Heart attack kills former star half.
The rugby league community has been shocked by the death of former Queensland State of Origin halfback Ross Henrick.
Henrick, 50, was a member of Norths' 1980 premiership team coached by Graham Lowe and played Origin in 1981, 1983 and 1984.
He later became a successful coach, talking Valleys to a hat-trick of Brisbane Premierships from 1988 and coaching Queensland Residents against NSW Metropolitan in 1991.
Henrick died from a heart attack on Sunday night, leaving wife Tina and two adult sons, Brett and Trent.
Former international Mark Murray, who played with and against Henrick, last night described the former light weight halfback as one of the game's most courageous competitors.
"He was a real terrier, always taking someone on," Murray said.
"Ross was a terrific little bloke, a 100 per cent competitor and a great clubman."
A Norths junior, Henrick transferred in 1978 to Redcliffe where he was understudy to Greg Oliphant and led the Dolphins to a reserve grade premiership.
He returned to Norths the following year and forged a halves combination with Murray that was a key factor in the Devils' upset grand final triumph over Souths in 1980.
After four seasons with Norths, he switched to Valleys in 1983 and had three years with the Diehards before hanging up his boots in 1985.
An astute tactician, Henrick quickly became a fine coach in the Brisbane competition, winning three successive premierships during four years with Valleys.
His funeral will be held tomorrow at 3pm at Lakeview Chapel, Albany Creek Crematorium.
