Vale: Ron Massey

Come Sunday, we celebrate a legend of a rugby league - the great Ron Massey - through the grand final of the NSWRL's Ron Massey Cup, to be played between Mounties and St Marys. However, the 2016 edition of the time-honoured competition will be touched with sadness come Sunday, following today's news of Massey's passing after a battle with cancer, aged 86.

Considered to be one of the game's greatest ever tacticians, Ron Massey was the star behind the scenes of two of Rugby Leagues greatest ever coaches, Jack Gibson and Wayne Bennett. Massey was the right hand man to Jack Gibson when he took control of Eastern Suburbs' golden years throughout the 1970's, with premierships in 1974 and 1975. Once 1980 struck, Gibson headed west to the Eels, and with Massey in tow he struck success yet again - winning three straight premierships from 1981 to 1983.

After decades alongside Gibson, he exchanged the clipboard for suit and tie in 1990, taking on the on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Cronulla-Sutherland for two seasons.

Massey was also a mentor and confidante to the man considered to be the second best coach in the game's history, Wayne Bennett. The Broncos' leader was not afraid to share that he relied on Ron for support and guidance at times, including having him in the coaches box when in charge at the Dragons during their 2010 premiership - the Red V's first in over thirty years.

Although health failed Massey late in his life, he was always a student of the game and proved to be more than just a coaching mentor - also becoming a player mentor. The career turn-around of Cronulla and New South Wales captain Paul Gallen is put down to the influence of initial harsh advice offered from Massey, and it turned 'Gal' into a leader amongst his teammates. According to the outgoing Blues skipper, Massey was the first person he spoke to after NSW won the 2014 State Of Origin series.

A moment's silence will be held this weekend at both NRL preliminary finals as a tribute to Massey.

"The greatest tribute I can give to Ron is that the game would not be what it is today without him," NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said today. "He was a pioneering figure and a visionary in many aspects.

"The game will certainly miss him but the legacy of what he contributed will be forever prominent."

No doubt Sunday's battle in the Ron Massey Cup grand final will be a hard fought one - and as fans of rugby league we hope that the day can recognise, and live up to the standards that the great man left for future generations of Rugby League players, fans and coaches.

Pictured above: the late Ron Massey on hand to help present the trophy bearing his name to The Entrance Tigers' captain Ryan O'Hara after the 2014 Ron Massey Cup Grand Final.