Lismore’s Marist Brothers Rams will try to win a grand final after double tragedy
In the space of just weeks Lismore’s Marist Brothers Rams have suffered a double tragedy with the death of two 17-year-old teammates in car accidents. Today, the team is playing a grand final which they hope to win in their honour. Watch the GF now.
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This is the story of Australia’s bravest footy team.
It’s a story that should never have to be written once - let alone, twice.
It’s the tragedy of two teammates, Eddie Allan and Jaylan Stewart, from Lismore’s under-18’s Marist Brothers Rams.
THIS IS THE LIVE STREAM VIA YOUTUBE OF THE RAMS GRAND FINAL
Both just 17-years-old, the talented footballers were recently killed in separate car accidents, not far from their homes on the NSW North Coast, only 19-days apart.
Their gut-wrenching story, their deaths so incomprehensibly close, have forced a shattered community to band together to try and help fill a well of emptiness so deep, that the Allan and Stewart families fear they will never be able to recover.
It has even captured the heartfelt concern of NSW State of Origin legends, coach Brad Fittler and Blues advisor, Greg Alexander, who have formed a knowing bond with the team.
And then there’s the Under-18’s boys from the Rams.
Called upon not once, but traumatically twice, to say goodbye to their two teammates in the space of just over two weeks, all the while, playing footy with two empty seats on the bench.
Yesterday, the 17 Rams players held each other tight as Jaylan’s coffin was carried across their home ground of Crozier Field where a gathering of 500-people lowered their heads in disbelief.
Yet somehow this afternoon, the same 17 boys will run out in a grand final against the Ballina Seagulls at 12.45pm in Ballina with the names of Eddie and Jaylan’s still written on the team sheet.
Wiping away tears at Jaylan’s funeral, Michael Stewart wore his son’s favourite Hawaiian shirt, “because Jaylan wouldn’t have wanted us to be dressed in a shirt and tie, he’d want us to be exactly like he is... “Captain Casual.’’
“I can’t put into words the level of our devastation and how we’re feeling,’’ Stewart added.
“But if this story helps save one life, be it from speeding, mobile phone-use or not wearing a seatbelt, as hard as it is, I’m willing to share it.
“We’ve lost two beautiful, happy and healthy boys and I want people to understand and know that by reading this and changing their ways, then we haven’t lost two boys for nothing.’’
Eddie was tragically killed when the Nissan Pulsar he was driving north along Barham Street, East Lismore, crashed into a tree on September 14.
Eddie “could play any position on the field” and was equally gifted in both rugby league with the Rams and rugby union with his beloved Lismore Rugby Club.
At his farewell that was also attended by 500-people last month, a pinch of dirt from the rugby field he played on was rubbed into his pink coffin, which was positioned under the goalposts.
His father Nick delivered a moving tribute to his son, who always had a “team-first” mentality.
“Once another team had four really big fellas and Ed said ‘they got us for size, but we got ‘em for looks’. Then he played the game with a comb in his pocket,’’ Nick smiled.
Eddie’s passing left an entire community, family and footy club reeling.
But then on October 3, a police door knock followed that is impossible to imagine.
Jaylan was killed when the BMW he was driving left Ellangowan Road, Casino, and hit a tree. A second life lost from the tight-knit Lismore community in just under three-weeks.
Fittler and Alexander have tragically felt this same pain before.
They lost their best mate and brother, former Penrith player Ben Alexander, in a car crash 28-years-ago.
Ben was 20 - just three years-older than Eddie and Jaylan.
Pushing aside the pain that still exists today, Alexander and Fittler launched a campaign last year, with Transport for NSW and the NSW Rugby League, to try and change the driving behaviours of teens and young men, called the Knock-On Effect.
And for the same reason of wanting to help save lives, but also aid a grief-stricken group of teenagers, the high-profile duo didn’t hesitate to phone the Rams via Zoom prior to their semi-final last Sunday.
Up on a projector screen on the morning of the game, Fittler and Alexander spoke to the Rams huddled together inside the clubhouse.
As the group of faces searching for answers stared back at them, Fittler and Alexander spoke about losing Ben in the same shocking way that the boys had lost Eddie and Jaylan.
They spoke about supporting each other and how to use footy as their bond to pull them through.
“Brandy (Alexander) and I cast our minds back and I remember I played the weekend (after losing Ben) against Wests and I spoke to the boys about that,’’ Fittler said.
“We spoke about how by playing footy, playing together for each other, by staying focused and not letting their emotions take over, they could do something special to help each other, while also honouring their teammates.’’
Alexander added: “I told them, this isn’t a day to be sad, it’s a day to remind yourselves that as mates, you need to rely on each other.
“I told them what I went through and how winning footy games with your mates as a junior are just as important to me as winning first grade premierships and Origin matches.’’
Fittler and Alexander then vowed to visit the entire team after the upcoming State of Origin series.
Against all the odds, the Rams won their semi-final, beating Byron Bay 34-24 in extra-time.
This afternoon the Rams travel to Ballina to play the Seagulls with an entire town and state in their corner.
They will try to achieve what few thought possible, against impossible thoughts and emotions - but with the spirit of Eddie and Jaylan, they will play to win the grand final.
And in an indication of the strength of this team, this community and these two families, Stewart - less than 24-hours after saying goodbye to his son - and the Allan’s will be standing on the sideline today.
“I was in the room when Brad and Greg spoke to the boys about going out and playing together and everyone is very thankful for them doing that, because the boys had had moments where they weren’t sure whether they wanted to continue to play,’’ Stewart said.
“I then spoke to the boys after their semi final (win).
“All I said to the boys was the strength and resilience they’ve shown over the last couple of weeks, through all of this, to come through what they did on the football field, they need to be proud because we’re all proud of them.
“To push through together, they’re some of the bravest young boys you’ll find.
“We’ll all be there and so will Jaylan and Eddie.”