Manly Sea Eagles NRL player Keith Titmuss dies after training

Manly have been rocked by the death of emerging young forward Keith Titmuss following a training session at the famous NRL club. The 20-year-old fell ill on Monday morning, and later died in Royal North Shore Hospital.

A promising prop who had come through Manly’s junior ranks, Titmuss had earned a call-up to Manly’s full-time 30-man squad for next season. He was a member of the club’s full-time senior squad but had not yet made his NRL debut.

“We are all devastated by this news,” Manly coach Des Hasler said. “Keith was a very popular character amongst the playing group. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten by the Sea Eagles.”

Titmuss first reported feeling sick after training at the club’s Narrabeen base. He was taken by ambulance to nearby Northern Beaches Hospital before he was transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Both Manly and the NRL have offered assistance to the Titmuss family and counselling has been arranged for grieving teammates. Titmuss first made his name as a 17-year-old when he scored the match-winning try in the 2017 under-20s grand final at ANZ Stadium.

The hard-running forward won the club’s players’ player award in Jersey Flegg Cup in 2019, before impressing during limited time in reserve grade.

“This is a tragic day for rugby league,'’ NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said. “The game has lost a promising young player with the world at his feet.

“Keith had made it into Manly’s top 30 for the 2021 season after coming through the club’s junior ranks. We will make sure Keith’s family, the club and our players receive every support they need from the game.

“We are one family and today we have lost a member of that family. On behalf of the [NRL] Commission and the game I send my deepest condolences to Keith’s family.”