'A beautiful person': Bulimba pay tribute to Michael Purcell

Play like Purcey.

That was the mantra the Bulimba Bulldogs took into Saturday’s BRL matches, as they paid tribute to their beloved Michael Purcell, who sadly passed away Sunday, August 7.

To “play like Purcey” wasn’t just about skill or talent, though the former Ipswich Jets and Brisbane Tigers fullback had plenty.

Instead, to “play like Purcey” was about playing with heart. It was about making an impact and showing a love for the game of rugby league. Just like he did.

Bulimba farewelled their teammate and clubman, a man who was treasured for so much more than just his football ability, with a dedication on Saturday.

A player tunnel was formed as Purcell’s A grade teammates, Ollie Pascoe and Huskie Teutau, carried out the No.1 Indigenous jersey that he designed with fellow player Tristian Wright-Scott and presented it to his family.

Club president Adam Kambouris spoke and then one minute of silence was held.

The No.1 jersey was retired from both A grade and reserve grade, while the players wore their Indigenous round shorts in honour of Purcell.

Kambouris and Purcell’s coach Michael Lambert said it was a tribute to the sensation, but also a chance for people to grieve, remember and celebrate his life.

Purcell only played three games for the Bulldogs over two seasons due to repeat ACL injuries, but the impact he had away from the field was much greater and much more important.

It was something Kambouris could see and feel on Saturday.

“From the outside looking in, it’s easy to think he hasn’t been here that much or played that much,” Kambouris said.

“But it was something to see on the weekend, that impact he had.

“His mum and his dad, his sister, his loved ones and his family were at Bulimba and that meant so much to the club.

“Michael had found a home here. It was the connection with our team and I didn’t even realise how truly big it was.

“The impact he had on the players… I said on Saturday that off the field was where his true value was to the club. It wasn’t to do with the on field.

“His smile lit up a room. He could light up the whole group. He just had this cheeky personality. He just made everyone smile.

“The couple of times he did play, everyone knows he’s a genuine freak. But what you’d notice is the boys around him would stand a bit taller, run a bit faster.

“Everyone would say, ‘how are you going to go today?’. All we’d have to say is, ‘well, we have Purcey.’”

Kambouris said many people at the club were still coming to terms with the loss of Purcell, including himself and Lambert, who Purcell was particularly close with.

Lambert has struggled in the days since the 28-year-old passed, but has been encouraging his playing group to embrace their pain and to allow themselves to feel it.

He said that was another important aspect of the dedication on Saturday – that the players were able to work through their emotions.

“We have a lot of broken boys there but we’re trying to work through it,” Lambert said.

“It’s hard to understand and I’m trying to lead a bunch of young men through a difficult situation that not too many have encountered before.

“It’s a super tight club, super tight group and very mature group. Everyone got around everyone and I told them, ‘it’s okay to cry’, and the boys did cry on Saturday.

“It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to talk, it’s okay to give another bloke a cuddle.

“It became real for a lot of people on Saturday. It’s only going to get realer at his funeral for the majority of the group that are going out there (to Charleville). But it’s the start of the grieving process.”

Purcell not only had an impact on his teammates, coaches, Lambert and Kambouris, but for all the people at Bulimba.

A heartbroken Lambert said his 12-year-old daughter is a ball kid at the club and she too was mourning the loss of a person who seemed to have time for everyone around him.

“Forget about the footy stuff. It was nothing to do with footy when it came to Purcey,” Lambert said.

“Whenever he walked into training, everything was good. Everyone smiled, everyone was happy. He always had kind words for anyone who wanted to listen. And when he did talk, everyone waited with bated breath.

“The thing about Michael is, he couldn’t care if you were the greatest player of all time in Cameron Smith or an Opens player at Bulimba. He couldn’t care less. He gave time to everyone.

“It didn’t matter who you were to Michael. It was the personality he cared about. He was just a beautiful person and he didn’t even understand the impact he had. The way he treated people, it was nothing to him. He just did it for everyone – ball kids, the canteen lady, any player, he didn’t care.

“My middle daughter, she’s a ball kid at Bulimba and had a fair bit to do with Purcey. She texted me on Tuesday and asked if I was nearly home.

“When I got home, I didn’t even get down the hallway before she came up to me.

“She said to me, ‘Dad, I didn’t say get to say 'hi' to Purcey last time I saw him. He was with the boys and I didn’t want to interrupt him and now I’ll never get to say hi again.’

“The impact is so far-reaching.”

Lambert himself had a special connection with Purcell, with the two clicking as soon as he walked through Bulimba’s doors in 2021.

Contracted to the Tigers at the time, he was sent back to BRL A grade for two games, and that instant bond played a part in Purcell signing directly to the club in 2022.

They were so close that even the other players knew there was a different set of rules for Purcell.

“I remember there was one day really early on in the pre-season and he was injured with his knee so he wasn’t coming to every session as he was still in rehab,” Lambert said.

“But he rocked up to this one session and I’m big on punctuality.

“My back was to the entry of the field and we were doing our gratitude session that we do every training.

“This ute comes down the hill, music blaring like Saturday night in the Valley, and I didn’t turn around but I said to the group, ‘who is that? They’re going to cop a roasting'.

“One of the players goes, ‘it’s your son so I bet you won’t say anything now'. 

“I turned around and saw him and yeah, they were right. I didn’t say anything.

“There were rules for everyone and rules for Purce. He’s always going to be missed but he’s not going to be forgotten.”

Bulimba have been in constant contact with Purcell’s family and loved ones since his passing and it was through this communication that the club came up with the idea to present the family with the Indigenous jersey.

When they realised the importance of that jersey to Purcell, and how proud he was of it, it was a no-brainer.

While the jerseys were sold in auctions, the person who bought the No.1 gave it back to the club without hesitation.

Lambert said the jersey “meant everything” to Purcell and Kambouris said the family now had a “piece of Michael” with them forever.

Purcell’s No.1 jersey was also retired at his Cup clubs over the weekend, with the Jets and Tigers paying their respects.

After the presentation to the family at Bulimba, the Bulldogs' A grade side went on to beat Valleys Diehards 20-8.

Kambouris said the emotion was evident in that game, and also for reserve grade who lost on the day.

But really, it wasn’t a day where results mattered all that much.

“It was about more than footy,” Kambouris said.

“There was a lot of exhausted boys that dug deep in both games.

“The whole thing was to play like Purcey – put a smile on our face and do this together. Win, lose or draw, do this together.

“Lambo’s message to the boys was to give the best account of yourself because that’s what Purcey did on the field.”