Latest news with #Backo
The Advertiser
03-08-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Queensland great Sam Backo dies, aged 64
Queensland State of Origin legend Sam Backo has been hailed as wonderful player and loveable teammate, after his death at age 64. One of the heroes of the Maroons' domination of Origin in the late 1980s, Backo died surrounded by family in his home town of Cairns on Sunday. The former Canberra and Brisbane forward had been battling a melioidosis infection in recent months, and suffered a heart attack two years ago. Backo played seven Origins for the Maroons between 1988 and 1990, but his impact was immense. The front-rower became the first front-rower to be named man of the match in two straight Origins, as Queensland romped to a 3-0 sweep in Backo's rookie series. "Sam was a wonderful player for Australia and Queensland, where he was always entertaining in our team bus with his dry humour," Broncos and Maroons teammate Gene Miles said. "He was an old-fashioned front-rower but very quick for his size too. He always made plenty of yards every time he took the ball up. "He made his debut for Queensland in 1988 and made an immediate mark with two man of the match awards in a row in that series. "You just knew he would outplay the opposition and from those fantastic Origin displays he got picked to play for Australia." Backo played six Tests for Australia in 1988 and 1989, and was in 2008 named in the Indigenous team of the century. "There was not a guy in Queensland camp that didn't like Sam. He was such a loveable big unit," Miles said. "We had a lot of fun with him. He had a special spot at the back of the team bus with all the big forwards. "I'd sit up front with Wally (Lewis) and with all the windows shut we would whack the back heaters on high heat and Sam and Martin Bella would blow up. "All we could hear from the back was, 'Turn that off'." Away from rugby league, Backo continued to work in the Indigenous space after his 1990 retirement, engaged in a community development program assisting people on their release from jail. Born in Ingham, Backo's mother Dr Evelyn Scott was an Aboriginal rights activist who played a key role in the 1967 referendum which gained citizenship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. "I am proud to be a north Queensland rainforest Murri," Backo told the Former Origin Greats magazine in 2022. "I was playing for my mob and for all the blackfellas. We came through the struggle and we stood up and were counted." ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys also paid tribute to Backo - the man and the footballer. "Sam was as tough as they come, a larger-than-life character who was as recognisable as he was resilient," V'landys said in a statement. "Through a successful career with Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, not to mention Queensland and Australia, he was a one-of-a-kind footballer. "A member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, Sam was also a generous and selfless man who was passionate about Indigenous health and advocacy away from the field." Queensland State of Origin legend Sam Backo has been hailed as wonderful player and loveable teammate, after his death at age 64. One of the heroes of the Maroons' domination of Origin in the late 1980s, Backo died surrounded by family in his home town of Cairns on Sunday. The former Canberra and Brisbane forward had been battling a melioidosis infection in recent months, and suffered a heart attack two years ago. Backo played seven Origins for the Maroons between 1988 and 1990, but his impact was immense. The front-rower became the first front-rower to be named man of the match in two straight Origins, as Queensland romped to a 3-0 sweep in Backo's rookie series. "Sam was a wonderful player for Australia and Queensland, where he was always entertaining in our team bus with his dry humour," Broncos and Maroons teammate Gene Miles said. "He was an old-fashioned front-rower but very quick for his size too. He always made plenty of yards every time he took the ball up. "He made his debut for Queensland in 1988 and made an immediate mark with two man of the match awards in a row in that series. "You just knew he would outplay the opposition and from those fantastic Origin displays he got picked to play for Australia." Backo played six Tests for Australia in 1988 and 1989, and was in 2008 named in the Indigenous team of the century. "There was not a guy in Queensland camp that didn't like Sam. He was such a loveable big unit," Miles said. "We had a lot of fun with him. He had a special spot at the back of the team bus with all the big forwards. "I'd sit up front with Wally (Lewis) and with all the windows shut we would whack the back heaters on high heat and Sam and Martin Bella would blow up. "All we could hear from the back was, 'Turn that off'." Away from rugby league, Backo continued to work in the Indigenous space after his 1990 retirement, engaged in a community development program assisting people on their release from jail. Born in Ingham, Backo's mother Dr Evelyn Scott was an Aboriginal rights activist who played a key role in the 1967 referendum which gained citizenship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. "I am proud to be a north Queensland rainforest Murri," Backo told the Former Origin Greats magazine in 2022. "I was playing for my mob and for all the blackfellas. We came through the struggle and we stood up and were counted." ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys also paid tribute to Backo - the man and the footballer. "Sam was as tough as they come, a larger-than-life character who was as recognisable as he was resilient," V'landys said in a statement. "Through a successful career with Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, not to mention Queensland and Australia, he was a one-of-a-kind footballer. "A member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, Sam was also a generous and selfless man who was passionate about Indigenous health and advocacy away from the field." Queensland State of Origin legend Sam Backo has been hailed as wonderful player and loveable teammate, after his death at age 64. One of the heroes of the Maroons' domination of Origin in the late 1980s, Backo died surrounded by family in his home town of Cairns on Sunday. The former Canberra and Brisbane forward had been battling a melioidosis infection in recent months, and suffered a heart attack two years ago. Backo played seven Origins for the Maroons between 1988 and 1990, but his impact was immense. The front-rower became the first front-rower to be named man of the match in two straight Origins, as Queensland romped to a 3-0 sweep in Backo's rookie series. "Sam was a wonderful player for Australia and Queensland, where he was always entertaining in our team bus with his dry humour," Broncos and Maroons teammate Gene Miles said. "He was an old-fashioned front-rower but very quick for his size too. He always made plenty of yards every time he took the ball up. "He made his debut for Queensland in 1988 and made an immediate mark with two man of the match awards in a row in that series. "You just knew he would outplay the opposition and from those fantastic Origin displays he got picked to play for Australia." Backo played six Tests for Australia in 1988 and 1989, and was in 2008 named in the Indigenous team of the century. "There was not a guy in Queensland camp that didn't like Sam. He was such a loveable big unit," Miles said. "We had a lot of fun with him. He had a special spot at the back of the team bus with all the big forwards. "I'd sit up front with Wally (Lewis) and with all the windows shut we would whack the back heaters on high heat and Sam and Martin Bella would blow up. "All we could hear from the back was, 'Turn that off'." Away from rugby league, Backo continued to work in the Indigenous space after his 1990 retirement, engaged in a community development program assisting people on their release from jail. Born in Ingham, Backo's mother Dr Evelyn Scott was an Aboriginal rights activist who played a key role in the 1967 referendum which gained citizenship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. "I am proud to be a north Queensland rainforest Murri," Backo told the Former Origin Greats magazine in 2022. "I was playing for my mob and for all the blackfellas. We came through the struggle and we stood up and were counted." ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys also paid tribute to Backo - the man and the footballer. "Sam was as tough as they come, a larger-than-life character who was as recognisable as he was resilient," V'landys said in a statement. "Through a successful career with Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, not to mention Queensland and Australia, he was a one-of-a-kind footballer. "A member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, Sam was also a generous and selfless man who was passionate about Indigenous health and advocacy away from the field."
Courier-Mail
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Sam Backo dies aged 64, Maroons, Raiders legend
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sam Backo – a larger-than-life front-rower who represented Queensland and Australia in the 1980s – has died. Backo, 64, had been in intensive care at Cairns Hospital after being diagnosed with melioidosis – a bacterial infection – in April. Recent media reports stated Backo may have contracted the soil-borne tropical disease while swimming in Freshwater Creek at Goomboora Park in Cairns. Backo had been transferred to a Brisbane hospital but returned to Cairns where he passed on Sunday afternoon surrounded by family and friends. 'Sam was a wonderful player and a wonderful man. He was immensely powerful and a real character. He will be sadly missed,' said Raiders coach and ex-teammate Ricky Stuart. Nicknamed Slammin' Sam, Backo played 114 games for Canberra between 1983 and 1988 before playing a further 20 games for Brisbane in 1989 and 1990. A renowned character, Backo played seven State of Origin games for Queensland and six Tests for Australia. He also represented a Rest of World team in 1988. Sam Backo has died aged 64. Sam Backo played 114 games for the Raiders. Remarkably, Backo scored tries all three Tests against Great Britain in 1988 and also claimed two man-of-the-match honours for Queensland. Former Raiders teammate Brent Todd posted an emotional message to Facebook, writing: 'Goodbye my dear friend, may you now rest in peace. 'During our time at the Raiders we became bloody great mates. I'm going to miss you, Sammy.' Ex-Maroons teammate Martin Bella posted a photo of himself, Backo and the late Peter Jackson after a State of Origin win. 'Late man standing. The years are cruel,' Bella wrote. Canberra Raiders also paid tribute, posting: 'VALE Canberra Raiders great Sam Backo. #Raider43. Our condolences to his family and friends.' Backo enjoyed a stint with Leeds in England in 1988. Leeds Rhinos took to social media to post: 'Deeply sad news in Australia that '80s fan favourite, Slammin' Sam Backo has passed away aged 64.' Known as a gentle giant, Backo, who suffered a heart attack in 2023, watched the recent State of Origin decider from his hospital bed. At the time of his heart attack, former teammate and Immortal Wally Lewis said: 'He was such a dominant prop. 'When he came on, Sam just destroyed everyone that was in front of him. Sam was the size of a cement truck and he made the most of it. 'That dominating period for Sam, in the late 1980s, probably gave Queensland dominance in size for the first time.' At the time, Queensland legend Trevor Gillmeister added: 'They talk about big blokes these days with footwork but Sam was one of the first that was god on his feet for a big man.' Backo, who started his top-level footy career with Brisbane club Fortitude Valley, was known for his work in indigenous health. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for his contribution to rugby league in Australia.
7NEWS
03-08-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Australian rugby league legend Sam Backo dies aged 64
Queensland rugby league legend Sam Backo has died aged 64. The Maroons and Australian Kangaroos champion passed away surrounded by family at Cairns Hospital on Sunday. Backo had been in intensive care for some time, having been diagnosed with melioidosis in April. Melioidosis is a bacterial infection commonly found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical regions, and has killed 35 people in Queensland alone so far this year. The former Broncos and Raiders front-rower, who also had a stint with Leeds in England, had been transferred to a hospital in Brisbane for a period before later returning to Cairns. The man affectionately known as Slammin' Sam spent most of his NRL career in Canberra, where he played 114 games between 1983 and 1988, before adding another 20 when he moved to Brisbane in 1989. Backo played 18 games for Leeds in the 1988-1989 UK season, inbetween NRL campaigns. He was without doubt one of rugby league's toughest ever players, but was also renowned as one of the sport's great characters. Backo suited up in seven State of Origin games for Queensland and played six Tests for Australia. Most notable in his international career was his series against England in 1988 when he scored a try in all three games. Backo suffered a heart attack in 2023, after which he was in a critical condition, but survived. He was a proud Indigenous man who was also known for his work in Indigenous health.
Canada News.Net
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Canada News.Net
Cast of supernatural horror film 'Split Rock' announced
Los Angeles [US], July 23 (ANI): The cast of supernatural horror film 'Split Rock' has been announced. Clark Backo, Drew Ray Tanner, Olivia Luccardi and Graham Verchere have come on board to feature in the film, which is described as a 'supernatural, ecological-horror story' and will be directed by Ryan Glover, as per Variety. It's produced by Low End, Prowler Pictures and Observer Effect Productions, and backed by Telefilm Canada and Creative Saskatchewan. Backo has appeared in 'Venom: The Last Dance' and 'The Changeling' Tanner is best known for his work on 'Riverdale' Luccardi appeared in 'It Follows' and Verchere's credits include 'Summer of 84.' Glover previously directed 'The Strings.' The story involves geologists Lauren (Backo) and Ben (Tanner), partners in both work and life, as they investigate a strange anomaly discovered deep in the terrain. Alongside their colleague Sam (Luccardi) and intern Trevor (Verchere), the group must navigate an escalating series of horrors that starts once they uncover an ancient force of destruction buried in the ground. The film is set to shoot next week in the Saskatchewan badlands. (ANI) .
