WHEN you become integral to Wayne Bennett's half-time speech you know you've had an impact on all the right people.
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That was the main message coming from inside St Agnes Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 28 as inspirational Port Macquarie teenager Jake Spurdle was farewelled.
Mother Nyky revealed to the congregation that her son had an influence on a remarkable amount of people across his all-too-brief 15-year life.
But none more so than on the rugby league supercoach after training.
"Wayne asked Jake a few weeks ago how his battle was going, to which Jake responded 'I'm Jake' to which Wayne responded ... 'Jake? Oh THE Jake'," she said.
"And that stuck with us."
It was that relationship that formed the basis of the supercoach's stirring halftime address last Friday night - barely 24 hours after Jake had passed away.
With his beloved Rabbitohs trailing the Titans 24-10 at the break, Bennett reminded them of their duty to pay tribute to arguably their most devoted fan who had lost his battle with osteosarcoma.
"Wayne talked about Jake at halftime which obviously did the trick and got the boys over the line," Nyky recalled.
"South Sydney Rabbitohs are very deeply entrenched into what Jake and I do and our greatest wish is for (premiership) win number 22 this season.
"The club have been absolutely incredible and an integral part of the last 16 months (since the bone cancer diagnosis) and have given so much and we will be eternally grateful for our la-la land moments."
Born in Yorkshire, Jake moved to Port Macquarie as a three-year-old and shortly after landing Down Under he attended his first Rabbitohs game.
The club's mascot - Reggie the Rabbit - was undoubtedly the main drawcard.
However, the teenager's inspiration wasn't just restricted to a National Rugby League club with a master coach.
Paralympians Ryley Batt and Andrew Edmondson have gotten just as much out of their relationship with him as he has with theirs.
"The significance of meeting Ryley Batt and Andrew Edmondson was beyond palpable. Life could be normal in a wheelchair and these guys provided strong, positive change to Jake's life.
"Hanging out with wheelchair Paralympians was life-changing."
Most tellingly, the totem for Jake and Nyky is the kangaroo because it can only move forward which they hope can be his legacy.
"We look forward, we don't look back and always look ahead ... what are we going to achieve this week," she said.
He taught many people the value of resilience and that no matter what life throws at you there are always two options - to either crumple or say 'what's next'.
His tenacity and never-give-up attitude will be remembered. We can achieve whatever we want in life - all we have to do is think of what he would do and apply it to ourselves.
Jake was given to us not for a long time, but he drove change in the lives he touched. After all, he loved a good party.
From Wayne Bennett to Father Paul Gooley, Jake had an impact on everyone he met and it's why Father Gooley replaced his red vestment with a Rabbitohs scarf for the final prayer.
"I thought today I'd give Jake one more gift," Fr Gooley said.
"Even though it hurts me as a Cowboys supporter, I think it's an appropriate way to say our final farewell."
A Rabbitohs spokesperson said they were all saddened to hear of Jake's passing.
"He has had a profound effect on our players and our club," they said.
"We will continue to offer our support to his mum, Nyky, and his family.
"He was a very special young man and he certainly showed that South Sydney fighting spirit right to the end."
Jake Leslie Spurdle. Remember his name.
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