The three children of late NRL player Lance Thompson have led an emotional tribute by his former club St George Dragons.
A brave Shalisse Thompson, 17, and younger siblings Laylah and Lachlan stood solemnly alongside Dragons players during a minute’s silence before their round 24 clash against Canterbury Bulldogs at Kogarah’s Jubilee Stadium on Sunday.
Young Laylah managed a wave for the television cameras before they were embraced by club officials when they left the field.
Lance Thompson’s children (far left) joined St George players on the field for the minute’s silence in tribute to their late father, who tragically died three days ago
Dragons second rower Tariq Simms, who wears Thompson’s former jersey number will present his jersey and his boots to his children after the game.
The former NRL second rower and City representative, who also played for the Cronulla Sharks was found dead by his teenage daughter at his unit in Sydney’s south on Thursday night.
Reports suggest Thompson, 40, may have died due to a ‘medical incident’ rather than self-harm.
The man known as ‘Thommo’ was just 17 when he made his first grade debut for the Dragons in 1995 and remained loyal to the club until 2005.
Lachlan, Shalisse and Laylah Thompson (pictured left) bravely and publicly paid tribute to their late dad, who died on Thursday
Earlier at Southern Cross Stadium, Thompson’s other former club Cronulla also honoured Thompson with a minute’s silence before their match against Newcastle.
The number 12 jersey was retired for the game with Wade Graham wearing number 23.
Thompson played for the Sharks for two seasons before a crippling knee injury forced him into early retirement.
The night after he was found dead, Sharlisse posted a heartbreaking tribute to her late dad on social media, whom she described as ‘my world and my best friend.’
‘Words can’t describe what I walked into and now much I miss you,’ she wrote.
‘You made me feel alive and whole. I don’t know what to do without you. Your legacy will live forever.’
The late Lance Thompson played 201 games for St George between 1995 and 2005
Shalisse Thompson posted her devastation on social media on Friday night