The Sydney Roosters have awarded 19 Life Memberships to the Club, which included 17 posthumous inductees, at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Held at Allianz Stadium on Thursday afternoon (February 20), Roosters Chairman Nick Politis AM was on hand to bestow Life Memberships to Johnny Mayes (Rooster number 586) and long-serving Club Administer, Brian Canavan.
17 posthumous life memberships were also presented to recipient's family members and loved ones following the AGM at the Sydney Roosters Season Launch.
Johnny Mayes was a local Roosters Junior, playing for Bondi United before going on to play ten seasons of grade with the Club between the years 1967 and 1977.
He played 211 grade games for the Club, just the fifth player to achieve the feat at the time, which included 110 first grade games.
He was a two-time premiership-winning half back at the Club (1974, 1975), and was the first player in rugby league history to win three successive premierships at multiple clubs.
He would score 55 tries in first grade, and was the game's leading try scorer in 1975.
Johnny Mayes went on to play three tests for Australia whilst playing at the Roosters.
Roosters Life Member John Quayle was on hand to present Johnny Mayes with his Life Membership. As former teammates, Mr Quayle had nothing but praise for the tough Rooster.
“What a wonderful career you had. To play over a hundred games back in those times, you were one of the first to achieve that.”
“He was a player in any team that you wanted to play with. Although he was small in stature, he had incredible stamina, ability and toughness. This is a very worthy award.”
Brian Canavan spent 18 years at the Roosters in various senior administrative roles.
Most notably, he was the Football Manager and then Head of Football Operations between the years 1994 and 2003, which included the 2002 Premiership and the successful 2003 World Club Challenge tour.
Brian would spend five seasons as CEO between 2003 and 2008, and would return as Chief Operations Officer of Football between 2012 and 2016, which saw the Club winning minor premierships in all three seasons, including the 2013 Premiership.
Brian also served on the Roosters Hall of Fame Committee 2023.
Roosters great Mitchell Aubusson presented Brian, affectionately known as 'BC', with his Life Membership, and spoke fondly about his dedication to nurturing young talent coming through the Club, which included players such as Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Pearce.
"It's no secret that success follows BC," Mitchell said.
"Thank you for everything you have done for our Club. We aren't the Roosters we are today without your legacy and your input."
For nearly 90 years, Roosters life membership was never granted to former players, upon retiring from playing, unless they served the Club in other roles.
Although this was corrected 30 years ago, the Club constitution did not allow for life membership to be awarded posthumously. Consequently, many of our greatest players and greatest on-field servants have been overlooked for the great honour of life membership of the Football Club, until today.
With the change in constitution approved recently, the Club are now in the position to finally recognise so many more of our Club greats. As a Club, we cannot be more delighted to, at last, grant them the ultimate reward for Club service.
Dan Frawley (First Grade Playing Years 1908 – 1915)
Life Member No. 90
- NRL Hall of Fame Inductee
- Two-time Roosters premiership winger
- First Rooster to score 50 first grade tries
Larry ‘Jersey’ O’Malley (First Grade Playing Years 1908 – 1914)
Life Member No. 91
- Second Rooster to captain Australia
- Three-time Roosters premiership forward
- Played in both the Roosters and NSW interstate first ever teams
Sandy Pearce (First Grade Playing Years 1908 – 1921)
Life Member No. 92
- NRL and Roosters Hall of Fame Inductee
- Three-time Roosters premiership forward
- First Rooster to play 100 first grade games
Dally Messenger (First Grade Playing Years 1908 and 1910 - 1913)
Life Member No. 93
- Rugby League Immortal
- NRL and Roosters Hall of Fame Inductee
- Three-time Roosters premiership captain
Bob ‘Botsy’ Williams (First Grade Playing Years 1910 – 1918 and 1920)
Life Member No. 94
- Two-time Roosters premiership forward
- Ten seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Second Rooster to play 100 first grade games
Arthur’ Pony’ Halloway (First Grade Playing Years 1912 – 1914; First Grade Coaching Years 1930 – 1931, 1933 – 1938, 1945 and 1947)
Life Member No. 95
- NRL and Roosters Hall of Fame Inductee
- Two-time Roosters premiership half back
- Four-time Roosters premiership coach
Jack ‘Bluey’ Watkins (First Grade Playing Years 1913 – 1916, 1919 – 1924 and 1926; First Grade Coaching Year 1926)
Life Member No. 96
- Two-time Roosters premiership forward
- Eleven seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Fifth Rooster to play 100 first grade games
Les Cubitt (First Grade Playing Years 1913 – 1922)
Life Member No. 97
- NRL Hall of Fame Inductee
- 1913 Roosters premiership five eighth
- Ten seasons of first grade at the Roosters
Harry Caples (First Grade Playing Years 1916 – 1923 and 1929; First Grade Coaching Year 1929)
Life Member No. 98
- 1923 Roosters premiership captain
- Nine seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Fourth Rooster to play 100 first grade games
Max Nixon (First Grade Playing Years 1931 – 1938)
Life Member No. 99
- 1935 Roosters premiership forward
- Eight seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Eighth Rooster to play 100 first grade games
Viv Thicknesse (First Grade Playing Years 1932 – 1937)
Life Member No. 100
- NRL Hall of Fame Inductee
- Two-time Roosters premiership captain
- Three-time Roosters premiership half back
Andy Norval (First Grade Playing Years 1934 – 1941)
Life Member No. 101
- NRL Hall of Fame Inductee
- Four-time Roosters premiership lock
- Thirteenth Rooster to play 100 first grade games
Rod O’Loan (First Grade Playing Years 1935 – 1941)
Life Member No. 102
- Four-time Roosters premiership winger
- Scored a record seven tries in a premiership match
- Retired as the Roosters third highest try scorer
Jack Arnold (First Grade Playing Years 1938 – 1949)
Life Member No. 103
- 1945 Roosters premiership prop
- Twelve seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Fifteenth Rooster to play 100 first grade games
Terry Fearnley (First Grade Playing Years 1954 – 1955 and 1957 – 1964; First Grade Coaching Year 1961)
Life Member No. 104
- Ten seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Retired as the fourth most capped Rooster
- Retired with the second most matches as Roosters captain
Ron Saddler (First Grade Playing Years 1963 – 1971)
Life Member No. 105
- Two-time Roosters Player of the Year
- Eight seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Fourth Rooster to captain NSW
Des O’Reilly (First Grade Playing Years 1975 – 1981)
Life Member No. 106
- 1975 Roosters premiership forward
- Eight seasons of first grade at the Roosters
- Eighth Rooster to play 200 grade games
You can see the current Rooster Life Member list HERE
