Michael Purcell dead: Former Melbourne Storm and Ipswich Jets player dies in car crash aged 28

The Melbourne Storm have paid tribute to a standout Queensland Cup rugby league star following his sudden death at the age of just 28.

Michael Purcell had blinding pace.

The Melbourne Storm have paid tribute to a Queensland rugby league star following his sudden death.

Queensland Cup standout Michael Purcell died on Sunday following a car crash in Brisbane, aged 28.

A flying winger-fullback, Purcell played 82 games for the Ipswich Jets and Brisbane Tigers, scoring 68 tries and 22 goals, and was regarded as one of the fastest players in Queensland.

His speed earned him the nickname “The Kangaroo Catcher” because he apparently once mowed down a kangaroo during a cross country race.

Purcell’s try-scoring feats in Queensland’s top competition secured him an NRL opportunity with the Storm last year, with the Indigenous flyer joining Melbourne for pre-season training as part of a feeder club arrangement with the Tigers.

Purcell spent the pre-season training with NRL powerhouse club Melbourne and played in a Storm trial match before returning to Queensland to play for the Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup.

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Michael Purcell passed away in a car crash. Picture: Alix Sweeney

He suffered a serious knee injury midway through last year and had only played one match for Brisbane A-grade club Bulimba this year.

With speed and try-scoring ability like NSW Origin and former Storm star Josh Addo-Carr, Purcell had the talent to play NRL but never got the opportunity.

He made an immediate impact during his time at the Storm, with his knee injury stopping any chance of Purcell playing first grade.

“Melbourne Storm is saddened to hear of Michael’s tragic passing at the weekend,” the Storm said in a statement.

“He was a very welcome and engaged participant in our pre-season last year, highlighted by pulling on the purple jersey in our trial game in Albury.

“We will remember him as a very likeable young man, who fitted in very quickly with our group on and off the training field.

“Our thoughts go to his family and friends, and his past and current teammates.”

Sending our deepest condolences to the family of Michael Purcell after his sudden passing.

Michael spent time with us during the pre-season of 2021 and also featured in our Albury trial 💜

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) August 7, 2022

Queensland Rugby League has been rocked by the tragic death of former Ipswich Jets speedster Michael Purcell. He scored 66 tries in 71 games for the Jets and ran New York Marathon at age 18 as part of Rob de Castella’s indigenous running program. Sad news. pic.twitter.com/BBpnkzZteJ

— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) August 7, 2022

We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of former Suzuki Brisbane Tigers Hostplus Cup player Michael Purcell also known as the Kangaroo Catcher 🧡🖤

Purcey, 28-years young was Tigers player no. 1344 and played nine games for the Tigers across ...https://t.co/xz97Unka0k

— Suzuki Brisbane Tigers (@EastsTigers) August 7, 2022

Purcell hailed from Charleville, the same town as Queensland Origin star and fellow Jets product Kurt Capewell, and was once an aspiring marathon runner.

Tributes to Purcell have been flowing on social media with the likes of Broncos five-eighth Albert Kelly and former Jets premiership star Marmin Barba honouring Purcell.

“I am shattered, it’s so, so sad,” said Ben Walker, Purcell’s former coach at the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup.

Michael Purcell had blinding pace.

“He was a really talented kid who definitely had the ability to play NRL.

“We got a tip about this kid playing reserve grade and his nickname was the ‘Kangaroo Catcher’ because the story went he was so fast he once chased down a kangaroo during a cross-country run in the bush.

“We signed him to the Ipswich Jets and he ended up scoring 66 tries in 71 games. He had incredible speed.

“Michael ended up moving to the Easts Tigers because the Melbourne Storm had signed him, so he played for their feeder team in the Queensland Cup.

“Michael was a really beautifully-natured guy, a very polite kid, well mannered but with a cheeky side.

“All our gang are pretty tight at Ipswich and his former teammates are really upset about his passing.

“He was a pleasure to coach. We all loved him at the Jets, he will be dearly missed.”

While living in Charleville in 2011, Purcell competed in the New York Marathon.

He was part of Australia athletics legend Robert de Castella’s Marathon Project, which gave Indigenous youth the opportunity to learn valuable life skills and further their running careers with high quality training.

Michael Purcell playing for the Jets.

The Jets helped Purcell showcase his league talents to a broader audience and the Tigers, who have an affiliation with the Melbourne Storm, helped land him a shot with an NRL club.

After his time in Melbourne, Purcell said training with an NRL club was an eye-opener and he urged youngsters to chase their dreams after being told he was too small for rugby league.

“Don’t listen to the outside world and believe in yourself,” he said at the time.

“There’s so many doors that can be opened, you just gotta go hard and take the opportunity.”