LUI Polimeni’s tragic death did not come in vain amid revelations the 15-year-old donated his organs and saved a number of lives after his passing.
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And in a heart-warming gesture, the CRL and NRL have generously donated 30 tickets to the Gundagai Tigers under 16s squad for Wednesday’s State of Origin.
Tigers secretary Martin Hay said Lui and his family held the philosophy that by donating his organs, they could help other people and families in need.
“He saved multiple lives by donating his organs, which will give you an indication of what type of beautiful kid he was and the magnificent family he has around him,” Mr Hay said.
“Lui wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“He always helped people in the team, on the field and this was no different.”
Mr Hay, who formed a close bond with the Jugiong boy during his first season at the club, announced the Tigers would play this weekend in his honour.
“The whole game will be honoured to Lui; not only that game but for a long time to come,” he said.
“We’ll think of him in every grade for the rest of this season and forever more.”
It comes as the tight-knit Jugiong community continues to mourn the loss of their hometown boy, after Lui’s family made the devastating decision to turn off his life support on Wednesday.
The Tigers secretary said the donation of the 30 Origin tickets would be a well-needed step in the grieving and acceptance stage for his close family and friends.
“Terry Quinn rang me and he offered his condolences to the family and the club,” he said.
“He asked if there was anything he could do for us, and the next thing we knew we had 30 tickets to the big game.
“The whole team of under 16 boys and their two coaches are going, Lui’s dad Dino and his little brother Joey, four Harden boys he was close to and Lui’s uncle Peter, who often brought him into training.”
All players from Group 9 will wear black armbands and all fixtures in Group 9 under 16s will have a moment of silence this weekend.
A funeral date has yet to be decided by Lui’s family.
Teachers and students from Gundagai High honoured Lui’s memory by wearing the club’s native stripes and observing a minute’s silence on Thursday.
