Farewell, Tommy: Footy greats say goodbye to larrikin legend Raudonikis at packed service before fans are expected to come together for his memorial next week at the SCG where he etched his name in history
- Raudonikis passed away at Gold Coast University Hospital aged 70 last week
- Outpouring of emotion for the rough and tumble halfback followed his death
- Raudonikis was first diagnosed with cancer way back in 1986
- Boy reinvented the halfback position in league with uncompromising style
A who’s who of rugby league names bid the game’s biggest character, Tommy Raudonikis, a fond farewell at his funeral on the Gold Coast on Friday.
Raudonikis passed away at Gold Coast University Hospital aged 70 last week, after numerous battles with cancer.
An outpouring of emotion for the rough and tumble halfback followed his death, with a minute’s silence observed in his honour at every NRL game last weekend.
A resident of Paradise Point on the Gold Coast for many years, Raudonikis’ funeral at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Clear Island Waters was attended by NRL Chairman Peter V’landys and CEO Andrew Abdo.
His wife Trish Brown and his children Lincoln and Corryn sat at the front.
A who’s who of rugby league names bid the game’s biggest character, Tommy Raudonikis, a fond farewell at his funeral on the Gold Coast on Friday
Raudonikis passed away at Gold Coast University Hospital aged 70 last week, after numerous battles with cancer
Raudonikis was first diagnosed with cancer way back in 1986. For a while there, Tommy appeared indestructible as he battled testicular cancer, underwent a quadruple bypass, and later fought against throat and neck cancer.
The tough little boy from Cowra reinvented the halfback position in league with his uncompromising style, running and tackling like a large forward despite his small stature.
He played 239 first-grade games for Western Suburbs and Newtown, 29 Tests for Australia and 24 games for NSW, including captaining the Blues in the inaugural State of Origin game in 1980.
Raudonikis’ larrikin reputation was built on his gamesmanship. He was not above using tactics long since outlawed from the game in order to get under his opponents’ skin.
Raudonikis was first diagnosed with cancer way back in 1986. For a while there, Tommy appeared indestructible as he battled testicular cancer, underwent a quadruple bypass, and later fought against throat and neck cancer
This attitude was typified during his stint as coach of NSW in 1997 and 1998, when he introduced the infamous ‘cattledog’ call: a trigger for NSW forwards to start a brawl with their Queensland opponents in order to unsettle them.
The son of migrants, raised in a transit camp, Raudonikis experienced family tragedy later in life. His 15-year-old grandson Jake Kedzlie was killed during a rugby league match at Toormina, near Coffs Harbour, in 2013. In 2017, Raudonikis’ son Simon died of cancer aged 41.
Raudonikis will be honoured with a public memorial at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, April 19, after suggestions he would be granted a state funeral in NSW by the government were rejected.
