Queensland rugby league legend Sam Backo has died aged 64.

The Maroons and Australian Kangaroos champion passed away surrounded by family at Cairns Hospital on Sunday.

Backo had been in intensive care for some time, having been diagnosed with melioidosis in April.

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Melioidosis is a bacterial infection commonly found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical regions, and has killed 35 people in Queensland alone so far this year.

The former Broncos and Raiders front-rower, who also had a stint with Leeds in England, had been transferred to a hospital in Brisbane for a period before later returning to Cairns.

The man affectionately known as Slammin’ Sam spent most of his NRL career in Canberra, where he played 114 games between 1983 and 1988, before adding another 20 when he moved to Brisbane in 1989.

Backo played 18 games for Leeds in the 1988-1989 UK season, inbetween NRL campaigns.

He was without doubt one of rugby league’s toughest ever players, but was also renowned as one of the sport’s great characters.

Backo suited up in seven State of Origin games for Queensland and played six Tests for Australia.

Most notable in his international career was his series against England in 1988 when he scored a try in all three games.

Backo suffered a heart attack in 2023, after which he was in a critical condition, but survived.

He was a proud Indigenous man who was also known for his work in Indigenous health.