Tweed Seagulls duo Will Brimson and Brent Woolf pay tribute to Liam Hampson ahead of Queensland Cup
Football has been an "escape" for these teammates as they comprehend the death of a close friend. Now they have set their sights on a title in his honour.
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Rugby league proved a crucial distraction for Will Brimson as he processed the death of one of his closest mate’s.
Throwing himself into every Tweed Seagulls training session in a bid to overcome a groin injury, the versatile playmaker has used the vision of a premiership triumph to drive him towards acceptance of Liam Hampson’s passing.
Brimson was one of the popular hooker’s friends who travelled to Europe late last year before a tragic accident in Barcelona triggered an outpouring of emotion in the football community.
As he prepares to spearhead a title charge at Tweed, Brimson has in turn become a passionate backer of the Liam Hampson Foundation — created by the former Keebra Park rake’s parents to provide greater sporting opportunities for less advantaged students.
Ahead of the Queensland Cup’s season launch, Brimson called on more sponsors to get on board to ensure more kids across the country had avenues to pursue their goals, and to ensure Hampson’s name would long be remembered.
“Obviously it was a tragedy, but his parents always said they want his legacy to continue and live on forever and I think they’ve created a perfect foundation,” Brimson said.
“He was just was obviously a very passionate person and rugby league player. He started off being a rugby league coach down at Keebra Park while doing teacher aid stuff there, and hearing of the kids and the Redcliffe kids and the impact he had on those guys was huge.
“Even at his funeral hearing stories of the parents of kids who weren’t necessarily rugby league kids, but just putting confidence back into kids who were struggling, that was a big part of who he was.
“It’s obviously a pretty tragic thing that happened, but I mean I’m just grateful all us boys have each other. Football definitely was an escape, playing football to get your mind off it.
“Knowing Hampo loved it so much as well, it makes you feel more at ease back playing.”
For Tweed teammate Brent Woolf, Hampson’s death marked the continuation of a challenging period.
Woolf had known Hampson since childhood, the pair often tussling for the number nine jumper but always maintaining a palpable bond.
The 24-year-old had undergone shoulder surgery the day before the loss of his mate, confined to his bed to recover while in mourning.
However Woolf said his forthcoming comeback, set to be in either Round Two or Three, had given him sufficient motivation to throw himself back into rugby league full throttle.
“I got my surgery done and we found out the next day so it was tough six week period for me,” he said.
“I struggled a bit after hearing about it and just obviously didn’t feel like doing anything. But I didn’t really have to because I was in bed all day, so I just got back into training early on to deal with it.
“He was real big on getting young boys into sport and into making sure they’re educated. He loved helping out the schools and working with the young kids, so of course it (the foundation) is something he would’ve loved and to leave a legacy I guess; something to remember him.”
PURSUIT OF THE NRL
While his focus remains on helping the Seagulls lift the premiership trophy, Woolf has a pair of handy job reference in his pursuit of an NRL berth.
His father, former Tweed coach Ben, has joined the St. George-Illawarra Dragons as an assistant coach, while his uncle Kristian has joined the Dolphins and will ultimately take over from mastercoach Wayne Bennett in the near future.
Woolf managed just nine games last season due to injury, succumbing the his shoulder concern in the act of scoring a try against Burleigh.
While he said he was on track for a comeback in the early exchanges of the season, his priority was on strong performances in the QCup before he began dreaming of a first-grade call up.
“I guess it comes with the playing as a team, if Tweed is going well there’s more people watching us play, more success, more tries being scored around it,” Woolf said.
“Of course I’d love to play, I’d love to get a contract, but first and foremost get our team going and help our the younger boys as well.”
For Brimson, his mentality regarding an NRL chance is somewhat carefree: if it comes he would embrace it, if not he has found content with where his career is at.
As his brother, AJ, cements himself as a star of the Gold Coast Titans, Brimson could face a battle for his coveted five-eighth jumper, with first-grade contracted halves Toby Sexton and Tom Weaver both set to play long minutes in reserve grade.
The 26-year-old former Broncos junior’s versatility will likely see him claim a spot somewhere upon his Round Two return from a crusher tackle suspension, and that same adaptability to play throughout the outside backs could be tempting for NRL clubs.
However Brimson admits his injury history may have taken that chance off the table; all he could do was help inspire a Seagulls triumph to press his claims.
“To be honest I’m pretty content with what I’m doing at the moment,” Brimson said.
“If the opportunity came up I’d take it with both hands but it’s not necessarily a long term goal of mine. I’m not too sure how many years I’ll have left, my body is probably older than my age.”
WHY TWEED CAN GET IT DONE
A host of the Seagulls’ top talent have left the club in search of other opportunities, however Woolf and Brimson are confident they have the cavalary to replace them.
Charlie Murray, Scott Galeano and Ryland Jacobs have joined Brisbane Tigers upon securing Melbourne Storm chances, while Josh Patston has landed at the Falcons pushing for the same NRL club.
Braeden Robson has also taken a step back from rugby league, travelling the country with his partner upon feeling particularly battle worn.
But in new recruit Jaron Purcell and former Parramatta under-20s gun Ryan Jones, their new teammates see a duo can help offset the loss.
The Seagulls will face off with the Capras on Saturday afternoon.
‘Going to miss him’: Footy clubs reeling after nightclub tragedy
- October 20
From the time he was 12, Liam Hampson could be seen running around the Woolf household alongside close friend and teammate Brent, equipped with a “cheeky” but respectful persona. It has made comprehending the news of his shock death all the more devastating for the family to take, as they paid an emotional tribute to the man.
Hampson was reported missing while on holiday in Europe by his roommate and Gold Coast Titans star AJ Brimson on Wednesday, and tragically the news broke he had been found dead in Spain.
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Police are working on the theory Hampson accidentally fell 10 metres at the Sala Apolo nightclub in Barcelona, according to Spanish media outlets.
Hampson’s Tweed teammate and friend Will Brimson has also been on the overseas trip, and his former coach Ben Woolf said he had reached out to him to offer any support he could.
He said his son, Seagulls hooker Brent, had been left shattered by the news, as had the whole family who knew Hampson as a student, player, friend and a genuine part of the Woolf clan.
“Liam was really close with us, he’s one of my son’s best friends and spent a lot of time in our house and around the family,” Woolf, who taught Hampson in Year 8 and Year 10 maths at Keebra Park, said.
“He’s pretty devastated to be honest, he’s with us at home because he had shoulder surgery yesterday (Wednesday) and was gutted. It’s a touch harder for him.
“They lived together at Palm Beach — (Hampson) and the two Brimson boys — for the last couple of years.
“I just reached out this morning (to Will) to wish him well … they were all really close.
“He spent a lot of time here at our house, he would come and train and do wrestling training in the garage with me and my son up until 12 months ago.
“I think a heap of people are really going to miss him.
“He approached everything with a big smile on his face and had that ability to, I guess, make you feel good and happy.
“He was always happy and was always having a good time.”
Hampson, who died aged just 24, had been earmarked for great things in rugby league from the time he laced the boots for Keebra Park. From there, he went on to don the Tweed colours 26 times from 2019-2021.
Hampson made the move to the Redcliffe Dolphins this year, with his final appearance coming in the Queensland Cup grand final against Norths Devils.
And according to Woolf, it was no surprise the red-clad outfit turned their season around when the crafty hooker returned from a hamstring injury.
On the back of a 2021 campaign lauded as his “coming of age” among the elite level, Woolf said when the time came for his Seagulls to take on Hampson for the first time this year all the inside knowledge in the world could not have prevented him from causing chaos.
Despite honing in on him and possessing a unique insight into the man over more than a decade, it failed to stop Hampson from causing carnage.
“He just challenged us so much at dummy-half; a lot of hookers will just pass off the ground but every opportunity he had he wanted to take you on and test the markers,” Woolf said.
“When he played them we really identified him and wanted to make sure we did a good job on him, but he set up a couple of tries against us and made a difference.
“He was always smaller but a very tough kid who worked really hard.
“He could really turn a game and put teams under pressure, and that was his greatest strength.”
The Gold Coast Titans confirmed in a statement on Thursday morning they had reached out to AJ Brimson through the club’s welfare department, with former Titan Jesse Arthurs and Brisbane Broncos forward Jordan Riki also in Spain.
“The Gold Coast Titans join the wider rugby league community in sharing our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Liam Hampson,” the statement said.
“Titans staff have spoken to AJ Brimson, who was travelling with Hampson, and our welfare and coaching staff will provide support to him as he deals with the loss of a friend.
“The club will also look to support to the wider Gold Coast rugby league community, including our feeder club Tweed Seagulls (where Hampson previously played) and our partner school Keebra Park State High School (where Hampson attended and worked).”
Meanwhile, Seagulls CEO Matt Francis said the playing group had been contacted, including Will, who he had been speaking with only a few days prior.
He said the club would in due course plan ways to commemorate Hampson and honour the legacy he has left on the region.
Such was the impact he had wherever Hampson went, Francis said he had been inundated with messages from various people he influened — including the rugby league community in Murgon where the Seagulls played as part of the QCup’s Country Week last year.
“In passing on their condolences they highlighted the impact Liam had on our visit and even exchanged contact details with two junior players who he mainted a relationship with since being there,” Francis said.
“It was footy talk and just to keep in touch and encouraging them to continue to pursue their sporting dreams and it shows the long term impact that Liam had on the young kids’ lives.
“He brought a positive energy to everything he did, whether it was turning up to training, playing or indeed I had the privilege of seeing him in his off field work as a teacher aid at Keebra Park.
“That’s why he was a great teammate and clubman and a great person. In a team environment where sometimes the atmosphere can be dictated by results he brought that positivity.
“We’ve sent out a message to all our playing group, obviously we’re not together at the moment but just obviously making sure they were aware and they were also aware we’re there to support the family and provide any support they might need.
“Our thoughts are, of course, with the family at the moment, but we’ll discuss that internally and with other people like Keebra Park, Southport his local club and indeed Redcliffe. I’m sure we’ll honour him appropriately.”
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