The NRL has been rocked by the tragic loss of a South Sydney Rabbitohs player and premiership winner, who died at the age of 31.
The National Rugby League and the South Sydney Rabbitohs are mourning the loss of a grand finalist who died unexpectedly this week.
Kyle Turner died at the age of 31 in his hometown of Coonabarabran, following a spectacular NRL career.
The country rugby league footballer rose to prominence after appearing in the Rabbitohs’ 2014 grand final victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
The Rabbitohs will wear black armbands against the Knights tomorrow, and his number 15 jersey will be retired and honored on the interchange bench during this week’s game.
Mr Turner will be remembered warmly by everyone associated with the Rabbitohs, according to Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly.
‘Kyle was a fantastic human being,’ added Mr Solly.
He was the epitome of the country boy Rugby League player. He was a tough, unyielding player on the field, but a charming, generous man off it.’
Kyle Turner, the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ grand final champion, has died at the age of 31, leaving the football world in sadness.
Turner, who can play on the edge or in the center at lock, appeared in 91 first-grade games for the Rabbitohs between 2014 and 2019.
He came off the bench in the side’s record-breaking 2014 grand final victory, capping up a 24-game rookie season.
South Sydney teammate George Burgess was left shattered by the news and posted: ‘I’m flabbergasted at this news, how we do we save each others lives? Can we even do it? This breaks my heart so deeply.’
‘Kyle has a massive legacy in the football community … a lot of juniors admired him, looked up to him,’ a Coonabarabran Rugby League spokesman said through tears as the local team held a moment’s silence in tribute to their fallen teammate on Saturday.
‘He was such a role model for not only them but on behalf of the club. Kyle will be sorely missed and we think of his family today.’
Injury ended the young NRL star’s football career, and he returned to his hometown of Coonabarabran to play local rugby league and begin his teaching career.
