Family and friends have gathered to farewell South Sydney legend John Sattler during a funeral on the Gold Coast.
The 80-year-old, who has been lauded as one of the toughest players in rugby league, but also a “true gentleman” off the field, died on March 20 following a battle with dementia.
The service is being held at the Sacred Heart Church at Clear Island Waters on Friday morning.
Sattler was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2008 and will always be remembered for valiantly playing on for 77 minutes of the 1970 Grand Final with a broken jaw.
Rabbitohs players and football greats from Sattler’s playing days attended the funeral.
Rabbitohs player and coach Bob McCarthy and commentator and player Wally Lewis were some of the first to arrive.
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A photo montage of the football great through the ages was shown on the big screen, featuring photos of him with other NRL stars and family.
“That could well be John calling in with the scores,” the priest joked, as someone’s phone went off later in the service.
The football star received a call that would change his life’s course on January 1 in 1963 after waking up the day after a local dance in the small town of Kurri Kurri in the NSW Hunter region.
“To the delight of his Dad, he was a rabbit,” son Scott said.
He went on to detail his father’s early life growing up in the small town riding horses through the streets.
“His family always thought he would end up working on a farm,” Scott said.
Rabbitohs stars and brothers Sam and George Burgess laid a number 13 jersey on the coffin – worn by lock Cameron Murray at the last game.
Murray was 24 when he was named captain, as Sattler was, and both wore the 13 jersey.
“I think that’s a nice touch,” Sattler’s son, Scott said as he called them up from the audience.
His first-born grandson Jordan spoke on behalf of his mother – Sattler’s daughter – who was unable to attend the funeral after receiving surgery for a broken arm in Canada.
“Mum’s not able to be here today, she broke her arm on the day that pop passed,” he said.
“The first thing that she remembered [when he died] was Pop saying, get up you’re not hurt.”
“Dad how do I say goodbye to you? It’s been difficult to put into words,” he read from a speech she had prepared for the day.
The custom-made Rabbitohs coffin in a varnished green wood and covered in red roses is carried into the front of the church at midday.
Loved ones and mourners sang the opening hymn in the “house where John spoke with God very often”.
“Father Zachary is a crazy, crazy Souths fan and that’s why he wanted to be here for this,” the leading priest to start the ceremony.
He went on to joke that Sattler would not like them making “such a fuss”.
“John was a legend of the game,” ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said after his death was announced.
“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.”
Souths fanatic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, also paid tribute.
“John Sattler was a legendary player who was tough on the field but a true gentleman off it,”
“He was an inspirational leader who, decades after his retirement, took his rightful place at the front of the marches for South Sydney’s reinstatement,” Mr Albanese said.
Sattler played in six grand finals with South Sydney, winning four as captain, and was honoured as one of Australia’s greatest 100 players in the centenary season in 2008.
“If anyone is to epitomise the true spirit of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, it is John Sattler,” Rabbitohs chairman Nick 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 epitomised everything that we want the Rabbitohs to be.”
Souths played tribute to Sattler at last Friday’s match against Manly.
There were emotional scenes after the game with the entire crowd staying behind as Sattler’s rendition of Glory Glory to South Sydney played on the big screen after they scored 13 points to honour his jersey against the team he beat in the 1970 Grand Final with a broken jaw.
The fans had earlier stood as one for a stirring minute’s silence while they rose to give the Souths legend a round of applause after 13 minutes to honour his incredible contribution to the club.
