very sad news, RIP

So sad that he choose this route, he must had been a very tormented man, I hope he's at peace now. R.I.P. Terry lad.

I think the messages of sympathy show just how we take each player as part of the big RL family. We all have our loves and hates when it comes to players but deep down we feel for them all at times like this. I shall remember Terry as a great player only, because at the end of the day he entertained us on the field of play, warts and all.
Again, RIP Terry.

RIP Terry

Condolences and thoughts to his Wife, children and his family.

I'll remember him for his contribution to the game which was considerable, he served GB and England well and also played for the biggest clubs, in the biggest games in our sport. He was a whole hearted player who never conceded an inch and made his opponents fight for anything they got from him. Whatever his reputation, on field persona or off the field mistakes, he was a member of our Rugby League community

The RFL should examine exactly how they deal with players who have lost their livelihoods and good name due to transgressions. I'm not saying that anyone did anything wrong but we must ensure that we take care of the well being of those individuals who fall foul of society's ills.

Maybe there was nothing more that anyone could have done to help Terry get through but we should at least examine our procedures and aftercare to prevent any individual from feeling that this is the only way out!

One aspect of this tragedy just keeps coming back into my mind and I just can't shake the feeling that it had something to do with Terry's state of mind leading up his taking his own life.

I didn't know Terry well but have met him on four or five occasions where I have had the chance to speak with him as part of a group of players just having a drink. That doesn’t qualify me as his friend or even suggest that I knew him well but it does allow me to form an opinion of him and what sort of person he was.

He struck me as a fairly proud man who had worked hard to build his reputation as a player to be remembered for the right reasons, someone who played the game hard and fair even though he recognised his on field disciplinary was less than good. His achievements in the game were to be admired, Grand Finals, Internationals, Challenge Cups and League Championships, he was proud of the way he lead a young Wigan team to victory over Sts when everyone had written them off a few years ago. I think his legacy as a Rugby League great meant much to him.

With all that said I return to the aspect that I can't shake,

The adulation that Kieran Cunningham received on playing his last game at Knowsley Rd, the respect and admiration for a man who's career had run parallel with his own must have been a hammer blow to Terry. How difficult must he have found it to watch, I'm sure he reflected on the contrast between Kieran and himself and it must have been hard to reconcile.

No one will ever know and it's only an opinion based on what I knew of him.

I hope that everyone at the Grand Final pays their respects to Terry Newton.

great post Vasty

great post clan something from the great rugby family you belong to,crossed my mind too

RIP. terry god bless all who knew you

An excellent post by Vasty...
I think the only thing i can add is that i was part way through reading his Autobigraphy when the sad news of his death came through it certainly changed how i reflected on him.
The book is a good insight into his life,which was far from giving him an easy upbringing and no doubt helped form the 'bad boy player' who as an opponent we all had strong opinions on.
But for sure i shall fondly recall seeing a young TH turn out for Leeds academy and think "that lad is special".
A very troubled recent couple of years sadly and abruptly ended.