Highly respected administrator and player Terry Quinn has had his last day at the NSWRL today after being involved in Rugby League for over 50 years.
Quinn played 62 games for the Panthers in the 1970’s and was a hard-running, aggressive attacking centre. He is listed as Panthers player number 110 in the foyer of Penrith Panthers Leagues Club.
Quinn played for Penrith in the 1974 Amco Cup final, one of the most famous games in Australian rugby league history and a game which turned out to be one of the greatest days for Country Rugby League following a 6-2 win to Western Division. He also played for Lakes United in the Newcastle competition.
Quinn went on to have a distinguished administrative career as Chief Executive of the West Australian Rugby League, boss of the Newcastle Rugby League and more recently Chief Executive of the Country Rugby League, a role he held since 2002.
He also served on the board of the New South Wales Rugby League and the board of the Australian Rugby League.
“I have had a wonderful life around Rugby League none better than the last 18 years with Country Rugby League and NSWRL,” Quinn said.
“I must say the game has been great to me.
“Not all has been smooth sailing but the good far outweigh the bad. Throughout that time, I have worked with wonderful people and forged strong relationships but more importantly formed strong friendships which I am sure will continue for many years to come.”
Quinn was also of the collaborators in the decision by the NSWRL and CRL to unite in October last year which has seen the game administered by a single governing body in New South Wales for the first time in 80 years.
“Quinny has made a massive contribution to our game in so many different capacities, but most notably as a distinguished first grade player and more recently as a senior administrator,” NSWRL Chief Executie David Trodden said.
“His greatest quality is the personal integrity with which he has approached everything he has done, always putting the interests of the game ahead of everything else. The game has been richer for his involvement in it and will be poorer for his retirement.”
NSWRL Board Member John ‘Choc’ Anderson said: “When Terry first came to Newcastle he did a fantastic job bringing about a level of professionalism which had never been experienced at Newcastle Rugby League before, especially in regards to representative football.”
“This professionalism showed through when we won the Country Championships on several occasions and he then worked a few days a week in Sydney while still maintaining his job at Newcastle but they must have seen the potential in him because when David Barnhill retired from Country Rugby League Terry got the job.
“It is a momentous yet sad day when you finish you career and I wish him all the best.”
