Rugby league star Trent Hodkinson has paid a special tribute to the girl he escorted to her school formal before she tragically died from cancer.
The Newcastle Knights halfback dedicated his team’s game against the Canberra Raiders on Friday night to the memory of 15-year-old Hannah Rye.
The schoolgirl captured the hearts of the nation after she was escorted to her Kurri Kurri High School dance by Hodkinson in July.
She died last weekend after suffering from Ewing’s Sarcoma for two years.
As well as dedicating his performance to her memory, Hodkinson took to the field with ‘HANNAH’ written prominently on his wrist tape.
NRL star Trent Hodkinson paid tribute to 15-year-old Hannah Rye who died last weekend
The Knights halfback wore wrist tape with her name ‘HANNAH’ written in bold letters
The pair captured the hearts of the nation when Hodkinson took Hannah Rye to her formal
Hannah Rye (left) died over the weekend after suffering from Ewing’s Sarcoma for two years
The pair met at a charity event.
After being partnered to the dance by the NRL star Hannah said it was ‘one of the most magical nights I’ve ever had’.
Her sister, Annaliese, posted a tribute to Hannah on Facebook on Monday night.
‘I will hold you in my heart until I can hold you in heaven.’
Hannah (right) was escorted by Newcastle Knights halfback Trent Hodkinson (left) to her Kurri Kurri High School dance in July after meeting at a charity event
Tributes have poured in for Hannah on Facebook from friends and family
Hannah was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that caused tumours to grow around her spine, in October, 2015.
She endured rigourous chemotherapy treatments but relapsed in May and was told her condition was terminal, which her mother said was devastating.
A diehard Newcastle Knights fan, one of her final wishes was to attend her school dance with her favourite player, Trent Hodkinson.
The former Knights player met the teenager at Kick for Kids – a program where he would dedicate his conversions to a sick child and write their name on his kicking tee.
When Hodkinson heard Hannah’s cancer had returned, he wanted to help out.
‘She’s so brave. She’s such a strong girl, you wouldn’t know she was going through this,’ he told media.
Her mother Racheal Rye said it was ‘like Cinderella and her knight in shining armour’ when he picked her daughter Hannah up from their home in the Hunter Valley.
‘It was absolutely a magical moment when Trent turned up with a big bunch of flowers at our house. A perfect night,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.
‘No girl could have asked for a better date. He was a perfect gentleman. He stayed for as long as she needed and helped cut the cake.’
Hannah was the envy of all her classmates when she arrived at the Kurri Kurri High School winter formal on Wednesday night with the halfback on her arm.
Hodkinson also helped cut a two-tiered cake alongside his date at the event that was moved forward because Hannah may not live to the end of the year.
Hannah was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that caused tumours to grow around her spine, in October 15, 2015
Hannah’s sister Annaliese posted a tribute to Hannah on Facebook on Monday night. ‘I will hold you in my heart until I can hold you in heaven.’
Hodkinson, who is an ambassador for Give Me 5 for Kids, which raises funds for children’s hospital wards across Australia, shared a selfie taken on the way to the formal on his Instagram story.
Ms Rye said the eight-year NRL veteran, who met Hannah last March, was a ‘genuinely gorgeous person’ whose actions made a difference.
‘Hannah has been incredibly unwell – you wouldn’t believe that just a few days ago she couldn’t get out of bed. It was a very big deal for her and she’s now resting,’ she said.
Hodkinson shard a selfie with the teenager, taken on the way to the formal, on his Instagram
The teenager was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that caused tumours to grow around her spine, in October of 2015