This week we lead our newsletter with 2 obituaries for Gerald Ryan, a man that I had a lot of respect for, and who made a major contribution to the great game of rugby league. He did everything from being chair of the Auckland Rugby League and New Zealand Rugby League, had a keen interest in the Vodafone Warriors, and you can throw in University rugby league too, as just some of the involvement he had. Please take the time to read his obituary. It was pretty sad to hear this week too that Olympic Silver medallist Dick Quax, who was also an Auckland City Councillor, had died after a long battle with cancer. Dick was quite a character and it was very common to see him climbing the stairs of the West Stand to take his spot to cheer on the Warriors. To be fair, some people thought he was a cocky sort of a bloke, including my mate Dick Tayler, himself a Commonwealth Gold medallist, but that was just Dick's way. He believed in himself and that belief and hard work took him to the top. Meanwhile we may have lost our game on Saturday night but you would not of thought so in the lounge, which was rocking, and we had people from all over New Zealand, and even a few Aussies as our guests. I can guarantee the Vodafone Warriors will not get beat this weekend because we have the bye. And well done to the NZRL for making two good appointments, with the new coach for the Kiwis being former Souths leader Michael Maguire, and the new CEO Greg Peters, who earned his stripes with the Hurricanes and who is certainly no mug. It gives me a lot of confidence going forward. And congratulations too, to the Auckland Rugby League for organising the game this Saturday night between Auckland and Tonga NZ residents, following on from the great success Tonga had at the Rugby League World Cup. Sir Peter Charles Leitch KNZM QSM