Sattler’s Broken Jaw Heroics in the 1970 Grand Final
The 1970 grand final produced one of the most iconic acts of courage in Rugby League history.
Just three minutes into the decider against Manly-Warringah at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Rabbitohs captain John Sattler had his jaw shattered in three places after a heavy shot from prop John Bucknall. Most players would have left the field immediately. Sattler refused to do so.
Through intense pain, he played almost the entire match. He made 20 tackles, touched the ball 29 times and kept leading from the front despite repeated pleas from teammates and coach Clive Churchill to come off. At halftime, he quietly locked himself in the bathroom to push his jaw back into place, then returned to guide the Club to a 23 to 12 victory. It sealed South Sydney’s third premiership in four years and cemented Sattler as one of the toughest captains the game has known.
When the final siren sounded, his teammates lifted him onto their shoulders and carried him from the SCG, an image that has become one of the great symbols of courage in Australian sport.
Sattler would go on to captain the Club in five grand finals for four titles, earning deep respect across the sport for his resilience, humility and leadership. In an era of hard men and harder matches, he stood at the heart of a golden side featuring legends like Churchill, McCarthy, Coote, Simms and O’Neill.
Since 1908. Still here.
