Rugby league icon John Sattler has died at the age of 80.
Sattler had suffered from dementia for a number of years.
He played 195 games for South Sydney in the 1960s and 70s, and famously led the Rabbitohs to victory in the 1970 grand final despite breaking his jaw during the game.
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That was one of four premierships he won with his beloved Bunnies, having been named captain of the team in 1967 and that season leading the club to its first title in 12 years.
He also captained South Sydney to titles in 1968 and 1971.
He was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2008.
Following the 1967 grand final, Sattler was picked to represent Australia and toured with the Kangaroos to Great Britain and France.
He began his career at lock and later transitioned to the front row, and to this day is regarded as one of the toughest players to ever play the game.
This was never more evident than the 1970 premiership decider, when he broke his jaw in the first five minutes but played the rest of the game and led the Rabbitohs to a 23-12 victory over Manly.
The injury unfortunately robbed Sattler of the chance to represent Australia at the World Cup that year.
Sattler’s son, Scott, played 203 first grade games and famously pulled off a grand final winning tackle for Penrith in 2003.
A statement from South Sydney described Sattler as “one of the greatest leaders the club has ever had”.
“If anyone is to epitomize the true spirit of the South Sydney Rabbitohs it is John Sattler,” club chairman Nicholas Pappas said.
“He bled red and green. He would do anything for his teammates. He never took a backwards step. He always led from the front.
“He was loved by everyone connected with the Rabbitohs, whether it be one of his former teammates who he led to premiership glory, or the man in the street who loved South Sydney just as much as he did.
“He was tough and brave but fair, uncompromising on the field and empathetic off it, and he truly epitomized everything that we want the Rabbitohs to be.”
The Rabbitohs plan to honour Sattler during Saturday’s game against the Sea Eagles.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys also paid tribute.
“John was a legend of the game,” V’landys said.
“The tales of his toughness were quite extraordinary, but they were also at odds with his nature off the field. He was a true gentleman.”
NRL supercoach Wayne Bennett paid tribute to Sattler when speaking on Triple M’s Rush Hour.
“He played in that era where I think the game started to change, to give us the game that we’ve got today,” Bennett said.
“His toughness is certainly well known, he’s renowned for it. The position he played, in that front row you had to be really tough.
“It was a different game then, and John epitomized the game at the time.
“John always held his own and stuck up for his teammates, and I’m sure they will be thinking of him today very fondly.”
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