Sam 'Slammin' Backo

Cairns forward (originally from Ingham) matured like vintage wine at Canberra, progressing from lower grade player to Test star. Backo was actually playing in the Group 8 competition in 1981 but returned to Queensland to play with Yeppoon before venturing back to Canberra in 1983. A member of the Raiders’ team that lost to Manly in the 1987 grand final Backo made his State of Origin debut the following year. Chosen for the Test series against Great Britain, he created history by becoming the first Australian forward to score tries in all three Tests of an Ashes series. The massively framed prop was simply unstoppable close to the line but English fans did not see him at his best in his time with Leeds in 1988-89. At the end of the 1988 season he moved back to Brisbane and again starred in Queensland's State of Origin success before touring NZ with the Australian side. A chronic knee injury limited his appearances in 1990, resulting in his withdrawal from the Test side that took on France, and forced his eventual retirement at the end of the season.