As with many proud Australians, news of Shane Warne’s death at 52 hit Michael Cheika like a ton of bricks.
“I cried,” the former Wallabies coach said on Nine and Stan Sport’s Super Rugby coverage on Saturday night.
“There’s icons in sport that can represent a nation, represent a sport.
READ MORE: Cummins’ powerful tribute to Warne
READ MORE: Ten of the best from Warne’s career
READ MORE: How ‘Warnie’ defined a generation
“I was a big fan of (late Brazilian motorsport icon) Ayrton Senna for example, even though I’d never met the guy. Shane Warne I met, he’d sent messages of support, a great supporter of Australian teams.
“But why I feel that attachment is because when his team needed him, he came and that’s what playing sport at that level is about.
“To lose a person like that, so young, is really, really sad.”
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Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui fondly remembered a 2005 net session at the SCG with Warne and the all-conquering Australian cricket team.
“A true sporting icon,” Turinui said.
“Everyone has a Warnie story, some are in the day, some of them are at night… I suppose this is a really good summation of Shane Warne.
“There’s a lot of stars in the room that day: (Wendell) Sailor, (George) Gregan, (Lote) Tuqiri, (Stephen) Larkham, all the big dogs including the Aussie cricket team.
“But Shane Warne, he was the sun, he cast the greatest shadow in there. Wendell Sailor tried to dance down the wicket to him, Warnie looked after him.
“Warnie liked his rugby, loved supporting Australian teams and it’s been a tough day for everyone. It’s amazing how much people have been affected.
“Shane Warne, the great sporting icon, the great sporting artist of our time.”
Wallabies greats Matt Giteau and David Campese were among the many rugby stars to pay tribute to the spin king on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/giteau_rugby/status/1499753504855904256?s=20&t=RDaXKhvgQAasN4vJKeKhcQhttps://twitter.com/Davidcampese11/status/1499858370177945600?s=20&t=RDaXKhvgQAasN4vJKeKhcQhttps://twitter.com/roblouw6/status/1499752657036132360?s=20&t=RDaXKhvgQAasN4vJKeKhcQhttps://twitter.com/dannycare/status/1499763852434722828?s=20&t=RDaXKhvgQAasN4vJKeKhcQ
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