AUSTRALIAN Rugby League is mourning the death of former Kangaroos prop Sam Backo, who has died at the age of 64 .
The Indigenous star died in hospital in Cairns after a battle with the rare tropical disease melioidosis, which exacerbated a pre-existing heart condition.
Backo had been in intensive care at Cairns Hospital after being diagnosed with the bacterial infection in April.
Media reports suggested that he may have contracted the soil-borne tropical disease while swimming in Freshwater Creek at Goomboora Park in Cairns.
He had been transferred to a Brisbane hospital but returned to Cairns, where he passed on Sunday afternoon surrounded by his family and friends.
Reports claim that 35 people have been killed in Queensland this year after contracting the bacterial disease.
“Sam was a wonderful player and a wonderful man. He was immensely powerful and a real character. He will be sadly missed,” said Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, a former team-mate of Backo’s with the Raiders.
Nicknamed Slammin’ Sam, Backo played 114 games for Canberra between 1983 and 1988 before coming to England to play 18 games for Leeds between September 1988 and February 1989, making his debut in a 32-0 win over St Helens and winning a Yorkshire Cup Winners’ Medal as Leeds defeated Castleford 33-12 in front of 22,968 spectators at Elland Road.
He returned to Australia and played a further 20 games for Brisbane Broncos in 1989 and 1990.
The popular Backo also played seven State of Origin games for Queensland and six Tests for Australia. He also represented a Rest of World team in 1988.
Backo’s mother, the late Evelyn Scott, was a noted Indigenous activist and Backo devoted much of his time after his playing career to helping First Nations people.
He attended Australia’s first national Indigenous Constitutional Convention at Uluru in 2017 and was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contributions to Rugby League on and off the field.