What tragic family event drove this footy legend into seclusion?
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Rugby league legend Ron Coote has opened up about the devastating family tragedy that left his wife fearing for her life and turned the normally outgoing 78-year-old into a recluse.
Coote saw his cherished family property at Lake Conjola on the NSW south coast engulfed by the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires in January 2020.
He had lived contently on the sprawling property for 38 years and was left devastated after losing everything in the raging inferno, apart from the clothes on his back.
In frightening scenes, his wife Robin and daughter Natalie, who lived next door, were forced to jump into the nearby lake with flames bearing down to somehow survive amidst the chaos.
A heroic neighbour eventually rescued them on a jet ski, but the traumatic memories haunt Coote to this day.
'We lost everything… My daughter [who lived next door], her house went up as well,' Coote recalled.
'The fires started up on the highway, about two and a half km from our place. It happened so quickly. All of a sudden, it was on top of us.'
The Black Summer fires were fuelled by record heat and drought conditions, with over 24 million hectares burnt nationally. Tragically, 33 people lost their lives—and almost 450 more from smoke inhalation—in one of Australia's worst natural disasters.
The devastation was immense for Coote—who achieved remarkable success with four premierships at the Rabbitohs and two titles with the Roosters. He admitted he endured significant inner turmoil and anxiety in the aftermath.
The man who famously helped establish Men of League—a charity supporting struggling rugby league families—stopped engaging in events and even avoided simple activities like going for a local coffee with his wife.
However, there has been a shift in Coote's perspective as of late, with him now realising the importance of embracing life.
Recently, he spoke at a Family of League event held at the Mollymook Golf Club on the NSW south coast, and, to everyone's surprise, he began to smile again as he mingled with figures from the rugby league world.
'I am starting to get back out. I am talking to people, which I wasn't doing,' Coote shared.
'I feel all right now. I don't have the anxiety that I did have. I am starting to have a few jokes with people and things like that, which I didn't do for a while.'
After the fires, Coote moved back onto the Lake Conjola property at Christmas last year, rebuilding a new home from the ashes.
While the cherished memorabilia and photos are gone forever, he is focused on making new memories. And he said attending a recent Family of League function was a big step in his recovery.
'It felt good. I handled it all right. That was the only reason I haven't been speaking…I thought I would blow up or lose my way,' he admitted.
The champion is now determined to embrace life again and cherish what he still possesses instead of dwelling on what's been lost.
His story illustrates that even Aussie legends can face struggles, but the resilient Coote is on the road to recovery, thanks to the unwavering support of his family and his lifelong connection with the game.
We hope his story has inspired all of you! It serves as a reminder that, no matter how challenging life may have been, as long as we're alive, we can regain our footing, start anew, and find joy once more.
Coote saw his cherished family property at Lake Conjola on the NSW south coast engulfed by the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires in January 2020.
He had lived contently on the sprawling property for 38 years and was left devastated after losing everything in the raging inferno, apart from the clothes on his back.
In frightening scenes, his wife Robin and daughter Natalie, who lived next door, were forced to jump into the nearby lake with flames bearing down to somehow survive amidst the chaos.
A heroic neighbour eventually rescued them on a jet ski, but the traumatic memories haunt Coote to this day.
Ron Coote lost his family home in the Black Summer bushfires in 2020. Credit: 9NEWS.
'We lost everything… My daughter [who lived next door], her house went up as well,' Coote recalled.
'The fires started up on the highway, about two and a half km from our place. It happened so quickly. All of a sudden, it was on top of us.'
The Black Summer fires were fuelled by record heat and drought conditions, with over 24 million hectares burnt nationally. Tragically, 33 people lost their lives—and almost 450 more from smoke inhalation—in one of Australia's worst natural disasters.
The devastation was immense for Coote—who achieved remarkable success with four premierships at the Rabbitohs and two titles with the Roosters. He admitted he endured significant inner turmoil and anxiety in the aftermath.
The man who famously helped establish Men of League—a charity supporting struggling rugby league families—stopped engaging in events and even avoided simple activities like going for a local coffee with his wife.
However, there has been a shift in Coote's perspective as of late, with him now realising the importance of embracing life.
Recently, he spoke at a Family of League event held at the Mollymook Golf Club on the NSW south coast, and, to everyone's surprise, he began to smile again as he mingled with figures from the rugby league world.
'I am starting to get back out. I am talking to people, which I wasn't doing,' Coote shared.
'I feel all right now. I don't have the anxiety that I did have. I am starting to have a few jokes with people and things like that, which I didn't do for a while.'
After the fires, Coote moved back onto the Lake Conjola property at Christmas last year, rebuilding a new home from the ashes.
While the cherished memorabilia and photos are gone forever, he is focused on making new memories. And he said attending a recent Family of League function was a big step in his recovery.
'It felt good. I handled it all right. That was the only reason I haven't been speaking…I thought I would blow up or lose my way,' he admitted.
The champion is now determined to embrace life again and cherish what he still possesses instead of dwelling on what's been lost.
His story illustrates that even Aussie legends can face struggles, but the resilient Coote is on the road to recovery, thanks to the unwavering support of his family and his lifelong connection with the game.
We hope his story has inspired all of you! It serves as a reminder that, no matter how challenging life may have been, as long as we're alive, we can regain our footing, start anew, and find joy once more.
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