Parramatta Eels footy star Tom Opacic has bravely broken his silence to reveal the agony behind missing his brother s funeral on the Gold Coast in July due to lockout laws.
01:24 EDT, 5 July 2021
Pictured: Jakob Opacic, 28,who died on Friday
A jilted ex-lover vowed to kill love rival Jakob Opacic, brother of NRL player Tom Opacic, before he was found fatally injured on the side of the road, court documents reveal.
Steven Dale Latter, 28, and Benjamin Charles Johnson, 29, both faced Southport Magistrate Court on Monday charged with murder.
Police will allege the pair were waiting on Nerang-Murwillumbah Road on Friday - the day Johnson s former partner Rheannon Rowe was released from Numinbah Correctional Centre in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Police allege Ms Rowe was met by her family and her new partner Jake Opacic, whose brother Tom plays for the Parramatta Eels, just after 10am.
By WWOS staff12 hours ago
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The Parramatta Eels encouraged Tom Opacic to pull out of Friday s one-point loss to the Panthers but the Eels centre wanted to play just hours after his older brother died in Queensland.
Police suspect Jakob Opacic died in suspected road rage incident following an alleged argument outside the Numinbah Correctional Centre just after 10am on Friday.
Opacic s teammates showed their respect by wearing black armbands in their 13-12 loss to the Panthers, with Opacic playing 80 minutes at right centre. Parramatta coach Brad Arthur confirmed the club urged him not to play but the courageous Eel didn t want to let his teammates down.