Manly Sea Eagles player died during ‘inappropriate’ training session, coroner finds

The Sea Eagles honoured Titmuss by posthumously naming him their 623rd first grade player despite being yet to make his NRL debut when he died.

He collapsed inside the club’s Narrabeen gym and suffered a seizure, and evidence given to the court described his involuntary howls as he moved around the dojo. He was taken to hospital where he later suffered a cardiac arrest.

“It’s been an incredibly distressing time for all of us, but particularly the family,” Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov said.

“We want to make sure we’re thinking of them today and how tough that was. Obviously, we’ve willingly participated in this inquiry and inquest. His Honour has handed down the findings today and we intend to take the recommendations up.

“This can’t happen again in the game. We all understand that. We don’t want it to happen under Manly’s watch ever again.”

Former Manly coach Des Hasler, who was employed at the club at the time of Titmuss’ death but has since left the Sea Eagles, provided evidence at the inquiry alongside a number of Sea Eagles officials as well as Titmuss’ former teammates including Josh Schuster, Moses Suli and Ben Trbojevic.

A paramedic reported Titmuss’ temperature was one they’d never seen before despite the maximum temperature at nearby Terrey Hills not reaching 25 degrees on the day.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Adam Casselden, SC, told the inquest in March the training session was “unnecessarily and inappropriately tough” for a player of Titmuss’ aerobic capacity, who was found to record the lowest score of Manly’s players during a yo-yo screening test days earlier.

Hasler previously told the court he rated the training session a “six or seven out of 10” as GPS data found Titmuss only covered an average of 47 metres per minute over the course of the session.

Lee described Titmuss’ death as a “tragic and devastating loss”.

“Keith was doing what he loved and sharing the love with his close friends,” Lee said.

Speaking on behalf of the family outside court, Titmuss’ mother Lafo said they hoped the NRL and Manly would implement all recommendations from the coroner.

“It’s been years in the making understanding the cause of death – and we now do,” she said.

“Keithy was unique. Keith loved life and he loved rugby league. He had so much belief in himself and he was so looking forward to making a mark in the rugby league world.

“Listening to the details of his last moments, that was heartbreaking.”

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