Ray Blacklock defied the doctors by living five years longer than the experts predicted after succumbing to a horrible disease - but the former Newtown, Penrith and Canberra star finally lost his brave battle early today.
The first man to lead the Panthers to a premiership, Blacklock was diagnosed with Multi System Atrophy - a horrible and rare neurological disorder that slowly eats away at the body - in 2015.
Medical experts told him he had only months to live, but Blacklock fought a gutsy battle before finally passing away today, aged 65.
"I am losing my balance and need a walking stick to get around," a sad Blacklock told me a few years ago.
"It was a terrible shock when I found out what I had - and that it will one day kill me, but life is full of ups and downs I guess. Basically, I just sit at home all day and watch Foxtel - I still love the footy. I didn't think anyone remembered me or cared anymore.
"But Penrith held a benefit night for me last year and I was really moved at the number of people who turned up. They showed video of some of the tries I scored. I thought they hit the fast forward button - I never realised I was that quick!
"It is a struggle but (former Panthers team-mate) Lou Zivanovic has been a godsend. He probably wouldn't want me telling you this, but he looks after me - with money, support and friendship. He has set me up at a house in Cranebrook, not far from Penrith Park where it all started for me."
Blacklock captained Penrith to the under-23 premiership in 1978 and went on to play in the 1981 grand final for Newtown, enjoying a stellar career and scoring many spectacular tries.
Like many young Indigenous boys, his hero growing up was Arthur Beetson.
"My debut was against the Roosters and Arthur welcomed me to first grade with the best stiff arm I ever got," he said.
"I was seeing stars everywhere. The ref called Arthur over and I'm pretty sure he was about to send him off. But I bounced to my feet and ran to the ref and said to him, 'Please don't send him off - he's my hero!'
"I think the ref took pity on me and let Artie stay on the field. We became mates and were great friends til the day he died."
from WWOS https://ift.tt/31LRnA0
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