Rugby league legend Graham Eadie fights for his life with severe disease
- Replies 5
In the Australian rugby league, few names resonate with the same legendary status as Graham Eadie, affectionately known to fans as 'Wombat'.
His prowess on the field has etched his name into footy history, but today, the Hall of Fame icon is engaged in a far more personal and daunting battle off the field.
At 70 years old, Eadie is fighting for his life against bacterial meningitis, compounded by the debilitating after-effects of a stroke.
Graham Eadie's illustrious career is the stuff of legend. He won four premierships with the Manly Sea Eagles, represented New South Wales in the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980, and donned the green and gold jersey for Australia in 20 Tests.
His scoring records for Manly were unparalleled at the time of his retirement, with 1,917 points in first grade and 2,070 points across all grades.
Today, the focus is not on Eadie's past triumphs but on his current fight.
After suffering a stroke, Eadie underwent a lumbar puncture test on the Gold Coast, which revealed not only the stroke but also a bacterial infection that had led to meningitis.
Meningitis is a rare but serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges.
The complications of this disease are severe, with Eadie experiencing speech difficulties and weakness in his hands, alongside seizures due to epilepsy.
His son, Brook Eadie, has expressed the family's concern and hope during this difficult time.
'Dad's not doing too well, but he has family around him. He's a fighter and will keep on fighting,' he said.
‘Hopefully, Dad will be out of hospital soon.’
The legacy of Graham Eadie extends beyond his sporting achievements.
He was one of Manly's first elite fullbacks, a pioneer who set the standard for those who followed, including Matthew Ridge, Brett Stewart, and Tom Trbojevic.
In a poignant moment last year, Eadie was reunited with a treasured memento from his career—his jersey from the 1978 grand final replay, which had been exchanged with Cronulla's Rick Bourke and sat in a cupboard for almost 50 years.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Graham Eadie and his family during this trying time.
His prowess on the field has etched his name into footy history, but today, the Hall of Fame icon is engaged in a far more personal and daunting battle off the field.
At 70 years old, Eadie is fighting for his life against bacterial meningitis, compounded by the debilitating after-effects of a stroke.
Graham Eadie's illustrious career is the stuff of legend. He won four premierships with the Manly Sea Eagles, represented New South Wales in the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980, and donned the green and gold jersey for Australia in 20 Tests.
His scoring records for Manly were unparalleled at the time of his retirement, with 1,917 points in first grade and 2,070 points across all grades.
Rugby league Hall of Famer Graham Eadie is suffering from bacterial meningitis with after-effects of stroke. Credit: NRL / Facebook
Today, the focus is not on Eadie's past triumphs but on his current fight.
After suffering a stroke, Eadie underwent a lumbar puncture test on the Gold Coast, which revealed not only the stroke but also a bacterial infection that had led to meningitis.
Meningitis is a rare but serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges.
The complications of this disease are severe, with Eadie experiencing speech difficulties and weakness in his hands, alongside seizures due to epilepsy.
His son, Brook Eadie, has expressed the family's concern and hope during this difficult time.
'Dad's not doing too well, but he has family around him. He's a fighter and will keep on fighting,' he said.
‘Hopefully, Dad will be out of hospital soon.’
The legacy of Graham Eadie extends beyond his sporting achievements.
He was one of Manly's first elite fullbacks, a pioneer who set the standard for those who followed, including Matthew Ridge, Brett Stewart, and Tom Trbojevic.
In a poignant moment last year, Eadie was reunited with a treasured memento from his career—his jersey from the 1978 grand final replay, which had been exchanged with Cronulla's Rick Bourke and sat in a cupboard for almost 50 years.
.png){kind=icon}
for a speedy recovery. Hopefully he muster the strength he always had to get through this
