Telegraph yesterday afternoon.
His death came in the week he was to celebrate 40 years covering the sport he loved.
Tributes to Frilingos flowed in from rugby league stars and from John Hartigan, chief executive of News Limited, publisher of The Daily Telegraph and The Australian.
"He was one of the greatest sports writers this country has produced, a master writer of rugby league," Mr Hartigan said. "Although celebrating his 40th anniversary as a league writer, he retained the infectious enthusiasm of a person on the first day of the job.
"Legend is a word that is often overused, but that is what he was.
"Rugby league was his passion, but his great love was his wife and family. Our thoughts are with them."
Campbell Reid, editor of The Daily Telegraph, said: "More than any other person, Peter was the heart and soul of The Daily Telegraph and of rugby league. And more than any other person, we considered him bulletproof.
"In the last couple of days, we had celebrated with Peter an unbelievable career as this city's leading rugby league writer, a job he performed with unsurpassed passion and professionalism. He said to me last week that 'The day I don't want to watch a football game is the day I stop' - but that day had not arrived yet."
Frilingos - known affectionately as Chippy because of his Greek background - started on the Daily Mirror as a copy boy in February 1962. Radio presenter Ray Hadley, who worked with Frilingos on 2GB's Continuous Call, said: "Chippy was my mentor. He took me under his wings. He helped mould my career.
"Rugby league was a passion for him, but his greatest love was his family.
"The greatest piece of advice he ever gave me was that your family comes first, second and third." National Rugby League chief executive David Gallop said: "Rugby league won't be the same without Chippy. He was one of the most dedicated men to his profession that you could imagine.
"He was part of the game for four decades and his death represents an enormous loss. I offer his family the deepest sympathy from everyone in rugby league."
He is survived by his wife Maureen and children Matt, Anna and Alison.
The Australian