Former Young Matildas captain and current NRLW star opens up about late father's suicide - 'always encouraging'

NRLW star Sheridan Gallagher has opened up about losing her father to suicide when she was just 16.

The Knights flyer - who also plays in the ALW for Newcastle Jets - recalled how her dad encouraged her from a young age.

'I wasn't [initially] good at sport at a young age,' the cross-code athlete said.

'So to keep me out there on the field and turning up week in week out, he used to have to stand next to me on the sideline and give me red frogs.

'He was always encouraging, and he was just happy that I was out there playing sport and having fun.'

Gallagher, 23, took to social media this week to post about World Suicide Prevention Day after losing her father suddenly.

She spoke to students at Cardiff High School - north of Sydney - about the importance of speaking up if you are struggling, before sharing the deeply personal story of losing her father to suicide.

Her key message was suicide prevention needs to be a topic discussed, not avoided.

Gallagher - who played junior representative football with Matildas stars Mary Fowler and Kyra Cooney-Cross - also told reporters this week she feels her father's influence on game day.

'[During a match], I just try and think about the game and think about what I have to do for the team,' she said.

'After the game, there's definitely that emotion there that sort of fills you.'

Two years after her father's passing, Gallagher went on to captain the Young Matildas, playing alongside Fowler and Cooney-Cross.

Gallagher now will turn her attention to the Saturday's elimination NRLW final against the Gold Coast Titans in Newcastle.

Victory will secure a clash with the Brisbane Broncos in a grand final qualifier.

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.