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Teams pay emotional tribute to late league player

Tributes to Sunshine Coast footballer James Ackerman are being held at rugby league matches across Queensland and interstate this weekend.

The 25-year-old father of two suffered fatal head injuries in a Queensland Cup game in Brisbane last Saturday.

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Capricorn Coast Brothers U11s unite to pay tribute.

Queensland rugby league player dies
Man dies after rugby tackle
Club grieves for footy player

Mr Ackerman was playing as a forward for the Sunshine Coast Falcons when he was tackled by Francis Molo just five minutes into the game against the Norths Devils  at Bishop Park in Nundah, in Brisbane’s north.

A duty doctor and first aid staff treated him on the field for more than half an hour.

Ackerman never regained consciousness and died in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on Monday.

Falcons chief executive Chris Flannery said this weekend Sunshine Coast clubs would “take a knee” and form a circle – recreating their actions on the day Mr Ackerman was injured.

Mr Ackerman’s funeral will be held on Wednesday.

Queensland Rugby League chairman Peter Betros said the official video showing the fatal tackle would not be released.

He defended writing up Molo for the tackle and said regardless of how upsetting the situation was, due process had to be followed.

Mr Betros said Molo was not yet fit to appear before the judiciary.

“We did the right thing by following that process, setting up the judiciary tribunal,” he said.

“They met, they heard submissions from his legal representation.

“That’s all been adjourned and now we’ll wait and see what the results of those submissions are.”

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