WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of a person who has died.
South Sydney premiership-winner Kyle Turner has died at 31.
Capable of playing on an edge or in the middle at lock, Turner made 91 first-grade appearances for the Rabbitohs between 2014 and 2019.
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He started from the bench in the side’s drought-breaking 2014 grand final victory, the culmination of a rookie season that yielded 24 games.
He represented NSW Country in the last City vs Country fixture in 2017 and twice played for the Indigenous All Stars in 2015 and 2017.
Injury hampered Turner’s time in first-grade. He notably suffered a serious neck injury in the 2015 All Stars match that forced him to undergo disc replacement surgery.
But Turner remained a fan favourite at Redfern, receiving the Burrow Supporters Group Appreciation Award at the club’s awards night in 2016.
In 2019, he fell out of favour under the Rabbitohs’ new coach Wayne Bennett, who told him to look elsewhere for opportunities from 2020.
The young father returned to his hometown of Coonabarabran in northern NSW that same year, telling the Daily Telegraph at the time he was forced to make the move due to financial difficulties.
“We couldn’t save any money or keep any money, so we thought it was best to come back home to the bush and spend some time with the family,” he told the publication.
He began playing for local team the Coonabarabran Unicorns and became a schoolteacher.
“I’m just living at home and training by myself at least four times a week,” he said.
“I train at the local footy oval and I’ve also got a mate who has his own gym.
“It is more a waiting game and trying to stay fit enough because clubs are well and truly into their pre-season.”
The Unicorns will wear black armbands this weekend in tribute to Turner.
On Saturday morning the club’s Facebook page changed its logo to one with a black line running through it.
A moment of silence was also held for Turner on Saturday prior to the start of a semi-final game between the Unicorns and the Cobar Roosters.
In an emotional speech, club president Steve Walton said he first heard about the news at 6pm on Friday night.
“Kyle has a massive legacy in the football community,” he said.
“A lot of juniors admired him, look up at him, wanted to be like him. He was such a role model for not only them but us as a club, and all of our players.
“Kyle will be sorely missed.”
South Sydney have also paid tribute to Turner, remembering him as a “gentle giant with an infectious smile”.
“Kyle was an amazing human being,” Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said.
“He epitomised the country boy Rugby League player. He was such a tough, uncompromising player on the field, yet a lovely, generous man off the field.
“Over his nine years with our Club he contributed a lot of time to Souths Cares and was very popular amongst his teammates, colleagues, our Members and supporters alike.
“We offer our full support to his family and friends at this very difficult time, and he will always be remembered at our Club as a man that delivered a premiership to the Rabbitohs, but also a man that connected deeply with his communities.
“We will hold him close to our hearts for the rest of this season and in the years to come. Vale Kyle Turner.”
The Rabbitohs will also wear black armbands in tribute to Turner when they play Newcastle on Sunday.
His South Sydney number 15 jersey will be retired and honored on the interchange bench during the club’s match against the Knights on Sunday.
Former Souths captain Adam Reynolds, who now plays for the Broncos, took to social media to pay tribute to Turner, posted a old photo of them together.
Michelle Taupau, wife of Broncos player Martin Taupau, wrote on Twitter that the pair were “so deeply sad for Kyle, his family and community”.
“Our hearts are broken – what a genuine kind beautiful soul he was Sending all who are affected by this tragic loss so much love.”
Turner’s cause of death is unknown.
– AAP
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