Nathan Merritt has been given about 12 months to live, and has one simple dying wish: “To see South Sydney win the premiership.”
The Rabbitohs great has been undergoing chemotherapy for stage four cancer of the liver and oesophagus, but will muster the energy to attend his first NRL game in more than two years on Good Friday.
Souths have asked Merritt, 42, to ring the Legacy Bell before kick-off against the Bulldogs. The rare cameo will also give fans a chance to honour their popular former winger, who scored 154 career tries including 135 for the Rabbitohs.
“To see Souths win another comp, that would be a great way to go out,” Merritt told this masthead. “The doctors have given me 12 months or so. The chemo is to prolong my life expectancy.
“I’m in a bit of pain, but I’m not as bad as what others have experienced. Souths have the team to do it. I’d just love to see them in a grand final again. As a fan of the club, it would be a wonderful moment.
“Hopefully they can stay injury free and give themselves the best chance to be there.”
Merritt was too fatigued to attend Allianz Stadium to see Alex Johnston break the game’s try-scoring record against the Roosters.
“But watching the scenes was awesome – I had the hairs on the back of my neck stand up,” Merritt said. “I was spewing I wasn’t at the game because I would have tried to run on the field as well. The chemo has sapped most of my energy. I get tired really quickly. I’ve lost about 20kg, and I’m down from 105kg to 83kgs.
“The last game I went to was Indigenous Round at Homebush when Souths played against Parra. I’m looking forward to Good Friday.
“I had a lot of great memories playing against the Dogs. There was one year, I think it was 2013, we came up with a trick play, and Adam Reynolds kicked it across field for me, we caught them off guard on the opposite side of the field.”
Merritt, a father of five, made the shock announcement about his cancer diagnosis earlier this month. He has already undergone two rounds of chemo, and will start a third at the end of next month.
Merritt revealed to this masthead in 2024 how he was lucky to be alive after being placed into an induced coma at the end of 2023 when struck down by a dose of double pneumonia.
Souths started a pre-game tradition of asking people closely associated with the club to ring the Legacy Bell, a tradition that dates back to the club’s first game at Birchgrove Oval in 1908, and were keen to invite Merritt if he was feeling well enough.
Skipper Cameron Murray and his father Corey, who also played for Souths, rang the first Legacy Bell last year, while Cathy Freeman OAM, along with club legends Ziggy Niszczot, John Sutton and Sean Garlick, has also had the honour.
“This is our first opportunity to show Nathan how much the Rabbitohs family loves him.”
South Sydney CEO Blake Solly
Jack Wighton said of having Merritt at Accor Stadium: “He’s one of the greats, and someone I looked up to when I was growing up, and when I was playing. The club loves him. I got to know him a bit outside of footy, and he’s an absolute champion. It will be awesome to see him on Friday, and hopefully in good spirits.
“Nathan Merritt is Nathan Merritt – everyone loved him, and everyone wanted to be like him coming through. He’s one of a kind.”
Souths CEO Blake Solly said of Merritt: “Our members and fans loved what Nathan achieved on the field, and he was always a crowd favourite here.
“Everyone at the Rabbitohs were shocked when his diagnosis was announced, and we were inundated with offers of support.
“Friday will be an opportunity for those fans and members to give Nathan the reception and support he deserves.
“This is our first opportunity to show Nathan how much the Rabbitohs family loves him”.
Campbell Graham returns from a shoulder injury as Souths chase their third win in four games.
