I agree with a lot of what your saying offside, unfortunately I have personal experience of being part of a family left behind from a suicide. Depression can hit people harder than you think and especially when they just seem a bit down, in my case I knew he was having a bit of a hard time with his girlfriend but never in a million years would we have guessed what he would do and it looks the same for Newtons family. If people don't want to respect Newton at least think of his family, they have a very rough few months/years to come and will need all the support possible.

I can see where you are coming from but I do think the comparisons you are making are slightly unfair. I have so much respect for Steve Prescott and how well he has coped with everything, he must have so much mental strength to do what he is - I doubt many people would have the strength to do what he is. Gary Purdham lost his life in truly tragic circumstances. All of them, and Terry Newton deserve the tributes they have got. If it had occured at any other point of the season the silence would have been at the matches for the teams he played with, we are now at the end of the season with only one game left so to me it seems right it happens then.

Your paragraph about mental illness is spot on. Not everyone has the same mental strength to cope with things, people all have different limits as to what they can take both physically and mentally. The problem is there is still in so many cases mental health is a taboo subject and one people to a degree are scared of.

I guess in cases like this it is very much an example the saying "walk a mile in someones shoes before criticising them" (I'm not saying you are criticising, just making a point we don't know what he was going through)

You are assuming Newton was suffering from clinical depression. Just because someone commits suicide does not mean they are suffering from a serious mental illness.

Was Newton? I've not seen his medical history reported anywhere? Until it has, why don't you stfu yourself?

Plenty of people who cannot handle the situations they find themselves in commit suicide, not all suffer from clinical depression. Anyway, my main gripe is that he was a drugs cheat, if he wasn't I'd have no problems with a minutes silence.

Newton had been on Anti-depressants since his sister died according to some reports.

If you get a chance, please read his book. I borrowed it from a friend and it was very good read.

Like a lot of people he made mistakes in his life, sadly it looks as though when he lost his career (through his own fault) and the other problems occurred he couldn't handle it.

I hope everyone respects the minutes silence, if not for Newton, then for his parents (god only knows how they must be feeling) wife and children.

I thought Paul Wellens spoke excellently about Newton, when interviewed. If he can show that dignified response then I hope all the fans can do so for one minute on Saturday.

It's the kids I feel for the most, they can't be that old given his age and must be having major difficulty processing the whole situation. Whatever peoples personal feelings about him, his only relationship with most of us was that he was an RL player that played for an opposing team and I hope people aren't idiotic enough to boo over something that happened 5 years ago

Im assuming nothing. He was battling depression. I know what its like for people who suffer depression so im not going to start throwing cr@p at him saying things like "hes left his children behind, hes a chicken etc etc"

You stated in your first post he was suffering from clinical depression. Unless you know his GP's diagnosis, you would have to be assuming. All depression isn't clinical depression. Some despression is acute depression, triggered by an event or by unaddressed underlying feelings. Either way, he did leave behind loved ones and they are the ones I really feel for because suicide is terribly destructive.

I think it would be fine if it wasnt the Grand Final
but because it is, there will be a good few idiots there who are not true rugby league supporters, just going for the occasion which could ruin it.

Would be gerat to be proved wrong but I reckon the minutes applause would be a better idea

There'll be plenty of 'true rugby league' supporters who'll make noise, don't kid yourself on that score.

I think you under estimate RL fans.
If there is any booing or whatever I would imagine it will be the one game a year fans who only attend finals.

I apologise for not being a regular but the affordability factor is an issue as well as supporting the footy teams. I have total respect as we all have flaws sometimes in our life but don't get caught. After watching an interview a few weeks ago understand were he is coming from. It must be real tough in the sports world, I would not like to think the pressure they are under. Hope his family and friends get the support they need.

I just prey that no matter what happens regarding the result , that the minutes silence goes without an hitch, but TBH i cant see it , shame a real shame.

Ditto