South Sydney legend and Kurri old boy Johnny Sattler.
John Sattler already owns a piece of rugby league folklore after famously playing the 1970 Sydney grand final with a broken jaw.
But on Saturday afternoon the state and Australian representative will add to his legendary collection when the main grandstand at Kurri Kurri Sportsground is named in his honour.
Sattler, born and bred in Kurri Kurri, played both juniors and seniors at the club and will return home for the official ceremony before the Bulldogs host South Newcastle in round 11 of the Newcastle Rugby League competition.
Sattler will be joined by a host of high profile identities, many from his days at South Sydney including Bob McCarthy and George Piggins.
Rugby league immortal and former Australian captain Graeme Langlands will also be there along with another pair of Kurri Kurri internationals in Eddie Lumsden and Jeff Masterman.
Many other dignitaries from the
political landscape and media from across the country will be present; such is the
significance of the man and the occasion.
“It will be a tremendous day,” Kurri Kurri Bulldogs old boys treasurer Jeff Polglase said.
“John Sattler is one of, if not, the highest representative we have had from this club and when you think of him you think of Kurri.”
Sattler, born in 1942, started playing junior rugby league at the age of 16 and had two years of seniors at Kurri Kurri.
This included selection in the Newcastle representative side as a 19-year-old in 1962 to play the touring British squad.
In 1963 he joined South Sydney and played 195 games for the club, which included four premierships.
The most memorable of these was the 1970 decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground where he was punched by a Manly opponent 10 minutes in but played on and helped the Rabbitohs to a 23-12 victory.
During his time in Sydney he played four matches each for NSW and Australia.
Sattler went north in 1973 and finished his career in Brisbane, which also included four games for Queensland.
The current Bulldogs squad will wear a commemorative replica jersey on Saturday, similar to the design of the jumpers worn by Sattler in the early 1960s.
The official opening will occur at 2.30pm.
Main game kicks off at 3pm.
Auctions will follow after the match from 5pm.
