It’s been a horrific 48 hours for Rabbitohs winger Tyrone Munro but the 19-year-old showed maturity beyond his years to play for his team on Friday night.
Munro’s mum passed away on Wednesday and then his uncle passed away on Friday morning.
The teenage winger was given the option to sit out of the clash with the Panthers but as interim coach Ben Hornby revealed post-game, “that never entered his mind.”
Munro was a shinning light for South Sydney in the 34-12 loss, scoring two tries and topping his team with 166 running metres in what was just his third NRL game of the season.
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He was swarmed by his teammates, who all had black armbands on, after both tries and veteran half Cody Walker credited Munro’s resilience after an “absolutely devastating” week.
“We all feel for ‘Ty Ty’ and his family. I just want to say on behalf of everyone at the club, we just wanted to send all our love and support to the family,” Walker said.
“I’ve got great admiration and respect for going out there and putting a Bunny jersey on two days after losing his mum and his uncle this morning.
“Nothing but respect and admiration for that young kid. He’s 19-years of age, to have a head on his shoulders the way that he does, we’re so proud to have him at the club and we love having him a part of our group.”
Hornby echoed that.
“We’re just so proud of him to do what he did,” he said.
“We obviously gave him the opportunity to not come to training the other day and not to play but that never entered his mind.
“All he’s been focused on is the game and doing his family proud — there’s no doubt he did that tonight.”
In a beautiful moment during the game, Munro had a big smile on his face as he intercepted an Izack Tago pass to run 90 metres and score.
When asked what his emotions were like during that moment, Hornby said: “the same as his — you saw his face.”
“When he was running away he was having a good time out there. We were doing the same. We couldn’t be prouder of him, for such a young kid to do what he’s done tonight after what’s happened it’s unbelievable,” Hornby added.
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Munro was set to find a home in the Rabbitohs’ right wing this season only for injuries to cruel him of that opportunity.
He missed a chunk of pre-season due to an ankle injury, then fractured his collarbone, which ruled him out of the first five rounds. He returned in Round 6 only to fracture it again.
After four months on the sidelines, Munro returned to the field via NSW Cup in Round 24 and then was parachuted straight into first grade last week.
It’s been a rough year but Walker believes “100 per cent” 2025 can be Munro’s breakout season.
“He’s a great young kid that just wants to learn and do anything possible to help the team,” he said.
“He’s got nothing of him but he puts his hand up to take those tough carries that not many players like taking.
“But he’s just got the courage and the mind to be a really good football player over the next couple of years.
“He’s showing us what he’s capable of, he’s got speed, he’s great in defence and reads the game quite well.
Hornby added: “He loves the physicality of the game and that’s a great start for a young player.”
Source Agencies
