Almanac Rugby League – Vale John Sattler: One of South Sydney’s greatest

 

Arguably the most famous photograph in the history of Australian rugby league is the iconic image of Norm Provan and Arthur Summons that has been immortalised in the Provan/Summons trophy awarded to the NRL’s premiership team.

 

But not far behind it is the image of John Sattler being chaired off the field by Bob McCarthy at the end of the 1970 NSWRL Grand Final. Sattler famously played all but about five minutes of the match with a badly broken jaw. The rest, as they say, is rugby league folklore.

 

A rugged, as tough as they come competitor on the paddock, Sattler was know as a quietly spoken gentleman off the field. It has been suggested that his death this week at the age of 80 brings an end to an era which showcased the last of the really hard men of the code.

 

Russel Hansen, The Footy Almanac’s Rabbit in the Vineyard, penned this moving tribute.

 

Vale John William Sattler, 28 July 1942 – 20 March 2023

Today, Monday 20 March 2023, has been a sad day for rugby league, especially the South Sydney Rabbitohs community.

John Sattler had been battling dementia.

Like Mario Fenech.

Like Ray Price.

Like Steve Mortimer, and so many, many others.

‘Satts’ is known for captaining South Sydney to four premierships: 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971.

The name John Sattler became etched into rugby league folklore for playing 77 minutes of the 1970 Grand Final with a broken jaw.

Today, social media has been overflowing with tributes.

Tough, a great leader, a true gentleman.

This afternoon, during after school professional development, my phone began to light up with messages.

“An icon of our game and our club.”

“I hope our team fire up on Saturday and do it for him.”

“Satts passed away … bloody heartbreaking,” texted Hookesy.

John Sattler, the gentleman, was at his absolute humble best when the Queensland for South Sydney supporters group formed for the 2002 season – the year of Souths’ reinstatement to the NRL.

My great friend Rob Bush, the convenor of the fan group, organised game days at the Runcorn Tavern, where Satts was the publican.

Satts was the Patron of the Queensland supporters’ group.

Nothing was too much trouble for Satts. He had time for everyone.

When he signed all manner of red and green items, and there was always plenty to sign, he would carefully scribe his name in very neat writing, with a smile on his face.

In 2003, Rob organised for Satts to speak at a Sportsman’s lunch in Ipswich, before a Souths pre-season trial.

Rob rang me this afternoon and we remembered those wonderful days in Brisbane during the early 2000s.

I raised a glass of Barossa red, Mengler View 2016 Cab Sav – Shiraz, some of Faith College’s finest, to Satts.

Current Fox League/SEN identity Bryan Fletcher was a Souths player in 2003.

This afternoon on SEN, Fletcher recalled that pre-season trial when Satts led the team out onto the field.

The Souths players were suitably awestruck, Fletcher remembered.

I recall the weather that night as typically Queensland summer tropical.

The NRL trial game was played in driving rain at the North Ipswich Reserve.

The weather did not dull our enthusiasm.

Souths were playing and the legend himself, John Sattler, was in the house.

For the past two rounds of the NRL, Round 2 at Penrith, then last Friday night versus the Roosters, I have been incredibly frustrated by parts of South Sydney’s on field performances.

Today, as we mourn the loss of a Rabbitohs legend, I am incredibly proud to be a member of South Sydney football club.

R.I.P. John William Sattler

Glory Glory.

Rabbit in the Vineyard, SSDRLC Member 6199

 

 

John Sattler’s immaculate autograph

 

Sattler, Eric Sims and Bob McCarthy running the streets of Redfern

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Russel Hansen.

 

To see a profile of Sattler’s career click here.

 

To read a short biography of John Sattler click here.

 

To read a tribute posted by the South Sydney Rabbitohs click here.

 

To read Martin Lenehan’s tribute from nrl.com click here.

 

To read Adam Pengilly’s tribute to ‘Satts’ in The Sydney Morning Herald click here.

 

To read another tribute, this time from The Guardian click here.

 

 

To see the full draw for Season 2023 click HERE.

To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

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