Lance Thompson will be watching from above, cheering on the Red V this weekend.
That's the earnest belief of St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor after former Dragons and Cronulla back-rower Thompson was laid to rest at his funeral on Friday.
Members of the Dragons and Cronulla coaching staff, around half the Sharks playing group, former teammates and rugby league officials including NRL CEO Todd Greenberg attended the service at Horizons Church at Sutherland.
The eulogies were delivered by former Dragons teammate Mark Gasnier and commentator Andrew Voss.
Dragons players, who had already flown to Brisbane ahead of Sunday's elimination final with Brisbane, could not attend due to their schedule.
"It was a great service for a good person. It was good closure and he'll be watching on," McGregor said.
"Absolutely he will be (cheering on), for sure."
His wake was held at the Sharks League Clubs and at the request of Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, the ground staff drew a giant No.12 on the Southern Cross Group Stadium playing surface as a tribute to their beloved former back-rower.
Both clubs now have the difficult task of putting an emotional day behind them and focusing on crunch finals this weekend.
Flanagan, along with many Sharks players including Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen, were close to Thompson right up until his death a fortnight ago.
Thompson died at the age of 40 and his body was found by his 17-year-old daughter.
The hard-working second-rower played 239 games over the course of a 14-year career that spanned 1995 to 2008.
He started out at St George before being an inaugural member of the joint venture St George Illawarra side.
He had three years at the Sharks from 2006 to 2008 but remained close to many at the Cronulla club as worked in the Shire running several restaurants including at the Woolooware Golf Club.
