Rugby league community set to farewell Dragons and Sharks great Lance Thompson

ARCH rivals St George Illawarra and Cronulla will unite to farewell one of their own Lance Thompson with his funeral to take place on Friday in Sutherland.

Lance Thompson will be farewelled in Sutherland on Friday.

ARCH rivals St George Illawarra and Cronulla will unite to farewell one of their own Lance Thompson.

Thompson’s funeral following his shock death at the age of 40 will take place on Friday in Sutherland.

The 1pm public service at the Horizon Church will cater for a huge contingent of the rugby league community expected to pay tribute to the much-loved forward, who played 239 NRL matches.

Lance Thompson will be farewelled in Sutherland on Friday.

Former teammates from the Dragons and Sharks, including Paul McGregor, Mark ‘Piggy’ Riddell, Jason Stevens, Shaun Timmins, Mark Gasnier, Nathan Brown, Willie Peters, Adam Peek and Brett Kimmorley are just some of the hundreds of mourners expected to attend the service.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg will also attend the emotional send-off.

Cronulla captain Paul Gallen, who heralds Thompson as one of his most influential mentors, is also hoping to attend.

However, the Dragons and Sharks players will have to wait for the week one finals draw to be finalised before determining if they can attend.

As of Saturday night, plans were in place for the Dragons to play their elimination final on Saturday afternoon, which would enable them to attend the service.

The Sharks, who can secure fourth placing with victory against Canterbury on Sunday, are expected to play on Saturday night.

Thompson’s sudden passing 10 days ago, believed to be from natural causes, has been met with great sadness and sorrow by his heartbroken family and in particular, his 17-year-old daughter and five-year-old twin son and daughter.

Originally published as Rugby league community set to farewell Dragons and Sharks great Lance Thompson