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Nathan Merritt

The Silverdale Phantom

The Silverdale Phantom

Referee
Messages
20,749
BranVan3000 said:
Glad he's well now. I couldn't have handled both him and Kyle Turner in one year
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Kyles loss is still shattering.

Baradine is a beautiful yet tiny little town nestled in bushy and tall tree country. I’ve driven through it many times.

I’ve only ever heard good things about Kyle as a person and footballer.

As you say of your best and brightest “ he (wore) the red and green” as did Merro.

So embedded with indigenous culture are South’s, it’s pretty much indigenous week every single week.

And with your 20 premierships across the years, it’s been a relationship that has fostered and helped bring about extreme and envied success.

South’s and the game in general were sitting down with indigenous people long before wokeys and virtue signallers took over the cultural space.

Part of the “ Pride of the league” theme you subscribe to.
 
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The Silverdale Phantom

The Silverdale Phantom

Referee
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20,749
yobbo84 said:
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He belongs to the whole game these days.

The shadow of him missing the 2014 grand final haunts the club

But the 20th premiership had to be won though.

A terrible dilemma for Madge. I wonder if Merro has ever forgiven him.

This was nice though, thousands of people praying for his recovery, see and witness this miracle. He steps up.

He still wears the red and green.
 
Desert Qlder

Desert Qlder

First Grade
Messages
9,997

'It's a tough pill to swallow': Rabbitohs legend Nathan Merritt reveals devastating stage four cancer double diagnosis​

South Sydney legend Nathan Merritt has revealed he doesn't know how long he's got to live after he received a heartbreaking stage-four cancer double diagnosis.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Merritt revealed he had been diagnosed with oesophagus and liver cancer.

Despite the nightmare news, the veteran of 237 NRL games vowed he would do all he can to fight the disease.

"It's a tough pill to swallow for my kids and family. But it's good - it's going to be a tough one, but I'm going to fight through it," he said.

"I'll start chemo. So I think it's two weeks on, two weeks off. That'll probably be my schedule at the hospital over the next few months going forward."

The 42-year-old is a father of five, aged between 11 and 21. He said he was given the oesophageal diagnosis in November, but only got the liver diagnosis recently.

He admitted he didn't know how much time he had left.

"I only found out that it was stage four a few weeks ago," he said.

"All of this treatment is now just about trying to maintain it with chemo, and doing my best to stay alive as long as possible."

The diagnosis is the heaviest of a series of painful blows for Merritt.

Two years ago, he spent a week in a coma after a shocking bout of pneumonia. He woke up with no function on the right side of his body, and spent six weeks in hospital recovering.

Last year, he pleaded guilty to affray after he was involved in a wild pub brawl in Sydney in February. Two months later he spent the night in jail and was fined $1500 for high-range drink driving, having returned a BAC reading of 0.184.

He revealed he went sober late last year, and regretted not making the change earlier.

"When I realised drinking wasn't the best option, I tried to change my lifestyle around," he said.

"I just wish I had seen this way of living earlier, when I first retired. For me, the best choice I've made was to stop drinking. I love living life now, being fresh, and I feel in a better headspace."

Merritt retired at the end of 2014. He scored 154 tries in his 13-season long career, including 146 for the Bunnies.

He debuted in 2002, and aside from a two-year stint at Cronulla in 2004-2005, spent the rest of his career at Redfern.

 
Captain Apollo

Captain Apollo

Coach
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18,434
This article was published by the Sydney Morning Herald (source: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/na...ve-he-has-one-dying-wish-20260331-p5zkam.html)

Nathan Merritt has been given 12 months to live. He has one dying wish​

Christian Nicolussi
SMH
March 31, 2026 — 7:30pm

Nathan Merritt has been given about 12 months to live, and has one simple dying wish: “To see South Sydney win the premiership.”

The Rabbitohs great has been undergoing chemotherapy for stage four cancer of the liver and oesophagus, but will muster the energy to attend his first NRL game in more than two years on Good Friday.


Nathan Merritt celebrates his father Tony’s birthday with family last month.

Souths have asked Merritt, 42, to ring the Legacy Bell before kick-off against the Bulldogs. The rare cameo will also give fans a chance to honour their popular former winger, who scored 154 career tries including 135 for the Rabbitohs.

“To see Souths win another comp, that would be a great way to go out,” Merritt told this masthead. “The doctors have given me 12 months or so. The chemo is to prolong my life expectancy.

“I’m in a bit of pain, but I’m not as bad as what others have experienced. Souths have the team to do it. I’d just love to see them in a grand final again. As a fan of the club, it would be a wonderful moment.

“Hopefully they can stay injury free and give themselves the best chance to be there.”


Nathan Merritt watches Souths training during Indigenous Round Week in 2024.Sunny Brar

Merritt was too fatigued to attend Allianz Stadium to see Alex Johnston break the game’s try-scoring record against the Roosters.

“But watching the scenes was awesome – I had the hairs on the back of my neck stand up,” Merritt said. “I was spewing I wasn’t at the game because I would have tried to run on the field as well. The chemo has sapped most of my energy. I get tired really quickly. I’ve lost about 20kg, and I’m down from 105kg to 83kgs.

“The last game I went to was Indigenous Round at Homebush when Souths played against Parra. I’m looking forward to Good Friday.

“I had a lot of great memories playing against the Dogs. There was one year, I think it was 2013, we came up with a trick play, and Adam Reynolds kicked it across field for me, we caught them off guard on the opposite side of the field.”


Great mates: Merritt with Adam Reynolds at Redfern Oval in 2018.Janie Barrett

Merritt, a father of five, made the shock announcement about his cancer diagnosis earlier this month. He has already undergone two rounds of chemo, and will start a third at the end of next month.

Merritt revealed to this masthead in 2024 how he was lucky to be alive after being placed into an induced coma at the end of 2023 when struck down by a dose of double pneumonia.

Souths started a pre-game tradition of asking people closely associated with the club to ring the Legacy Bell, a tradition that dates back to the club’s first game at Birchgrove Oval in 1908, and were keen to invite Merritt if he was feeling well enough.

Skipper Cameron Murray and his father Corey, who also played for Souths, rang the first Legacy Bell last year, while Cathy Freeman OAM, along with club legends Ziggy Niszczot, John Sutton and Sean Garlick, has also had the honour.


Jack Wighton said of having Merritt at Accor Stadium: “He’s one of the greats, and someone I looked up to when I was growing up, and when I was playing. The club loves him. I got to know him a bit outside of footy, and he’s an absolute champion. It will be awesome to see him on Friday, and hopefully in good spirits.

“Nathan Merritt is Nathan Merritt – everyone loved him, and everyone wanted to be like him coming through. He’s one of a kind.”

Souths CEO Blake Solly said of Merritt: “Our members and fans loved what Nathan achieved on the field, and he was always a crowd favourite here.

“Everyone at the Rabbitohs were shocked when his diagnosis was announced, and we were inundated with offers of support.

“Friday will be an opportunity for those fans and members to give Nathan the reception and support he deserves.

“This is our first opportunity to show Nathan how much the Rabbitohs family loves him”.

Campbell Graham returns from a shoulder injury as Souths chase their third win in four games.
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yobbo84

yobbo84

Coach
Messages
14,587
Merritt had such uncanny awareness of where the ball would be. He'd be playing left wing, our right centre would make a break, then all of a sudden Merritt would be backing up for the try. He really was the highlight for us over a number of otherwise miserable seasons. F*ck cancer.
 
Rabbits20

Rabbits20

Immortal
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42,695
Money is tight but I wanted to chip in that’s $10 on the raffle and I chipped in $20 for the go fund me. If I had more I could spare I would’ve but I guess it all helps.
 
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