Bob Fulton to receive state funeral after initial rejection

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has backtracked on her initial rejection of a state funeral for rugby league Immortal Bob Fulton.

Rugby league Immortal Bob Fulton will be farewelled at a state funeral despite the proposal initially being rejected by the NSW Government.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian backtracked on her initial decision within an hour and confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that a state funeral had been offered to Fulton’s family.

“Given groundswell community support, I have overruled the official advice I received and make this offer in recognition of Mr Fulton’s remarkable contribution to rugby league,” she said.

“On behalf of the people of NSW, I extend my condolences to Mr Fulton’s family and friends.”

Bob Fulton with wife Anne, son Brett and daughter Kristie. Picture: Jay Town

Bob Fulton in the 1973 grand final.

His son Brett Fulton said the family would accept the offer.

“We’d like to thank Ms Berejiklian for the offer and yes we will accept,” he told 2GB’s Ray Hadley.

The government had been planning a send off similar to the one given to Western Suburbs Magpies legend Tommy Raudonikis at the SCG last month.

The decision to reject a state funeral stemmed from concerns about the perceptions of elitism if Fulton had received the honour over Raudonikis.

Some government ministers had pleaded with Ms Berejiklian to reconsider her position before the reversal.

Fulton, one of the sport's original four Immortals, died on Sunday morning, at the age of 74, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

He was surrounded by his wife Anne, sons Scott and Brett, daughter Kristie and close friend and former Eastern Suburbs captain Royce Ayliffe, when he died.

He is the game’s only figure to have won premiership titles and an Ashes series as a player, captain and coach.