Tigers shattered by teammate's death

Mosese Fotuaika in action for Keebra Park during the ARL Schoolboy Cup at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Ross Michael Source: The Daily Telegraph

Mystery surrounds the death of Mosese Fotuaika. Picture: Michael Ross Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

UPDATE: CAPTAIN Robbie Farah says the Wests Tigers squad is shattered by the death of their teammate Mosese Fotuaika.

The promising Tigers prop was found dead in a Sydney townhouse overnight and has been described as a player who had the potential to make it to the top in rugby league.

Fotuaika, a member of the Tigers' 2012 premiership-winning under-20s team, had been promoted to the senior side for the recent NRL trial matches and looked poised to make his NRL debut.

A NSW police spokesperson said officers from Holroyd area command were called to a townhouse in Merrylands about 6.50pm AEDT last night.

They confirmed a 20-year-old man was found dead inside the premises and said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

The Tigers released a statement this afternoon to express their sadness at the loss of their young teammate.

"Mosese had a great future ahead of him and we will miss him dearly," Farah said, in the statement.

"We are a very close knit club and will stick together and support each other during this tough time."

Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys said Fotuaika was "a player of great potential and a very popular and respected member of our club."

"We are all deeply shocked and devastated by the news of his death. I have been in regular contact with his family and partner and are providing them with all of the comfort and support we can in this most difficult time.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

"Our players and staff have met together this morning to support each other. With the assistance of the NRL, we have begun to provide professional counselling as they try to come to terms with what has happened.

"We request everyone to respect the sensitive nature of this situation and the privacy of all concerned."

NRL Chief Executive, Dave Smith, said the NRL had been in close contact with the club to assist in terms of counselling and support and the "rugby League family will pull together to help people get through this difficult time."

Teammates took to Twitter to pay tribute, with Tim Moltzen tweeting, "Such a sad end to the day. R.I.P big Moses, such a great kid and gone way to young. Be sorely missed by everyone at the club.#brothers."

"RIP Moses absolutely shattered, gone too young," prop Aaron Woods posted. Former Tigers forward Andrew Fifita tweeted: "My heart goes out to your family brother. Gone way too soon. Still can't believe it. Rip brother. #Mosese Fotuaika."

The Balmain Tigers' Facebook fan page also posted a notice of the loss.

"Thoughts and prayers go out to the wests tigers very own moses Fotuaika and his family during this very difficult time may god help them and watch over them!!" it read.

Fotuaika attended Keebra Park High School in Queensland, the same school as Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall.

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NZRL high performance general manager Tony Kemp said it was a sad day for the sport and offered condolences on behalf of the national organisation to Fotuaika's family.

Kemp was sure Fotuaika had the goods to reach the top.

``He got player of the day last year in the NYC (National Youth Competition) final, so he was on track,'' he said.

``Most of our national team now have been Junior Kiwis and Mosese was a Junior Kiwi last year, so he had plenty of potential.''

Kemp said he had no further details about Fotuaika's death apart from what was in the media, but said mental health was one area that New Zealand sport needed to spend more time on.

- with AAP

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