‘I thought he loved his life, but one silly error…’: Young footy star, 19, says he is inspired by his older brother who took his own life aged just 20
- Sydney Roosters star, Sam Verrills, lost his brother, Jack, to suicide in 2015
- Jack played as the hooker in Manly junior grades and Sam would watch him play
- Four years after his death, Sam continues to be inspired by his older brother
- Before each game, Sam writes ‘JV’ so his brother is always with him on the field
A 19-year-old footy star has revealed he is inspired every day to play rugby league by his brother who died aged just 20.
Young Sydney Roosters player Sam Verrills lost his brother, Jack, to suicide when he only was 15 years old.
Four years after his brother’s death, Sam continues to be inspired by his brother, who played the same position of hooker, and writes his initials ‘JV’ on his wrist before every game he plays so his brother is always with him on the field.
Sydney Roosters hooker Sam Verrills (pictured with his girlfriend Jade Bourke) , lost his brother, Jack, to suicide when he only was 15 years old
Four years after his brother’s death, Sam continues to be inspired by his brother Jack (pictured)
The Verrills family love rugby league and Sam would watch his older brother play in Manly junior grades with the hope of being a successful player just like him.
But when Jack was 15, his football career was put on hold after the upcoming star broke his back.
Though Jack recovered and found a steady job while living on the northern beaches, he was suffering from severe bouts of depression.
His father, Mark, contacted his work’s helpline to seek advice on how to support his son with his mental health.
When Mark said to his son that they should go to the doctor, Jack said he would in the next week.
‘Well, next week never came,’ Mark told the Sunday Telegraph.
Jack’s body was found in his bedroom at their family home about 7am one morning in February 2015.
Just hours after he found out his brother had died, Sam, then captain of Manly’s under-16 side, played a game and even scored two tries.
The Verrill family. Pictured: Jack, top left, and Sam, bottom left, with their dad, Mark, second from left, back row, their mother, Kimberly, second from right back row, and brothers Billy, top right, and Oliver, bottom middle
Sam says his brother will always be an inspiration to him.
‘He would go 100 per cent without any care for his body. He knows how important footy was to me, he loved the fact that I played footy and wanted to make it a career. He would have been very happy with how far I have come now,’ Sam said.
Though Sam continues to struggle with the loss of his brother, he wants to keep his memory alive.
‘I speak about it when people ask me. People kind of come up to me and feel uncomfortable asking me, but I will speak about it because my brother was a great guy. I thought he loved his life but one silly error …’
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Jack’s suffered from severe bouts of depression. His body was found in his bedroom at their family home at about 7am in February 2015
Sam says his brother will always be an inspiration to him, as his brother played the same position as him. Though Sam continues to struggle with the loss of his brother, he wants to keep his memory alive