Tributes are flowing thick and fast today following the death of Sam Backo, the Canberra, Queensland and Australian prop from the 1980s and 1990s. Sam passed away on the weekend at the age of 64, a victim of the bacterial infection melioidosis.
‘Slamming Sam’ may have seemed too many to be an old style, barraging front rower. He certainly was that, unstoppable close to the try line, but he was also a ball player who possessed a skilful offload in heavy traffic.
Maroons supporters will particularly remember his feats in State of Origin at the end of the 1980s when his debut series resulted in a clean sweep for the northerners. His feat of a try in each Test of an Ashes series by a prop forward remains unique in the history of that competition.
But Sam was much more than a footballer. To expand on both his playing career and his extensive service to the community after injury forced his early retirement from football at 29, here are several links from a variety of sources.
To see Sam’s full career details click HERE.
To read a biography from Wikipedia click HERE.
To read an extended tribute on Sam Backo from ABC News click HERE.
A big man, a great player, a wonderful servant of the community.
RIP Sam Backo.
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Very sad. He really was much-loved, by everyone. Vale Sam Backo.
Thanks for posting this. As a Canberra resident in the 80’s (though not a big NRL fan) I couldn’t escape the Raiders. And Big Sam stood out as the hard working foundation and protector around which Stuart and Daley and Ferguson and Clyde could work their magic.
I had no idea about his indigenous/islander heritage. For some reason – his name and appearance – I always thought of him as having Italian heritage. But the ABC tribute makes clear that his values and life after footy had a much more profound and lasting impact than his NRL career.
Vale Sam.