The Mole: Roosters rocked with 'favourite son' Johnny Mayes having 'weeks to live'
The Sydney Roosters have been rocked by the news one of their favourite sons has a brain tumour and has only weeks to live.
Johnny Mayes, 78, was a key member of Jack Gibson's mighty Roosters side that won back-to-back titles in 1974-75.
A local junior, he spent a year at Manly in 1973 – also winning a premiership there – before returning home the following year.
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Eastern Suburbs' Johnny Mayes in the action against Newtown at Redfern in the Wills Cup. March 7, 1974. Fairfax Media
The talented halfback played for Australia in the 1975 World Cup.
"It's a big shock to the family – dad had an MRI last week and it showed a very aggressive brain tumour," son Glen told Wide World of Sports.
"The doctors tell us his time is limited. Maybe a few weeks … if we are lucky a couple of months.
"They tried steroids to slow it, but they didn't work. The only fortunate thing is that he is in no pain.
"He has paralysis down the left side of body and is also suffering from dementia.
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Johnny Mayes in the 1971 Easts side. Fairfax Media
"All we can do is try to make the most of the time he has left.
"He is currently in hospital – we celebrated his 78th birthday there this week – but may move to palliative care.
"A lot of his old teammates have called and he has four kids and six grandkids so there is a lot of love there."
Mayes led a tough life. He quit school at 14 after his father died, and stopped playing football to work full time to support the family.
He was able to return to the game several years later and after his professional retirement at 30, moved up the NSW coast to Evans Head, where he was a much loved member of local community for over 45 years.
