Peter Frilingos

[Redback71]

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

 

[eelsta]

we will miss him

 

[soleilbleu]

I was so sad to hear this.

Rest well, Chippy.

 

[Twizzle]

R I P Chippy

 

[parra_princess]

I am deeply saddened by the loss of Peter Frilingos. He was without a doubt in my mind the most credible journalist working for News Ltd covering Rugby League. Not only that Frilingos used to be happy to discuss issues and Rugby League with fans, I often e-mailed him a few times and I got good responses. RIP Chippy.

 

[parra pete]

Peter Frilingos was my friend. RIP Chippy.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

If it wasnt for him and Jack Gibson we wouldnt be called the Parramatta Eels. We will miss you Chipster.

 

[parra pete]

Influential pressman dies at his desk
By Peter FitzSimons
May 4, 2004

Page Tools
Email to a friend Printer format
Peter "Chippy" Frilingos, an institution of rugby league journalism, died of a heart attack yesterday. He was 59 years old.

At the Fox Sports studios in Pyrmont yesterday afternoon, Peter, Mike Gibson, Billy Birmingham and myself had taped a special edition of a sports chat show called The Back Page, celebrating Chippy's 40 years covering the game.

In the course of it, Peter named the biggest league story he had covered, the most impressive player he had seen, the best grand final and so on. He was as relaxed as I have seen him, as effervescent as ever and typically quick-witted.

Though he didn't say it, he evinced some pride - and rightfully so - at how long he had lasted in an oft cutthroat profession, and how high he had risen. He was one of the most influential league journalists in the game and was an enormous presence on radio, pay TV and in the News Ltd papers.

After leaving the studios yesterday afternoon, he went back to the offices of The Daily Telegraph in Surry Hills where he collapsed about 5.30pm while on the phone to NRL chief executive David Gallop. Colleagues unsuccessfully tried to revive him and although he was rushed to hospital he was shortly afterwards pronounced dead.

Advertisement

Advertisement
Among journalists, Peter Frilingos was known as an extraordinarily hard-working man, who was across everything, knew everyone and had an enormous knowledge of and passion for the game. No piece of intrigue, scandal or gossip could last long in league before Peter knew all about it, and he was as often as not breaking the story the next day.

In the sometimes shifting sands of rugby league alliances, Peter was always very loyal to his own camp and loved the parry and thrust between camps. With him, however, it was rarely personal. He and I had many heated stoushes over the past seven years on the show, over a variety of issues, but the instant the show was over, so was his heat.

Away from league, an entirely different character emerged. He was a warm and entertaining dinner host, a very skilled fisherman and most particularly a singularly devoted family man. The Herald extends its deepest condolences to his wife, Maureen, and his three children.

One of his favourite phrases was "That'll do me!" which he used to indicate everything from disagreement to disbelief.

That'll do you, Chippy, a rugby league and family man to your very core. You were a one-off.

 

[Avenger]

A true icon as far as league is concerned.

 

[Phillips]

i liked him on the continues call team

 

[TheParraboy]

RIP Chippy