Peter Frilingos: A Tribute

I can?t say I ever had a conversation with Peter Frilingos. But it feels like I knew him.

I?ve always been passionate about rugby league, and as many would know, worked as a full-time league journalist at a number of organisations before venturing down a different path of life. My only ?official? connection with the game remains through a column I write for a western Sydney newspaper and of course my contributions here.

Through what seems like a former life as a league journalist, I encountered Peter Frilingos on numerous occasions. But I didn?t know him, and he didn?t know me. In fact, he probably had no idea who I was. The term vice versa can?t be used here.

When I was a teenager, I can remember countless hours on a Saturday and Sunday listening to 2UE and comments being made by Peter Frilingos. He constantly amused me, and I earned an amazing respect for the man.

Of course, things change. Peter ended up at 2GB, and I started to grow up. Listening to the radio for 12 hours over a weekend simply started to become impossible. But whenever I can, to this day, I still tune in and listen to the weekend antics of what is essentially a bunch of mates having fun at the football.

I of course watched Peter each week on The Back Page ? where my respect for him grew immensely ? and I can?t even remember when I started buying The Daily Telegraph. All I know is that there was a time I only bought it to read the sports news, and hence what Peter Frilingos was writing.

These days, I still find myself turning to the back page to see the latest in league. It?s just I ultimately read the front of the paper, too.

I was down that other path last night, working at an entertainment event (I work as a publicist), and after a long night simply went home to sleep. I woke up this morning and quite ironically, found out the news of Peter?s death through The Daily Telegraph. For whatever reason, I felt shock and sadness. It was as though somebody I knew had passed away, and I couldn?t figure out why I was feeling this way. Then I realised it. This man had been part of my life for longer than most have known me. He?s entertained me, informed me and been a bit of a role model. And by that, I mean in a different way than most are recalling today. Quite simply, I have a belief that if you?re in something, you?re there for the long haul. Peter Frilingos put his all into everything he did and it showed.

There?s people out there today pulling out ?like him or hate him? lines, but there?s no need for that. The bottom line is that somebody who gave 40 years to the game of rugby league has passed away. He deserves to be remembered and paid tribute to in the highest possible of ways.

Well done Peter, and rest in peace.