Vale Jay Lasscock

15 November 1987 – 9 September 2012

The Canberra Raiders and the region’s rugby league community is in mourning after the death of Queanbeyan Blues captain Jay Lasscock. A former Raiders junior, Lasscock, 25, died suddenly.Lasscock was yesterday described as the ”backbone” of the Queanbeyan Blues, while other clubs have already rallied to show their respect.

Clubs have requested to organise a fundraising collection for Lasscock’s family, including his three children, to take place at the Canberra Raiders Cup semi-final between the Belconnen United Scholars and Yass Magpies at Queanbeyan’s Seiffert Oval this Saturday.

Lasscock also represented the Raiders at junior levels through to Under-20s and current Raiders players have informally discussed the possibility of wearing black armbands in his memory during this Saturday’s semi-final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Lasscock played his final game for the Queanbeyan Blues in an elimination final loss two weeks ago, incredibly coming back from a dislocated shoulder the previous weekend.

He re-injured it in the first tackle of the game and Blues coach Adam Doyle had to take Lasscock off at half-time because he refused to take a backward step.

The Blues players and coaches met for lunch on Monday to remember their mate. ”He was honest, there was no in-betweens and whenever anyone had a problem, they’d go to Jay. He was a champion kid,” Doyle said. ”He was my leader, he was liked around the whole community. I can’t explain it, I’m still empty two days later.”

Queanbeyan Blues stalwart Tom Ebsworth said Lasscock, who represented NSW Country last year, had been a dedicated clubman.

”I coached him in under-6s so he’s been with the Blues since day one,” Ebsworth said.

”He’s been the backbone of the place for quite a few years now.

”It was a shock to everybody … my phone’s been going hot from other clubs [wanting to help].”

Doyle also hoped the Blues would remember Lasscock with an award bearing his name.

”Any prop in the NRL, Jay could do. He just needed a chance, one good off-season and he could have played first grade, no risk about it,” Doyle said. ”There should be some award named after him as far as I’m concerned, he was too good a bloke and a player not to have memories of him … ”

Country Rugby League chief executive Terry Quinn said Lasscock would be missed by his NSW Country teammates. ”He made a huge contribution to Country Rugby League over the past couple of years, he was a bloke with a lot of talent and I’m surprised he didn’t go on a bit further,” Quinn said. Lasscock’s funeral will be held in Queanbeyan on Tuesday.

Extracted from the Canberra Times.