sport news Aussie cricketers' VERY cheeky requests to Queen revealed as NRL boss recalls ... trends now

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Racing NSW boss and Australian Rugby League commission chair Peter V'landys has paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, recalling her 'mischievous' smile and wicked sense of humour at a dinner earlier this year.

The NRL is expected to hold a minute's silence prior to this weekend's finals fixtures with the AFL, football and cricket expected to follow suit as a mark of respect for the 96-year-old monarch.

V'landys, in his capacity as chief executive of Racing NSW, was seated next to the Queen for a dinner at Royal Ascot in June earlier this year.

The Queen was a racing enthusiast - her own horse Estimate won the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup - and V'landys gifted her a replica of The Everest trophy as thanks for the invitation.

'She asked why I didn't give her the original one and my response was, "The original has about 6,000 diamonds on it, that's more than you've got",' V'landys told AAP on Friday.

'The room stopped when she walked in, it was like we were looking at an angel.