AAP Rugby

Rugby league great John Sattler dies

By AAP Newswire

Mar 20, 2023

John Sattler has died at the age of 80. — Rugby league is mourning John Sattler, a South Sydney great who has died at the age of 80. -AAP Image

Rugby league great John Sattler has died, aged 80.

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Sattler's name became synonymous with South Sydney across 197 games between 1963 and 1972. The Rabbitohs confirmed his death on Monday afternoon in a statement.

The forward was particularly well remembered for one courageous performance in the 1970 grand final defeat of Manly.

Rival forward John Bucknall punched Sattler and broke his jaw early in the game but the Rabbitohs prop played through the injury and helped secure a famous 23-12 victory.

A photograph of Sattler with his bloodied jaw on his teammates' shouldersÂ has become one of rugby league's most iconic images.

Sattler won four premierships as captain of the Rabbitohs. His last in 1971 was South Sydney's last until their drought-breaking triumph in 2014.

In four appearances for Australia, Sattler captained his country three times.

Sattler's son Scott, a premiership-winning rugby league player in his own right, revealed in June 2021 that his father had been battling dementia since early 2020.

The NRL and Rabbitohs are expected to release statements on Sattler's death on Monday afternoon.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press