Illawarra League: Canaries band together in the wake of Brunning tragedy

The Canaries will take to the Collegians Sporting Complex turf 48 hours after farewelling their mate at a  special memorial service at Dapto Leagues Club on Friday.

Brunning tragically passed away at Dapto Showground last Saturday after a two-try performance for the Canaries reserve grade side against Wests.

The tragedy of his sudden death, just four days after his 22^nd birthday, has been felt across the wider the rugby league community, no more intensely than within the Dapto club.

Read more: Tory on verge of a representative career before shock death

Dapto secretary David Jones said the club, and playing group, have decided to take the field on Sunday in the belief it is what Brunning would have wanted. 

“We spoke to the coaching staff to see where they thought they were at and we spoke to the senior players to see where they were at,” Jones said.

“Where they were at was the belief that Tory, as a young man who loved the game, he’d want us to continue to play.

“We will return to playing at some point so the belief is that we should get out there and show what the club’s spirit is about.

“I spoke to Hendo [coach Michael Henderson] about it and what the mindset was going to be because not every individual is the same.

“His response was that those who are not up to playing, or don’t feel they can play, they can just put their hand up and sit out.

“Anyone who doesn’t feel they can play, by all means, they can sit out, and they’ll be supported and looked after.”

The NRL and Country Rugby League have provided counselling to players and staff at both the Dapto and Wests clubs in the wake of the tragedy.

Jones said the club itself has made every effort to support its players and staff.

“It’s obviously been a really tough week,” he said.

“We got together on Monday with all our players and it was probably the biggest attendance we’ve ever had at any session.

“That was good for them, I think they needed that, especially the younger blokes who’ve probably never dealt with the like of it before.”

There will be a memorial service held at Dapto Leagues Club on Friday at 2pm for those who wish to pay tribute to Brunning.

“We’ve had messages of support from just about every club within a 50 kilometre radius so the rugby league community has been outstanding,” Jones said.

“When you’ve got a young man like this in a football community who’s played a lot of rep football as well, there’s a lot of people who want to come and pay their respects. We wanted to provide an opportunity to do that.”

Brunning’s family in his hometown of Waitara in New Zealand have also started a fund in an effort to bring Tory home to be laid to rest with donors having already contributed more than $20,000.

People can donate at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/bring-tory-brunning-home-to-waitara#