"God took another good one away from us. He must have his reasons. But it doesn't lessen my grief."
The wife of a Gold Coast rugby league player who died after suffering a critical head injury during a match on Sunday has summed up her love and loss in a heartbreaking Facebook post.
Grant Cook, 28, died in Gold Coast University Hospital on Sunday night after collapsing during a Northern Rivers Rugby League A-Grade preliminary final earlier that day.
Mr Cook was playing for the Murwillumbah Mustangs against the Casino Cougars when he was tackled just before halftime.
The father of two collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, with volunteers at the ground attempting to resuscitate him before he was airlifted from the ground.
He died from his injury in the hospital on Sunday night.
Colleen Cook took to social media to honour the popular local businessman, who ran a fruit and vegetable shop in Tweed Heads and had been playing rugby league for most of his life.
"He has left a huge hole in my heart and I know all family, especially his parents, are hurting trying to understand this tragedy," Ms Cook said.
"You died doing something you loved so passionately, and I guess that's how I have to look at it.
"You finally got to wear that number 6 jersey before the season was out too."
Ms Cook added her husband had "blessed genetically" their two children with his blue eyes and she would see him in them daily.
NRRL president Brian Rix, who knows Mr Cook's family, said the incident had shocked the local rugby league community.
"It was just a normal game of rugby league that has turned into a tragic event," he told AAP.
"We are just a little bit taken aback this morning, trying to sort ourselves out."
In a brief statement, the Country Rugby League said they would be offering counselling to Mr Cook's family and both teams who had participated in the match.
The match has been postponed until Tuesday although a decision was expected on Monday afternoon on whether to abandon the fixture altogether.
The Mustangs have also established a fundraising account for Ms Cook and her family, with details on the club's Facebook page.
NSW police are reviewing footage of the incident and will prepare a report for the coroner.
