Tributes flow for 'raw and rugged' Pilecki

Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 12:05 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Tony Shaw and Stan Pilecki celebrate a Wallabies win. Photo: Supplied
Tony Shaw and Stan Pilecki celebrate a Wallabies win. Photo: Supplied

Tributes have poured in for Stan Pilecki, who passed away in his Brisbane home on Wednesday.

Pilecki has been remembered as one of the most colourful characters the game has seen, with stories from throughout his career flooding social media in the wake of his death.

One such story was highlighted by former Wallaby and prominent media figure Peter FitzSimons.

Fitzimons recalled the moment Pilecki scored his first try for Queensland in 1984 - having made his debut nine years earlier - only to declare "Anyone can have a bad decade."

A famous photo of Pilecki smoking a cigar with a cigarette in his other hand, arm draped over Tony Shaw in celebration, also appeared on Wednesday afternoon.

Hundreds of Queensland rugby fans have also paid tribute to Pilecki, each in their own unique way.



Of all the tributes, former Wallaby Drew Mitchell summed up the proud Queenslander best in just a handful of words.

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