NRL
League legend Jack Gibson dies
May 09, 2008 07:45pm

JACK Gibson, rugby league's original supercoach, has passed away tonight - just hours before the Centenary Test.
Gibson was last month named the coach of Australian Rugby League's Team of the century. His wife Judy tonight informed the National Rugby League of his passing.

A statement was being prepared, NRL spokesman John Brady said.

Judy Gibson tonight issued a statement on behalf of the Gibson family, in which she said he had passed away surrounded by his family.

"We are dealing as well as we can and would ask that Jack’s many friends in their sadness that he is no longer with us, do not feel too sorry," the statement read.

"Jack would not want that; it was his own strong belief and appreciation that he had had a very fortunate life, and we know he would have wanted that to be the spirit of this time."


Her full statement read:

"Jack passed away comfortably today, at 6.32pm at the Garawarra Centre, Waterfall, surrounded by his family. We greatly appreciate the wonderful care he had received at Garrawarra, and also the caring and kind support afforded to us, the family. We are dealing as well as we can and would ask that Jack’s many friends in their sadness that he is no longer with us, do not feel too sorry. Jack would not want that; it was his own strong belief and appreciation that he had had a very fortunate life, and we know he would have wanted that to be the spirit of this time. "