Sam Backo dead at 64: Tributes are paid to footy great after he tragically passes away weeks after stay in hospital battling life-threatening tropical disease
The footy great enjoyed a glittering 10-year career at the top of the game, most notably playing for the Canberra Raiders, Leeds Rhinos and the Brisbane Broncos.
He was named as one of the greatest Aboriginal players of the 20th century notably becoming the first Australian forward to score tries in all three of the Ashes series in 1988.
Also known as 'Slammin Sam' Backo, the former Queensland star had been diagnosed with melioidosis earlier this year and had spent some time in an intensive care unit in Cairns Hospital.
He had watched last month's gripping State of Origin decider that saw Queensland snatch the shield away from New South Wales in Sydney.
He believes he caught the illness following a swim in a Freshwater Creek at Goomboora Park in Cairns.
Melioidosis is an infectious disease that is caused by bacteria lurking in dirty water. The illness is treated with antibiotics and symptoms can include fevers, headaches or trouble breathing.
Back in 2023, Backo was admitted to hospital in a critical condition after he had suffered a heart attack.
At the time, NRL great Wally Lewis had sent his well wishes to the footy great, describing him as a true competitor on the field.
'He was such a dominant prop. When he came on, Sam just destroyed everyone that was in front of him. Sam was the size of a cement truck and he made the most of it,' he told The Daily Telegraph.
'That dominating period for Sam, in the late 1980s, probably gave Queensland dominance in size for the first time.
'To have him in control up front, it gave blokes like me, Alf (Allan Langer) and Mal (Meninga) the time and space. He was unstoppable.
'With some of the great back lines we had, I used to give Sam a bit of a spray: 'Sam, we want time, we want some space … get it for us.' And he did it.
'Sam also had the voice that everyday tried to mimic. He certainly drew plenty of love and support from the Indigenous community. He was a very proud representative of that community.
'He was the size of a house.'
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