Sam Backo

2023 - 4 - 2

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Canberra Raiders NRL legend Sam Backo fighting for life in hospital ... (Daily Mail)

NRL legend Sam Backo is fighting for life in a Cairns hospital after suffering a massive heart attack on Saturday. The Raiders great, 62, is in a critical ...

Sam Backo is fighting for life in hospital after a heart attack. 'He certainly drew plenty of love and support from the indigenous community. When he came on, Sam just destroyed everyone that was in front of him. 'His wife called me and said he is in a bad way. He was a very proud representative of that community...(and) he was the size of a house.' Sam was the size of might a cement truck and he made the most of it,' he told

'Critical condition': Rugby league legend hospitalised after major ... (Fox Sports)

'Critical condition': Rugby league legend hospitalised after major heart attack.

The prop played 115 games for the Raiders before a two-year stint with the Brisbane Broncos, retiring in 1990. He was named in the Indigenous Australian team of the century and the Raiders’ All Indigenous team. On Sunday morning, the 62-year-old’s family released a statement confirming he was in a critical condition.

Rugby league great Sam Backo fighting for life after terrifying health ... (7NEWS.com.au)

The former Canberra and Brisbane front rower was rushed to hospital on Saturday and remains in 'critical condition'.

[Canberra](https://7news.com.au/sport/canberra-raiders) and [Brisbane](https://7news.com.au/sport/brisbane-broncos) between 1983 and 1990, remains in a Cairns hospital. [7plus >>](https://7plus.com.au/sport?utm_source=7NEWS&utm_medium=contextual-link&utm_campaign=sport-article) [rugby league](https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league) front-rower Sam Backo is in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack on Saturday.

'Shock' as rugby league icon rushed to hospital (Wide World of Sports)

The rugby league world has been shocked by news that legendary front-rower Sam Backo is in a serious condit...

[clicking here](https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=wwos&redirect_uri=https://wwos.nine.com.au&newsletter=true)! [AFL world divided over umpire's harsh call](https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2023-costly-dissent-call-divides-afl-gws-giants-loss-carlton/eef82ae8-48a7-4d7b-97d9-d09b5c2b6fa5) [Latest news and results from Australian Grand Prix](https://wwos.nine.com.au/motorsport/f1-australian-grand-prix-2023-live-race-results-winner-albert-park-melbourne-highlights-news-latest-updates/343eada8-a6bf-4f43-bf19-46abc2e078b4) [Sheens takes dig at own team as Tigers woes worsen](https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-2023-tim-sheens-takes-dig-at-team-will-stick-with-group-despite-4612-hammering/a735a472-a733-4083-91fc-6c3ed5ef8a48) [Queensland State of Origin](https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/queensland-maroons) teammate Colin Scott told Wide World of Sports. [rugby league](https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl) world has been shocked by news that legendary front-rower Sam Backo has suffered a major heart attack and is in a critical condition.

NRL rocked as cult hero in critical condition (NEWS.com.au)

Rugby league icon Sam Backo is in critical condition in hospital in Cairns after the 62-year-old suffered a heart attack in Cairns on Saturday.

Another former Origin teammate Colin Scott told the Wide World of Sports: “His wife called me and said he is in a bad way. He was a very proud representative of that community. He certainly drew plenty of love and support from the Indigenous community. “He was such a dominant prop. When he came on, Sam just destroyed everyone that was in front of him. The family has asked to please respect their privacy at this time.”

Canberra Raiders rally behind legend Sam Backo after heart attack (The Canberra Times)

The Canberra Raiders are rallying around club legend Sam Backo and his family while the Queenslander is in...

Melanie aims to bring Canberrans all the sports news they need to know - have a story worth sharing? Melanie Dinjaski is an experienced sports journalist at the Canberra Times with a genuine love of all sports. She's covered every code from NRL to NFL, and has experience in print, digital, podcasting, TV and video journalism, having spent time working in newsrooms at Nine, Fox Sports and Seven before moving to the capital.

NRL League great Sam Backo critically ill after heart attack (ESPN Australia)

Former Australia rugby league front-rower Sam Backo is in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack on Saturday.

Backo, who played 114 games for the Raiders and 20 for the Broncos, was named in the Indigenous Australian team of the century. The Raiders issued a statement on Sunday on the family's behalf. "Sam had a heart attack yesterday morning and at this stage remains in a critical condition," the statement read, adding the family wished for privacy.