The Canberra Raiders wore black armbands in last night's NRL semi-final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs to commemorate the life of former junior Jay Lasscock. The 25-year-old Queanbeyan Blues captain died suddenly last Sunday.

Led by Raiders captains Terry Campese and David Shillington, both very close friends of Jay's elder brother Cy, the Raiders players requested to wear the bands last night to pay their respects.

Shillington and Campese both spent time with the Lasscock family during the week. ''It's a footballing family, all the brothers have played footy for the Raiders and the Queanbeyan Blues. It's hit the rugby league community pretty hard,'' Campese said. ''I'm close to the family personally and it definitely hit a few of the boys at training hard, too. It's something you never want to happen and it's great the boys wanted to show their respect for the family and Jay.''

Cy Lasscock was a former Australian Schoolboys representative in 2004 and was due to make his NRL debut for the Raiders until suffering a horror knee injury in 2009 that ended his footy career.

Jay Lasscock, who represented NSW Country last year, also played junior Raiders with NRL players such as Canberra five-eighth Josh McCrone.

''Jay was a terrific rugby league player but an even better person,'' McCrone said.

''His friendly nature and personal qualities in some regard overshadowed his doubtless talent on the field, and that's a true testament to the type of person that Jay was.''

The youngest of the Lasscock brothers, Kyle, also represented Raiders juniors.

A large Raiders contingent will attend Lasscock's funeral on Tuesday.