South Sydney Rabbitohs supporting Tyrone Munro after young star’s mother dies

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of a person who has died.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs and the wider NRL community are in mourning after the sad death of Tyrone Munro’s mother, Kirawhan Fernando.

Fernando passed away on Wednesday (yesterday) and the club said it was doing its best to support her grief-stricken family and friends.

Incredibly, the 19-year-old Munro has made the decision to play in Friday night’s game against Penrith.

Fernando is survived by her four sons, with Tyrone (a rising star of the competition) her eldest.

On Thursday a devastated Munro took to Instagram to share his pain and love for his mother.

“Losing a mother is a pain that cannot be described in words. It is virtually impossible to move on from the memory of losing the woman who sacrificed happiness in her own life so that you could have a better one,” he wrote.

“A mother’s love is truly irreplaceable. Love you mum ...

“Me and my brothers never thought this day would come. Beautiful Angel mum ❤️ was always trying to help everyone and make sure everyone was okay.

“If anyone knew my mum they knew that she would take her clothes off her back for anyone that she loved and she loved her family so much. My house was open all the time to anyone in my community and sometimes I would get angry with Mum ❤️ because my Little cousins was stealing my clothes and my aunties but mum wouldn’t tell me, she just acted like she she didn’t know because she just loved her family.

“I remember I carried on for a pair of shoes and Mum wouldn’t buy for me and she said to me, ‘Son, nothing is ever gonna be given to you in this world. If you want something, you have to work for it and earn it,’ and that’s what she instilled in me.

“And that stuff I carried me every day. I’ll never forget those moments and this list could go on and on. She was my rock, my heart, and my soul and mind and everything. Until we meet again mama❤️🕊️🕊️❤️🕊️❤️🕊️❤️💔💔❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾”

The club statement said that Tyrone had “bravely decided to play” in Friday night’s game “in his mother’s honour”.

“The South Sydney Rabbitohs will wear black armbands to commemorate Kirawhan’s life against the Panthers tomorrow night, and has offered the club’s full support to Tyrone and his immediate family at what is a very difficult time for them all.,” the club said.

“The South Sydney Rabbitohs offer their most sincere and deepest condolences to the Caldwell and Fernando families, and extend those condolences to all family and friends of Kirawhan Fernando.”