Harry Flegg

Easts’ captain and prop in the inaugural premiership final in 1908 retired the following year and became the most powerful (and single-minded) administrator in the code. Lancashire-born, in 1878, Flegg migrated to Australia and played RU for Easts and NSW before being a prime mover in the formation of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club. Flegg, who received his nickname after a chance meeting with NSW Governor Lord Jersey, was elected Easts' first captain, delegate to the NSWRL and club secretary. In 1909 he became a NSW and Australian selector and was later elected the fifth President of the NSWRL (1929-60) and Chairman of the Australian Board of Control (1941-60). He still held those positions upon his death at age 82 in 1960 - half a century after joining the band of rebels who formed the professional football code. In 1955 he was made a life member of both the English and French RL.