A few weeks back I posted a poem that focussed on the tragedies that have occurred in within the NRL community in recent times. This was because Jharal Yow Yeh had announced his retirement which got me thinking about Simon Dwyer and two young players who tragically lost their lives in unconfirmed circumstances - West Tiger Mosese Fotuaika and North Queensland Cowboy Alex Elisala. Since then we've witnessed Alex McKinnon become the latest victim.

In the space of five years, two young men lost their lives and three young men had their careers cut short. In the case of Mosese and Alex their deaths were not in the same accidental circumstances as Yow Yeh, Dwyer and McKinnon and because we never really got to the bottom of their tragic deaths, I'm not willing to speculate too much. The cases of Yow Yeh, Dwyer and McKinnon were footy tragedies, terrible accidents that occur when you play such a brutal sport like rugby league.

Five years, two deaths, three career ending injuries. It's not good reading. There aren't too many sporting competitions around the world that have a record like this. It sucks and puts life in perspective for us regular folk that if this can happen to our heroes who we view as invincible, then what's in store for us? A sobering thought.

There aren't many competitions which have had to deal with such tragedy on such a regular basis. This, like the weekly battle that these lads go through, forges the rugby league community into steel. Anyone who thinks that the phrase 'rugby league community' is restricted to players, former players, coaches and staff isn't much of a leaguie. The rugby league community is one where every die hard league fan is as much a part of the community as the players, which is only intensified when tragedy strikes.

Rugby league and the NRL has been riding a wave of success, more money is in the game, the product is amazing and the players continue to amaze. I can't help but feel that the success and the tragedy of recent years go hand in hand. Not how you think though. Because of what the rugby league community has had to go through on what seems to be a regular basis, the community is hardened, more passionate and together - a true blue community.

Young men will always make mistakes, mistakes that make for good headlines and news fillers. They are an easy target with the public and the media. Yet fantastic young men continue to be produced while tragedy still strikes. It is this mix of fortunes that makes the community what it is. All we can do is learn and continue to provide the support that these young men need, whether it be giving young Polynesian men a helping hand when they are shifted away from their families at a young age, or whether it's a regular punter like you or I just smiling and offering our support to a player who has fallen victim to the footy gods.

Rules won't stop tragedies. Education, support and knowledge won't either, but they will help.