'You would always see him smiling' – Vale Michael Purcell

The Queensland Rugby League wish to express the game's sincere condolences to the family, friends and team mates of Michael Purcell.

Purcell, a prodigiously talented player who starred in Queensland representative teams and the Hostplus Cup, sadly passed away over the weekend aged 28.

A try-scoring whiz known as the ‘kangaroo catcher’ by the wider rugby league community, Purcell starred for both the Ipswich Jets and Brisbane Tigers in Queensland’s premier competition.

Across 82 games, he posted 316 points from 68 tries and 22 goals to deservedly earn the reputation as one of the Cup’s premier attacking strike weapons.

On the comeback trail from injury, Purcell was playing with Bulimba this season.

QRL competitions manager David Maiden said Purcell was one of those rare players who could thrill fans with every touch of the football.

“Exciting … exciting to watch. Footy in its purist form,” Maiden said when asked about his recollections of Purcell’s impact on the field.

“He made footy look effortless at times and that was exactly why you walked through the gate, to watch people play the game and do something you can’t do.

“Certainly, in 2016, 2017 and 2018, he was one of the premier players in our competition.

“But I think the crucial thing is you would always see him smiling. He always seemed to enjoy playing the game of rugby league and every time I saw someone doing that, I took note.

“He was genuinely one of those people.”

Purcell played his junior rugby league with Charleville and it wasn’t long before he was selected in the South West representative team.

He played in his first Outback carnival in 2012 and was subsequently selected to represent Queensland Outback.

Equally at home at fullback or on the wing, Purcell again starred for the Queensland Outback team in 2013 and 2015 before receiving an opportunity to play club rugby league in Toowoomba.

From there he was picked up by premiership-winning Ipswich Jets co-coaches Ben and Shane Walker, who were in awe of Purcell’s athletic capabilities and instinct for the game.

Purcell was encouraged to play his natural game, and the results were often breath-taking with long-range tries and freakish finishes a feature of his time with the Jets.

Maiden said Purcell’s rugby league journey was one that should inspire other country players.

“He was playing Charleville reserve grade and he scored a thousand tries out there as a young kid,” Maiden quipped.

“I actually first saw him play when I reckon he was about 18 and he played for Queensland Outback against Northern United on Thursday Island, and he was a freak then because he could just do stuff that most other people couldn’t.

“That was before he went to Ipswich, where he got his opportunity. Ben and Shane brought him on there, and encouraged him to play footy, and encouraged him to play his style of footy which I think is a key component.

“And out of that we saw the best of him.”

Maiden said the QRL had activated its wellbeing team to support the rugby league community.  

“Condolences to his family, that goes without saying,” Maiden said.

“Michael touched a lot of lives. Every team mate he’s had, I dare say will be a lot sadder today.

“The game gets around itself, it gives itself a cuddle, to make sure we recover.

“Family and friends have got each other, and the rugby league family has got their back as well.

“We’d like to think we can help them through an unimaginable, difficult time.”