Peter Frilingos, Ray Warren and JJ Giltinan inducted into Rugby League Hall of Fame

The Daily Telegraph’s own Peter “Chippy” Frilingos, legendary commentator Ray Warren and rugby league pioneer JJ Giltinan well be welcomed into rugby league’s Hall of Fame.

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Legendary News Limited journalist Peter ‘Chippy’ Frilingos will be formally inducted into the NRL’s prestigious Hall of Fame on Wednesday night.

Frilingos, former chief rugby league writer for The Daily Mirror, Telegraph Mirror and The Daily Telegraph, joins broadcast icon Ray ‘Rabbits’ Warren and famous administrator James Joseph (JJ) Giltinan as inaugural contributors to feature in the Hall of Fame.

A selection panel including Immortals Bob Fulton and Mal Meninga selected the inductees from three shortlists announced last week.

Frilingos was a giant in rugby league reporting having covered four Kangaroo tours.

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Warren is one of the game’s greatest ever callers. Picture by Gregg Porteous.

Fiercely competitive and highly respected, Frilingos was also part of the ratings-winning Continuous Call program, headed by Ray Hadley, on radio station, 2GB.

Frilingos, who died while working at his desk at The Daily Telegraph in 2004, covered 40 successive grand finals. He started as a cadet journalist with The Daily Mirror in 1962 before joining the sporting staff in 1964.

Warren, an icon known as the voice of rugby league, has been head commentator for Channel 9 since 1992.

He has already been honoured with an Order of Australia Medal and been inducted into the Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Honour.

Frilingos was a staple at The Daily Telegraph.

Giltinan was one of rugby league’s founding administrators, his name given to the traditional minor premiership shield. He organised and underwrote the first Kangaroo tour of England in 1908-09.

Frilingos, Warren and Giltinan will be officially named at a celebration dinner in Eveleigh on Wednesday evening.

“This is a very special induction – the first members of the class who are contributors,” said NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg.

“That speaks for the calibre of not only the nominations but obviously those who were chosen. They will always be the first of our contributors to be inducted.

Giltinan was crucial in poaching Dally Messenger from rugby union.

“Without them, the game would look, feel and sound very different. Each of them had extraordinary influence on the game.”

Senior manager of NRL Awards, Frank Puletua, said the addition of Frilingos, Warren and Giltinan enhanced the Hall of Fame.

“There has been such a positive response to our contributors being inducted and no doubt that will continue with our first referees and coaches next year,” Puletua said. “This component will continue and be celebrated well into the future.”

Originally published as Peter Frilingos, Ray Warren and JJ Giltinan inducted into Rugby League Hall of Fame