"The great ones have that, they can see that little kindle, the spark that grows into a bushfire," Wayne Bennett said.

"Someone would become a wonderful player because of what he could see. He could see that and you don't find a lot of those in the game, I can tell you."

It's part of the reason why Bennett hasn't made a major footballing decision over the past 30 without first consulting Massey. So too countless other league luminaries when in need of a sounding board or confidant. Many of them have paid their respects in recent weeks. It's said that Mick Cronin, perhaps the least demonstrative man in rugby league, whispered "I love you" during his bedside visit.

Massey will be forever remembered at Bondi Junction, and not just for his contribution to the club's 1974-75 premierships. Roosters CEO John Lee, on behalf of chairman Nick Politis and all at the Tri-colours, popped in to present a special cap. The keepsake is reserved only for those who have played at the Roosters but, given Massey's contribution, an exception was made. Others, not just those from the Eels, Roosters and Sharks where he plied his trade, have been filing in to pay their respects.

Massey was affectionately known as the bad cop in the dynamic duo that he formed with Jack Gibson. "Mass" was of the opinion that little things would manifest themselves in a big way. That if you didn't turn up to training on time and in the right headspace, you couldn't possibly do so come game day. And if you stepped out of line, he had his own inimitable way of telling you.

"He's a great communicator, great at telling you how it is," Bennett said.

"If he wanted to offend you, he could do that, don't worry. But he also knew how to get his message across in a straight and honest way while at the same time not destroying you. A funny man with a great sense of humour. He knew when to be serious and when to lighten up a bit.

"He tried to give me some advice on something one day and I didn't want to hear it, so I told him he was losing the plot.

"He never forgave me for that. Whenever we had a disagreement, he said he wouldn't know anyway because he was losing the plot.

"If he could see you were a bit vulnerable somewhere he could use it to his advantage. He could challenge you a bit and he had this great knack for picking that moment."

Up until recently, Massey's mind was as sharp as ever. He was always a superb mathematician, the type who could instantly readjust a market for a bookmaker following a flurry, well before the advent of calculators.

The 86-year-old was also good at working out people. Anyone can spot a superstar, but Massey had that rare knack of seeing beauty in the worker bees that made the superstar look good. Of all the great players he worked with, he held the deepest affection for Gavin Miller.

Ricky Stuart fell in love with Massey during his time at Cronulla and has sought his counsel ever since. When Bennett won the last of his seven premierships, Massey was in his coaching box. After bad losses, Massey could feel Bennett's pain and was hesitant to call.

"When we went through that last bad patch at the Broncos," Bennett recalled, "he said, 'coach, I don't know how to help you out, but I know you'll get them through'."