THE late Tommy Cain, a highly-respected Moree elder and icon, has been recognised in State parliament by Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan.

“I recognise the many achievements of the late Thomas Edward Cain, better-known as Tommy or ‘Killer’ Cain, who passed away recently at age 82,” Mr Moylan told parliament.

“He was a tough football player, a talented cyclist and hardworking, devoted family man.”

Killer passed away on October 18 after a short illness. He left a lasting legacy in Moree, especially on Taylor Oval as a rugby league player and referee.

“Killer had a tremendous influence on the rugby league community in Moree, in particular the Moree Boars team over many years,” Mr Moylan said.

“Killer took to refereeing in 1980 because league was struggling to sign on referees. He ran up and down rugby league fields each weekend for the next 35 seasons, hanging up the ref’s badge in 2014 at age 71 – only due to illness.”

The late Killer Cain in his playing days for Moree.

Killer Cain was a tough and talented rugby league player in his day and a champion cyclist for 20 years.

He was a wealth of knowledge, especially about rugby league, and could fill a room with laughter when telling his many refereeing anecdotes.

Legend has it, when Killer refereed out in the western backblocks, the president of the Brewarrina Rugby League Club would hurriedly escort Killer off the oval as soon as the final whistle blew and lock the gates behind him.

“I needed a head start so the crowd couldn’t chase me out of town,” he once said, with that trademark wink and smile firmly in place.

“I commend the late Killer Cain on his significant enduring career as a rugby league referee and for his massive contribution to rugby league in Moree,” Mr Moylan said.

“As Moree Boars president, Todd Mitchell, said: ‘Killer was a real character, who loved life and treated everyone equal. He had a huge influence on rugby league in Moree, as a player and as a referee. He was a great man.’

“Through loss, there is a wonderful legacy left by Killer to the township of Moree,” Mr Moylan said.