Wests Tigers will retire the No.7 jersey from all four grades this weekend in a touching tribute to former halfback Tommy Raudonikis.
The larger-than-life ex-Wests and Newtown legend died at the age of 70 on Wednesday, causing an outpouring of grief in the rugby league community.
His beloved Wests will honour him by resting the No.7 jersey, with the halfback of each grade to lead their respective teams out of the tunnel at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
The No.7 jersey will then be placed on the first chair of the team’s bench for each grade – women’s, SG Ball, NSW Cup and NRL.
A minute’s silence will also be held before the Tigers’ NRL match against North Queensland.
A dedicated Tommy Raudonikis Memorial Round has also been planned for round nine when Wests Tigers host Gold Coast at Campbelltown Stadium.
Tributes have flown in from former teammates, ex-players and those who admired Raudonikis’s worth ethic, toughness and character.
However, Canberra coach and former Australia and NSW halfback Ricky Stuart said on Thursday it’s important to remember Raudonikis as an exceptional player too.
“Me and my brother had scrapbooks and on the front of my brother’s scrapbook was Arthur Beetson, and on the front of mine was Bob Fulton and Tom Raudonikis,” he said.
“I looked up to both people as role models in the way they played.
“As a young boy I studied those types of people and you take traits away from people who you wanted to model your game on.
“I loved his attitude towards winning, I loved his competitiveness.
“I loved that he loved a beer with his mates after a game, and we’re hearing a lot about those stories but I don’t want it to overshadow what a great player he was either.”
Veteran commentator Phil Gould, who played with Raudonikis at Newtown in the early 1980s, described the beloved halfback as “one of a kind”.
“There will never be another like him,” Gould wrote.
“Tom came through a very tough and violent period in rugby league, during the 60’s and 70’s. To say he was very much at home during this era, would be a massive understatement.
“Tommy was a talented half back. He was a fierce competitor, who never took a backward step. He feared no one.
“Newtown benefactor John Singleton brought Tommy to the Newtown Jets ‘to teach everyone how to win’. Well, Tommy did that, and so much more.
“Tommy was someone you never wanted to let down. If he asked you to do something, or told you to do something, you just did it, without question. He built boys into men. He built confidence and self belief into his teammates.
“Everyone who knew Tommy, loved him. More importantly, Tommy made everyone he met, feel loved. It didn’t matter if it was a punter in the pub wanting two minutes of Tommy’s time, or the Prime Minister of Australia. Tommy treated them all just the same.
“Tom never forgot anyone. He made everyone around the club, and I mean everyone, feel special. He made you feel as though he was your mate.
“So many people will be saddened by the news of his passing. We will all have our own special memories of being with Tommy. That’s what he gave to everyone he met. A special memory.”
– with 7NEWS