QUEENSLAND RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THEIR OWN LIVES SINCE 2012

Hayden Butler, 19, Burleigh Bears and Melbourne Storm

Butler was a Melbourne Storm junior and talented Aussie rules player who moved to Mackay only three weeks before his death over the Australia Day long weekend. He had played for the Burleigh Bears in the Intrust Super Cup the previous season.

Regan Grieve, 19, Maroons 18s and Cowboys

A co-captain of the Queensland under-18s and on the way to NRL stardom having built an impressive junior career littered with titles and rep selections.

Francis Winterstein, 19, Brisbane Broncos and Townsville

Stingers Winterstein, the brother of North Queensland Cowboys winger Antonio Winterstein, died in March last year. He had been on a contract with the Brisbane Broncos but was playing with Townsville club Stingers.

Alex Elisala, 20, Logan Brothers and Cowboys

The New Zealand-born player was contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys and represented Samoa. His family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support in hospital.

Chris Kitching, 24, Tugun Seahawks

One of the best players in the local A-Grade, Coast 2 Coast Cup, Kitching came through Tugun’s junior grades. He played 23 of 24 games for the semi-professional Burleigh Bears in the Intrust Super Cup after featuring in Tugun’s 2013 Bycroft Cup premiership win.

Tristan Geraghty, 16, Runaway Bay

Geraghty, a member of the premiershipwinning under16 Runaway Bay team, was resting at home on a Sunday in November after finishing a night shift as floor staff at Vanity Nightclub when he tragically took his own life.

Mosese Fotuaika, 20, Keebra Park and West Tigers

Fotuaika, originally from the Gold Coast, was a member of the Wests Tigers 2012 premiershipwinning under-20 team and had been promoted to the club’s NRL squad. He was found dead by his partner at home.

Jake Briscoe, 14, Tugun Seahawks

The Palm Beach-Currumbin High School student and Tugun Seahawk had a contract with the Titans youth development squad, was showing talent as a junior boxer and was getting top marks at school. He died suddenly on Anzac Day in 2012.

Guy Borgas, 24, Tugun Seahawks and Titans 20s

Borgas had played for the Seahawks since he was a junior and was instrumental in the club’s 2013 premiership win. Last year, he accepted a position on the Seahawks coaching staff while preparing to make his comeback after a year off. He died suddenly in November.