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Les Hayes

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Born
Monday, 5th April, 1943
Died
Tuesday, 9th June, 2026 (Aged 83 years and 65 days)

Competitions Won

NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1974, 1975
Preseason Cup
1974
Midweek Cup
1975

Biography

Les a Roosters life member, Les played 232 grade games for the Club between 1965 and 1975, including 57 in first grade, and a club record 148 in reserve grade, a record that is likely never to be beaten. He captained the Roosters Reserve Grade team for most of the first half of the 1970s, including the 1974 Reserve Grade Grand Final team, and was a member of the wider first grade squad that won the 1974 and 1975 premierships.

Hayes, brought up in Paddington, was graded at the Roosters in 1965 from the Bondi United club, and was a regular first grader through most of the 1968 and 1969 seasons but lost his spot in the Roosters backline late in the 1969 season and only appeared sparingly in first grade after that. At centre and five eighth through the early 70s, the Roosters had John Brass, Mark Harris and John Peard together with Harry Cameron, Ron Saddler and John Ballesty in their ranks, relegating Hayes to a regular spot in reserve grade. He did, however, play first grade in every season between 1966 and 1975, except 1972, but didn’t play more than six first grade games in a season after 1969.

However, he was an extraordinarily reliable back-up for those players and his influence through the Club was immense. It didn’t matter what grade Les was playing, the effort was always the same and his leadership and mentorship was admired by all throughout the Club. The Roosters didn’t introduce Clubman of the Year into their awards night until 1995. Had it been awarded during Les’ time at the Club he would have been a contender in each of his eleven seasons, and would have won many times. Les Hayes epitomises what it was to be a Rooster. There may never be another like him.

- ALAN KATZMANN

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 2 42 15 57 7-7 - - - - 21 - - - 29 25 3 50.88% List
NRL Finals - 1 1 2 --- - - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
Preseason Cup 1 3 6 9 --- - - - - - - - - 5 4 - 55.56% List
Midweek Cup 1 - 2 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  45 23 68 7-7 - - - - 21 - - - 36 29 3 52.94% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19661966 NSWRFL   3 - 3--- - - - - - - - - - 3 - 0.00% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19671967 NSWRFL   - 1 1--- - - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19681968 NSWRFL   15 1 166-6 - - - - 18 - - - 10 5 1 62.50% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19691969 NSWRFL   16 - 16--- - - - - - - - - 6 9 1 37.50% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19701970 NSWRFL   1 2 3--- - - - - - - - - 1 2 - 33.33% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19711971 NSWRFL   5 1 61-1 - - - - 3 - - - 2 3 1 33.33% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19731973 NSWRFL   - 4 4--- - - - - - - - - 2 2 - 50.00% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19741974 NSWRFL   2 4 6--- - - - - - - - - 6 - - 100.00% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19751975 NSWRFL   - 2 2--- - - - - - - - - 2 - - 100.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Eastern Suburbs 1966-71, 1973-75   42 15 57 7-7 - - - - 21 - - - 29 25 3 50.88% List

Your Say

  • Bob scott
    23 Oct 2012 5:39pm

    A terrific clubman put in week after week.Never took a backward step

  • steve gordon
    16 Aug 2013 9:24am

    les was a good pro boxer in his younger days.

  • flash gordon
    27 Aug 2013 8:12am

    les was a good preliminary boxer in his day.

  • Jason Hayes
    18 Mar 2015 9:14pm

    Dad made his under 23s debut in 1963, made his first grade debut in 1966 and retired from in 1975.

    He was a stalwart of the Roosters and even to this day, gets passionate about the red, white and blue!

    If anyone has any pictures or footage of Dad, please let me know.

  • Geoff Colivas
    15 May 2016 9:17pm

    Pound for pound one the most versatile players of his era.I used to love watching him go around.
    Cheers Les!!!!

  • Bob scott
    6 Sep 2016 3:29pm

    Great footballer in some sides that sometimes struggled. Always tackled around the bootlaces. A true gentleman on & off the field

  • JP Findlay
    17 Jun 2019 12:15pm

    Les was a terrific bloke, He, Ron Coote and families were close, Les broke his arm at a ABBA concert back in 1977

  • Jude
    25 Mar 2022 12:12pm

    Les coached me for a while at bondi united , great bloke, with a great sense of humour

  • Anonymous
    24 Sep 2022 1:18pm

    Les was a hero in the early 60s for myself & other team mates of the Bondi United JRLFC. He was a few years older than us & played with guile & courage through-out his whole football career. He was also a good boxer where he also displayed his courage and ability.
    Peter Seinor

  • Garry O'Donnell
    14 May 2023 11:55pm

    As a kid I spent a lot of time at the Sports Ground Les was one of my favourite players he always gave 100%
    Jack Gibson said Pound for pound Bunny Reilly and Les were as tough as anyone he coached.

  • Anonymous
    6 Dec 2024 12:16pm

    As a 10 year old, Les taught me to box at the Paddington Police Boys Club as he was a great friend of my father who was the treasuer of the Eastern Suburbs Junior League in the the 60's. He was a great rugby league player and stalwart

  • Anonymous
    8 Apr 2025 10:57pm

    I meet Les in the late 60's at East's and use to sit with him before he went into the sheds leading up to his game , a real good bloke well loved at the Roosters tough as teak ,great defender and no one would take him on in a fight .
    Last time I say Les was at the Rugby League Museum and I showed him around the exhibition
    We talked about the good old days at the Sports Ground and the mighty Easts

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Greg Fiveash, Alan Katzmann, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, AJ Lucantonio