Friends and family are rallying around a Brisbane Broncos footballer involved in a tackle that resulted in a player’s death as administrators ponder how to handle the difficult situation.
Sunshine Coast Falcons forward James Ackerman died in a Brisbane hospital on Monday after suffering a critical head injury in a Queensland state league match against the Norths Devils at Bishop Park on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old father of two was felled in a tackle in the fourth minute of the game and suffered a major brain injury.
The player who was involved in the tackle, Francis Molo, is reportedly “not in a good way” and being offered support.
Molo is contracted to the Broncos and made his NRL debut for the club last year.
The Queensland Rugby League is facing a difficult decision about whether to examine the tackle now or at a later date.
Normal procedure would involve the competition’s match review committee assessing footage of all weekend incidents on a Monday night, with a charge sheet made public on a Tuesday.
But QRL officials are weighing up whether it is better to delay the process out of respect for Ackerman’s family for a few days or perhaps a couple of weeks – or to push on, so that Molo can be either cleared of any wrongdoing or charged as appropriate.
The tackle has been described as a “freak accident” and it is unclear whether the there was an illegal act however contact was made with Ackerman’s head.
Molo’s manager Simon Mammino told News Corp he was receiving counselling and support.
Ackerman was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and never regained consciousness.
He was taking the ball up from the kick off and suffered a blow to the head.
Medical staff worked on Ackerman for 55 minutes at the ground before he was taken away in an ambulance.
Falcons chairman Ashley Robinson said his main concern was making sure Ackerman’s family was supported and cared for.
The Falcons are offering counselling to their players while the Melbourne Storm, which is a Sunshine Coast affiliate club, have flown up their player welfare manager.
The Broncos and Storm are already planning to hold a major fundraiser for Ackerman’s family before their round 20 clash at AAMI Park.
Ackerman is survived by his wife Saraa and young children Olliver and Milly, parents Michael and Sonya and brothers Andrew and Thomas.
The Falcons said they did not know if they would go ahead with the scheduled game against the Townsville Blackhawks in Townsville on Sunday and it would depend on the timing of Ackerman’s funeral and the state of mind of the players.
Ackerman was a junior of the Sunshine Coast and played with local club Caloundra. He received a Brisbane Broncos scholarship as a youngster and played for the club’s under 20s team in 2009 and 2010.
He returned to the Sunshine Coast to play with the Falcons this year after spending time with Broncos feeder team the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Robinson described Ackerman as quiet, stoic and loved by all.
“He was one of those guys who could be relied upon, he was a good solid forward who just loved the game,” Robinson said.
“He was a man of few words. If I said I had spoken 100 words to him in the seven months he had been here, that would be an exaggeration.
“It was just `yes’ and `no’ and he always had a smile on his face. It was no wonder the players loved him, he never said what had to be done, he just did it.
“He always delivered and this is just a tragedy.”
Ackerman’s death is sadly not the first on an Australian rugby league field this year.
On Mother’s Day, Ballina father Zane Purcell, 29, was playing reserve grade for the Lower Clarence Magpies when he was hurt in a tackle and later died in hospital.
Former Welsh international Danny Jones, 29, died in May after suffering a suspected heart attack during a third-tier match in England.
In April, Nicholas Tooth, 25, collapsed after making a tackle while playing rugby union in Quirindi, northern NSW, and passed away the next day.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Well said Jay C, thoughts and prayers to the Ackerman family particularly the young kids. Also the young Broncos player will be doing it tough. A very tough time for all involved.
nopuritan
Guest
This self righteousness that increasingly permeates comments on "The Roar" these days is deeply disturbing. I can only assume that comments like that above are made by people who have never played rugby league in their life. . No matter what the incident, the response of this "moral minority" is always to rush towards retribution. As in this tragic case, there seems little will by some to examine the facts, or place them in an appropriate context. How refreshing it would be if such judgmentalism was tempered by maturity and compassion.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
No idea. Though there is footage of him being treated on the field I don't know if the incident itself was taped. Haven't actually looked for it.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Was it taped?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
From what I've been told/what I've read (haven't seen the incident myself) there was heavy contact between Molo and Ackerman off a kickoff return. I haven't seen or heard any actual details about the tackle other than contact was made head first. Whether it was Molo running up with a Rocky style swinging arm or Ackerman slipping into him just before contact I've no clue though I've read that witnesses said it looked fairly innocuous, and the team doctor treating him didn't believe it to be serious until he'd finished examining him. The game was then called off after he was treated for a half an hour on the field and an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital. The parents of James Ackerman have also reached out to Molo to console him who is currently receiving counselling and is reportedly in a bad place atm. I also just learned that the QRL have postponed the hearing indefinitely. I'd assume the full story will come out in time.
pjm
Roar Rookie
You seem to know a lot, what happened?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I think I need to take more care with what I say and how i say it. I've copped a fair bit of shtick this week online and off. Let me just say now that I don't blame anyone. It was an accident. They happen every single day. This is nothing more than a tragic accident and I wish Francis Molo all the best because I've never, ever, heard anything other than praise for him as a person, and like I said this was just a horrible accident. I wish the young family of Ackerman's all the best. What I won't tolerate though is a senseless blame game. Ackerman was a former Broncos junior and played alongside many of the current brisbane players. It's more than likely he and Molo knew each other. I didn't see the incident (and I won't be searching for it) but from what I've heard/been told it was heavy, but fairly innocuous, and for people to point their fingers at a 21 year old boy and say "it's your fault" is absolutely disgusting. For the governing body to send him to a judicial hearing days after the incident is disgusting. For people on social media calling for him to be arrested and charged is disgusting, and people who know me (though I understand this is an opinion website so there may not be much support to corroborate this here) know I don't get offended very easily, but this is really starting to get under my skin.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Trevor, WDD comment was in response to pjms remark. I'm positive no offense was intended to be directed at either of the men involved.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'm not the one throwing dirt at him? I'm criticising the QRL (or whoever it was) that felt the need to send him straight to the judiciary. I made that last comment to indicate how utterly ridiculous it is to think he's getting off scot free if he isn't punished by a judiciary.
Trevor
Guest
Very poor form William Dalton Davis. if Francis Molo did anything wrong he would be the first to put his hand up and take the penalty. As it is he is struggling with the incident and its a disgrace to be throwing dirt at him, you don't even know or understand the circumstances. Both these young men are obviously men of real character.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I heard Francis Molo was just given an infraction notice for the incident. No better way to deal with an accident like this than to point the finger at a young kid and say "you did this" I guess.
Don
Roar Rookie
A Trust Fund has been set up for the family of the late James Ackerman. Butler McDermott Lawyers Trust Account Bank of Queensland, 255 Queen Street, Brisbane BSB: 124001 A/C: 11500777 Please quote reference: 151181
Jay C
Roar Guru
Patrick, is their some way The Roar's members could get involved?
Jay C
Roar Guru
All that anyone should be doing at this point is offering their support to the people affected by this terrible accident. The last thing anyone needs is finger pointing and blame at this stage. Lets do whatever we can to lessen the hardship for the young family.