Greg Newham's legacy goes beyond a game of rugby. It's the bus trips, the pub crawls, the hours he spent pulling teams together. It's his kids running across the field in Nicholls and moments spent roaring a team song louder than anyone else in the room.
"Singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' suited him perfectly," a Gungahlin Eagles tribute said.
The Eagles are mourning the loss of a beloved clubman after Newham lost his battle with a rare brain cancer earlier this week.
Newham had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumour, after more than a year of tests and uncertainty following the sudden onset of multiple seizures.
The Eagles are likely to pay tribute to the father of two ahead of their John I Dent Cup clash against the Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park on Saturday.
Tributes started flowing on social media, with rival coaches, long-time teammates and the competition sharing their heartbreak.
"Greg was a true standout, and I had the privilege of working alongside him for many years within the Eagles coaching crew," said former Eagles first-grade coach Dan Atkins.
"He helped establish the inaugural Bald Eagles team, and his drive and dedication were a big part of getting the Bald Eagles started and keeping it going.
"I still remember many conversations with Greg about how players from 1st grade and other grades would want to play a game with the Baldies squad.
"We would find out the boys wanting to be either dropped into the Baldies or play there before playing in their selected team, because the Baldies team had such a fun, no-stress culture. It was the kind of environment Greg and the team genuinely created and looked after.
"Greg was a wonderful clubman, dedicated, committed, and always putting the culture and people first. He will be deeply missed. My condolences to Bec, his kids, and his entire family."
But Newham's reach goes beyond the confines of Nicholls Enclosed Oval. The Hall Bushrangers used their charity round to support the Newham family earlier this month, and when you speak to those who knew him, you start to understand why so many have rallied around the beloved clubman during his battle.
One of his work colleagues posted: "Boy was I lucky to have been sat next to Greg in the office, I got to hear all about your life achievements and hear about those who he loved dearly so much that it feels like I know them too.
"I only look back at that time with fond memories and I'll miss bumping into you in the office sparking the conversations like time hadn't moved passed us.
"Like many others have mentioned my last message with him was a genuine check-in on my life, whilst going through all he was going through. Always finding time and space for others was one of his greatest qualities and why he'll be missed by a person who only just met him to one known for year.
"Such a tragic loss, rest in peace mate."
Even a referee joined in. "Greg, was a pleasure to referee he challenged respectfully (accepted he was wrong grudgingly) and was funny as hell," one wrote on Facebook.
"He held himself and others to the highest level and loved his club and mates!! The World is a sadder place without him Vale Greg!"
And the shattering news is still reverberating around the Eagles club rooms.
"We all knew Greg as a devoted husband to Bec and a caring father to Riley and Harper. Our deepest condolences, love and support are with them, and with Greg's family and close friends, at this incredibly difficult time," an Eagles tribute said.
"Greg played an incredible 169 games for the Eagles between 2014 and 2023, but it wasn't the number of games he played that made him so special to our club. He had a rare ability to bring people together and wanted others to experience and enjoy rugby at the Eagles as much as he did.
"His legacy at the Eagles will be how deeply he cared for his mates, and how many people fell in love with this club because of his passion.
"So many of our current third and fourth grade clubmen trace their journey back to the Bald Eagles side [which played in the South Coast Monaro competition] from 2017 onwards, where Greg put his hand up to initiate, manage, coach, support, drive and fill whatever role was needed to keep the team going and ensure those players had the opportunity to enjoy their footy. Which of course, they absolutely did.
"It was never an easy task, but Greg wasn't interested in any other option. For years, alongside the incredible support of Bec and others within the club, he spent countless hours during the week organising the team, then gave just as much of himself on game day. He was fiercely competitive on the field, great fun afterwards, and constantly working to keep the players connected and the team alive.
"Not long after the Bald Eagles folded back into fourth grade, we found ourselves looking back on those years with enormous appreciation, realising just how special they had been. The mateship that was forged, the bus trips, the pub crawls and the fiercely contested matches created memories that will stay with so many of us forever. There is no doubt Greg's contribution to this club, and the impact he had on so many people, will be remembered for a very long time."
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Newham's family, with club officials asking the rugby community to dig deep, if they are able, to "support the family through an unimaginably difficult time".
