John Hayes was born in Marrickville and left school at 14 to pursue a career in panel beating and also as a professional rugby league footballer.
He played his junior rugby league with a number of clubs most notably Granville where he caught the attention of Western Suburbs.
In the following two years, Western Suburbs played against St George again in the grand final losing on both occasions with Hayes featuring in those matches.
The 1963 grand final is remembered for the wet and muddy conditions the players competed in and for the photograph of Norm Provan and Arthur Summons embracing at full time which later became an enduring image of rugby league.
There were also accusations that the referee had taken a bribe before the match and stood to earn 600 pounds if St George were to win but this allegation was never proven.