Rugby league is in mourning following the death of Leeds Rhinos legend Syd Hynes, who died overnight, aged 80.
Hynes was a member of the last Great Britain team to win the Ashes, in Australia in 1970. He coached Leeds from 1975 to 1981, guiding them to seven finals with a 100 per cent winning record, including back-to-back Wembley triumphs in 1977 and 1978.
As a player, he featured 366 times for his only club, mainly as a centre, scoring 843 points from 158 tries and 188 goals.
He won every available honour, including the Challenge Cup, Championship and Premiership and represented Yorkshire, England and Great Britain.
The most famous incident of his career came in 1971 when he was controversially sent-off following a clash with another rugby league legend, Leigh’s Alex Murphy, in the Cup final at Wembley.
He lived his final years in Australia, but returned to Leeds several times and kept in close touch with the club, where he was a Hall of Fame member.
Hynes, who had been ill for some time and died in hospital in Australia, was the coach who signed current Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington as a player in 1978.
“It is a sad day for the club,” Hetherington said. “We have lost a legendary player and a legendary coach as well and someone who served the club with great distinction.
“Not only the club, but Great Britain as well; he was a member of the last team to go to Australia and win the Ashes.
“He loved his time whenever he came back here. He was so fond of the club and the players, people like David Ward, Roy Dickinson, Graham Eccles, all those who played with him and under him.
“He was a one-club man and his record as a player and coach was remarkable.”
