John Sattler broken jaw: Rabbitohs legend reveals real pain after one of footy’s most notorious incidents

John Sattler opens up about one of the most vicious incidents in rugby league history, today’s game and those 15 send-offs.

John Sattler at home, the elbow (top) and the broken jaw (bottom).

You “weak bastard”.

That’s how former South Sydney and Australian captain John Sattler has remembered the opponent who infamously smashed his jaw in three places – Manly’s John ‘Sleepy’ Bucknall.

In a wide-ranging interview about his colourful playing career, Sattler, now 79, opened up about one of the most vicious and controversial incidents in rugby league – and his memories, like the shattered jaw, are still painful.

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Sattler courageously and inspirationally played on during the 1970 grand final despite being king hit by Bucknall.

Bucknall, a recluse these days, didn’t complete the game, walking off the SCG, much to the chagrin of the Sea Eagles skipper, Fred Jones.

“I was angry that he was such a weak bastard,” Sattler said.

Sattler, who last year was diagnosed with dementia, also discussed Souths’ golden era under Clive Churchill, captaining Australia, today’s game and who he rates the greatest and toughest.

South Sydney legend John Sattler. Picture: Jerad Williams

BUCKNALL BRUTALITY

Ten minutes into the game, Bucknall belts Sattler off the ball. On field, he says to Souths teammate Mike Cleary: “Hold me up, I don’t want these bastards to know I’m hurt.”

At halftime, Sattler refuses to tell teammates but coach Churchill knows and wants his skipper replaced. Angry and determined, he charges back out from the Member’s Pavilion dressing rooms back onto the SCG.

“People said it was broken but it was actually smashed in three places. The breaks were so clean they went straight through my gum but I didn’t lose any teeth. He gave me a fair whacking,” said Sattler, now living in a Gold Coast retirement village.

“At halftime, we went into the sheds, and one of the players, it might have been ‘Lurch’ (John O’Neill), had a go at me for missing a tackle. He didn’t know my jaw was smashed.

“He said: ‘You’re missing f … ing tackles, cut it out’. I didn’t say anything but he was really upset about it later on when ‘Macca’ (Bob McCarthy) walked over and told him about my jaw. Lurch said: ‘f…!’.

“I sit and look back now and think: ‘I didn’t let my teammates down by coming off’.

“I was angry that he was such a weak bastard, from when he did it until the end of the game. He ended up going off the field in that grand final. I remember Freddie Jones going off at him when Bucknall left the field.”

John Sattler chaired from the field with a broken jaw by Bob McCarthy, Mike Cleary and John O'Neill after the 1970 grand final.

John Sattler had to push his badly broken jaw back in place to speak to reporters after the game.

BUCKNALL’S BOUNTY

Bucknall suddenly had a bounty hanging over his head and Souths forwards McCarthy, O’Neill, Ron Coote, Gary Stevens and Elwyn Walters wanted revenge.

Much to their surprise, Bucknall succumbed and was replaced.

“They all got together and tried to protect me,” Sattler said. “On the field, my teammates kept saying: ‘Get out of the road, piss off, get out of the road’. They were taking my hit ups.

“I said to them: ‘Go away, f … off, I can do my own work’. At halftime, Clive wanted to replace me. I just ran back out before they could stop me.

“After that game, they were going to pick the 1970 World Cup team and I was going to be captain. I was sitting in the bathroom area of the SCG and I had shut the door so I could push my jaw together.

“The media was outside the sheds and heard my jaw was smashed. Clive told me I had to face the media so I pushed my jaw into place. Clive let the media in but I said one word and my whole jaw fell apart in three or four spots.

“There was blood coming out of it. It looked like someone had taken an axe to me. I then collapsed and was rushed to hospital. I think half the reporters fainted.”

Sattler missed selection for the tour.

Captain John Sattler (L) is hit with a forearm to the head by John Bucknall during Souths v Manly 1970 first grade grand final at the SCG.

HOSPITAL HORRORS

Somehow, Sattler still received the JJ Giltinan Shield, and gave the victory speech after Souths’ 23-12 win, before being taken to hospital.

“Not long after the game they took me to hospital. They wired me up and pulled it down and all together,” Sattler said. “I used to have soup. They parted my front teeth so I could mulch my food.

“I used to get ‘night shocks’ during the evenings. I used to wake up and open my mouth and that would break the wiring. So they’d take me back in to get rewired.

“It was a pain in the arse.”

I WANT REVENGE

Sattler moved north and won selection for Queensland in 1973. Bucknall was picked for NSW. Sattler wanted retribution.

“But he pulled out,” Sattler said. “I didn’t know why but everyone said the ‘big weak p.... won’t play’.

“My wife (Barbara) said she had never seen a man go into a game so possessed. I wanted to play against him. I wanted a square up. I’m not angry at him, it was part of the game back then.

“Early in games back then you’d get used to getting a couple of bumps here and there. I didn’t realise the amount of damage that had been done when it happened but there was plenty of pain.”

John Sattler and NRL Immortal Andrew Johns.

TRIUMPHANT SOUTHS

Souths won four premierships between 1968 and 1971 under Churchill and were runners up to Balmain in 1969.

It was an amazing era in the club’s 113-year history.

“The great mateship we had between all of us, everyone stuck up for one another. If somebody said something about one of our players, they might as well have said it about your mother,” Sattler said.

“That’s the way it was. We stuck up for one another and it was something that I’ll never forget. I played with guys like Bob McCarthy and Ron Coote in my early days. They continued to come through. They were great players.

“I think our grand final win in 1971 was my favourite, against the Dragons (16-10). We got one back on them. We played so well that day. Nobody let up on them, we all helped one another.”

John Sattler, nicknamed Satts and Gentleman John.

John Sattker celebrates with a hard earned beer.

SOUTHS’ GREATEST

Churchill, an Immortal player, also became a champion coach.

“We had great players but Clive was terrific — he wanted to be part of everything and be part of us. You couldn’t help but want to play for him,” Sattler said.

“He was ahead of his time. Clive was the coach who played (second rower) McCarthy out near the centres. All the coaches do that now, the backrowers. Everybody at the time said: ‘He’s got McCarthy playing out in the centres and Coote playing out in the centres’.

“They were blaming the players for playing out there but it was Clive’s call. I remember some people saying it cost McCarthy a spot in the 1967 Kangaroo tour because they didn’t think he was getting involved enough in the middle.”

Churchill was appointed Souths coach in 1967 and immediately made Sattler his captain.

“He just said to me one day: ‘I want you to be captain, that’s the way I want it and that’s the way it’s going to be’.

“I didn’t ask him why but he told me a couple of years later, after it was all successful, that he wanted me to be captain because I was the only captain we had.”

One of John Sattler’s proudest moments was captaining the Kangaroos. Picture: Jerad Williams

KANGAROOS CAREER

Sattler played four Tests for Australia, three as skipper, including the 1967 Kangaroo tour.

“We were away for four-and-a-half months,” Sattler recalled. “I was away when Lisa (daughter) was born. We didn’t get back until the end of January or the start of February.

“I roomed with Peter Gallagher and Noel Kelly. I was only 24. Ned said to me: ‘You’re with me’. I went along with what he said – if he said knock that bloke out, I’d knock him out.

“I remember toward the end of that season, I coat-hangered Ned, a stiff arm. But Ned was really good with everything he did for me.

“Then one day, he said: ‘You bastard, you hung me up’. I had dislocated my elbow and Ned would cut up my food for me. He’d say: ‘I shouldn’t feed you, you mongrel bastard, you should starve to death’.

“I took a lot of pride in playing for Australia. I captained the 1971 tour to New Zealand. We got beaten, they kicked our arses.”

FATHERLY ADVICE

Ivan Sattler, John’s father, gave his son some timely yet hard-nosed advice when he moved to Sydney from Kurri Kurri.

Over the ensuing 10 years, Sattler was sent off 15 times and suspended for a total of 30 matches.

“Dad said to train hard and if you have to, hit them first before they hit you,” Sattler said. “I wasn’t trying to make a mark but I wanted to get on top.

“Maybe intimidate them early. I think they got most of my send-offs right. My parents were tough, strong people who were hard workers.”

John Sattler, South Sydney legend. Picture: Jerad Williams

SAINTS’ INTEREST

The Dragons were extremely keen on signing a young Sattler.

“There was talk of St George. They came up and spoke to me and then I went down to Sydney,” Sattler said. “I then said: ‘No, I didn’t want to go to Sydney’.

“Souths then came along. Old George Hansen, the treasurer, came up and sat down and the more they spoke, the more interested I became.

“I drove from Kurri Kurri to Sydney three times a week for the first few years of my career. It was 120 miles each way.”

TODAY’S GAME

“I still watch it,” he said. “The standard is a lot different but it’s good. It’s a fast game, a tough game,” Sattler said.

“Sometimes we get games where the refs are too involved but generally they get it right.

“In recent years, I was a big fan of Sam Burgess. I loved his toughness, aggression and mobility.

“I think Souths can win it this year.”

John Sattler was a big fan of Sam Burgess during his career. Picture: Gregg Porteous

HE MEETS HIS MATCH

But it wasn’t a footy player.

“I was loading animals at a wildlife sanctuary on the Gold Coast, they were the animals going to Hamilton Island when it first started,” he said.

“I was trying to get them up in the truck but they wouldn’t move. I shooed them a bit and the kangaroo got hold of me and ‘whoosh’, it struck me down the legs.

“The emus then started ganging up and got into me. I captained my country and then got beaten up by the coat of arms. It was very funny.”

GREATEST AND TOUGHEST

Who was the great player Sattler played with?

“Ron Coote, probably. He was a great player, tough and super fit. Nothing bothered him.”

The greatest player he confronted?

“Changa (Graeme Langlands),” Sattler said. “He had a massive sidestep, he could play injured. He could be wounded but still get up and go. He would still be a superstar if he played today.”

And what about the toughest?

“Kevin Ryan would probably be the toughest,” Sattler said. “He just was. He didn’t give up on anything. He was a fair boxer as well.”