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Bulldogs offer counselling after loss

3 minute read

NRL club Canterbury have offered their players and staff counselling after the death of under-20s trialist Ziggy Vincent on Sunday.

Canterbury have offered counselling to players and staff after the death of promising teenager Ziggy Vincent on Sunday.

Vincent, who hailed from Griffith in north-west NSW, recently spent six weeks trialling for the NRL club's under-20s side for next season.

He was understood to be staying at the home of close friend CJ Mundine, the son of former NRL star Anthony, while in Sydney.

"The Bulldogs would like to express their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ziggy Vincent who tragically passed away yesterday," the Bulldogs said.

"Although Ziggy was only around the club for six weeks as a trialist for our Jersey Flegg side, he had made a great impression on all those that had met him and had made some close friends in and around the club.

"His passing has come as a major shock to everyone at the club and we offer our condolences and deepest sympathies to his family and friends."

Anthony, who played for St George, Brisbane and St George Illawarra between 1993-2000, spoke emotionally about Vincent's death on social media.

CJ was recently signed by South Sydney on a two-year deal.

"It's a very sad day, very sad. I'm a bit emotional here. We lost a brother, young Ziggie Vincent," Anthony said.

"Took his life last night. It's very hard to take for myself but I can't imagine (what) his family and close friends, brothers and siblings (are going through)."

Anthony urged those struggling with mental health issues to talk to others.

"I let Zig know I was always there for him ... but a lot of these brothers feel like they're a burden. But they're actually not," he said.

"They're just shy and don't want to bring their problems on anyone else.

"To anyone that has any problems with mental health or are looking to harm themselves or are not in a good place, please speak up to somebody you trust, someone that sheds a good light in your life.

"That's the most important thing. Even hit me up if you have to.

"Hearing this news really affected me. I haven't left bed all day."

The loss of Vincent comes six years after the NRL community was also rocked by the death of Wests Tigers forward Moses Fotuaika.

North Queensland trio Alex Elisala, Francis Winterstein and Regan Grieve, and Melbourne's Hayden Butler also lost their battle with depression in recent years.

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