The Canberra Raiders community is mourning the death of Mick Tilse, Raider No.16, who passed away peacefully on Monday night following a long illness. He was 67 years old.
Tilse’s death comes just one day after the passing of fellow Raiders legend Sam Backo, deepening the sorrow across the rugby league world.
Mick Tilse holds a special place in Raiders history as a foundation player in the club’s inaugural NSWRL season in 1982.
He made his first-grade debut for North Sydney in 1980, but it was under the guidance of coach Don Furner Sr. that Tilse made the move to Canberra and helped shape the birth of a new club.
Described at the time by The Canberra Times as “a tall and strongly built front-row forward,” Tilse took to the field for Canberra’s first-ever game against South Sydney at Redfern Oval.
Although he played just nine first-grade games for the Raiders and never secured a win in those appearances, Tilse’s contribution to the club’s early foundation is undeniable.
He was also part of the Raiders squad that clinched the club’s first-ever victory in any competition—a 27-15 win over South Island of New Zealand in a mid-week Cup match at Leichhardt Oval.
The Tilse legacy did not end with Mick. His son, Dane Tilse, began his career in Newcastle but went on to become a key player for the Raiders, appearing in 201 NRL games over ten seasons.
Together, Mick and Dane formed the club’s first-ever father-son duo, forging a proud and lasting family connection with the Green Machine.
“The Raiders would like to pass on their condolences to the Tilse family after the passing of Mick Tilse,” said club CEO Don Furner.
“Mick was a foundation player in 1982 and his son Dane went on to play over 200 first-grade games for the club, so the Tilse name has had a long and proud association with the Raiders.”
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Tributes have poured in from across the rugby league community. Veteran NRL journalist The Mole wrote,
“RIP Mick Tilse — an inaugural Canberra Raiders player… dad of Dane who also played for the club. Will be missed.”
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The Greenhouse Forum also acknowledged his foundational role and extended condolences to Dane and the Tilse family.
Mick’s son, Luke Tilse, shared a heartfelt message on social media:
“Mick Tilse, father to three, and grandfather to six, passed away last night after a long illness. He passed peacefully, surrounded by family around 7:30 p.m. Thank you to all his amazing friends and family who came to see him, sent messages of love, and supported him in his final weeks. Thank you to the amazing staff at Scone Hospital who made his last few weeks as comfortable as they could possibly be.”
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Details of Mick Tilse’s funeral will be announced in the coming days.
As the Raiders and their fans reflect on his life, the memory of Mick Tilse remains deeply etched in the club’s history—as one of the pioneers who laid the foundation for what would become one of the NRL’s proudest teams.
