NRL world rallies around Greg Alexander and Mark Geyer after heartbreaking family news.
NRL fans and commentators are sending messages of support to Greg Alexander and Mark Geyer after the death of their mother and mother-in-law Leonie Alexander. Geyer took to social media on Friday to announce the death of Leonie – the matriarch of the family involving two Penrith Panthers legends.
“With such deep sorrow we let you know of the passing of our beloved Mum, Mum-in-law, Nanny Lee, and Great Nan, Leonie Alexander – The Queen of our Hearts. Rest in Love and Peace Beautiful You,” Geyer wrote.
Leonie is the mother of champion Panthers halfback Greg Alexander, and Geyer’s mother-in-law. Geyer, who is also a Panthers great, is married to Greg’s sister Megan. Leonie is also the grandmother of current Panthers player Mavrik Geyer.
Leonie Alexander endured devastating death of son Ben
She endured unimaginable tragedy in 1992 when Greg’s brother Ben died in a car accident at age 20. Ben had played 36 games for the Panthers when he died in tragic circumstances, the same night as the team had been presented with blazers commemorating their grand final triumph in 1991.
Ben was a rising star in the rugby league world, and his death had devastating impacts on the Panthers for years to come. Greg said about his brother’s death in 2016: “I still haven’t (come to terms with it). It’s always been a hard thing to talk about. I struggled with it for so long. I lost the passion to play league, I don’t know how I did it for a long time.
“It was like I was on autocue and just did what I’d done for so long, but did it without passion. That was the reason that I decided to head off to New Zealand.”
Greg left the Panthers to play for the Warriors in 1995, before returning to Penrith to finish his career two years later. “I would have loved to have been a one-club player and played with Penrith for my whole career,” he said.
