Bob McCarthy, one of the first people to speak at John Sattler’s funeral, said his late, great mate looked like a choirboy but played like a devil.
It turns out Sattler also had the voice of a choirboy. As attendees left the service and headed to the Sporting Globe Bar to share stories that weren’t appropriate for the Sacred Heart Church on the Gold Coast, an audio clip of Sattler singing the Rabbitohs’ team song played to the congregation.
The angelic voice appeared at odds with arguably the hardest man to play rugby league, one who famously played 77 minutes of the 1970 grand final with a broken jaw. However, it was in keeping with his moniker “Gentleman John”, a nod to the stately way he conducted himself off the pitch.
Sattler was a South Sydney man to the end; he arrived at his service in a coffin varnished in cardinal and myrtle. Two of his favourite modern-day players, Sam and George Burgess, adorned the casket with the jersey that current captain Cameron Murray wore in last weekend’s emotional, golden point win over Manly.
“Satts would have loved all of this,” former Souths player and coach McCarthy said in his eulogy. “He was a guy who didn’t like a lot of fuss about him.
“We know all about the broken jaws, the elbows, but other than the violence he had in him, he wasn’t a bad footballer.
John Sattler was given a fitting farewell at his funeral.Credit:Dan Peled
“You don’t captain Australia just being a thug. He was a great leader and we all respect him for that. His legacy will always be at South Sydney with his captaincy and he was great just being around the joint.
“I know when he’d come up into that leagues club after the game, the whole area lit up. Especially the old people, the old ladies who would talk about their dogs and cats with Satts whilst all the guys used to drink their schooners. That was Satts, he was a country guy growing up and he knew what he was about.”
The tributes continued, from friends and family members still coming to terms with the loss. Some of the great footballing stories were retold, but perhaps the most touching were those of the man away from the game.
“We witnessed how good he was with people, he set an example of how to be empathetic,” said Sattler’s son Scott, who was also a grand final hero during his playing days.
Pallbearers including Bob McCarthy, Ron Coote and family members at John Sattler’s funeral.Credit:Dan Peled
“There is a great passage in Mat Rogers’ autobiography that I think resonates with a child, especially a son: ‘In every area of my life, I have marked myself against the standards of my father’.
“We were no different because he set such great standards: when it came to training hard, being humble, showing humility and trying to ensure those around you feel important and needed. Many may call it pressure, but I had aspirations to emulate him, more so off the field.”
Stories were interspersed with church hymns or other “sacred” songs, including Glory, Glory to South Sydney. Dignitaries included McCarthy and Ron Coote as pallbearers. Sattler’s teammates Elwyn Walters and Bob Honan formed part of the procession.
Brothers George and Sam Burgess pay their respects to John Sattler.Credit:Dan Peled
Despite playing Melbourne in Sydney later on Friday, Souths coach Jason Demetriou, assistant Sam Burgess and a raft of officials – including chief executive Blake Solly and football manager Mark Ellison – paid their respects. Former Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire, now an assistant with the Raiders, also made the trip despite his side playing a few hours later.
“God already has Arthur Beetson, Sticks Provan, Lurch O’Neill, Ned Kelly and Chook Raper,” Scott Sattler said.
“He’s looking for another forward to add to his pack. And he just got a good one.”
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