Samson "Slammin' Sam" Backo — Canberra Raiders legend, Queensland and Australian international, Indigenous advocate, and one of the most powerful forwards ever to lace up boots in the NSWRL — passed away on 3 August 2025, at the age of 64, after a courageous battle with melioidosis, a rare tropical bacterial infection. He died in Cairns Hospital, surrounded by his family and deeply loved until the very end.

Born on 1 January 1961 in Ingham, a sugar-cane town in North Queensland, Samson Backo grew up as a proud Warrgamay and South Sea Islander man. His mother, Dr Evelyn Scott, was a pioneering Aboriginal rights activist who played a key role in the historic 1967 referendum that granted citizenship to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. From childhood, Sam was shaped by a family with deep roots in justice, community and resilience.

After playing junior rugby league for the Lower Herbert Dolphins in Ingham, Backo made the journey south, eventually arriving in Canberra in 1981 to play for the Woden Valley Statesmen. By 1983, he had been signed by the newly formed Canberra Raiders — and his career quickly soared. Over six seasons with the Green Machine, Backo played 116 first-grade matches, amassing 15 tries and becoming one of the most feared forwards in the competition. He was a cornerstone of the Raiders' ascent, including their maiden grand final appearance in 1987.

His crowning achievement came in 1988, when he became the first Australian forward ever to score tries in all three Tests of an Ashes series against Great Britain. That same year he was named the Dally M Front Rower of the Year — a fitting recognition of a dominant season that also saw him make his State of Origin debut for Queensland. He was the man of the match in two consecutive Origin games, as Queensland romped to a 3–0 series sweep.

After leaving the Raiders to join the Brisbane Broncos in 1989, a persistent knee injury forced his retirement at just 29. But Sam Backo never left the game — or the community — behind. He dedicated his post-football years to advocating for Indigenous health and welfare, supporting community development programs for people leaving incarceration, and working tirelessly for his people. In 2000 he received the Australian Sports Medal. In 2001 he was named in the Rugby League Indigenous Team of the Century — one of only a handful of players honoured in that historic selection.

He is survived by his six children — Elaine, Jacob, Daniel, Luke, Sarah and Peter — and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Canberra Raiders, the NRL, and Australian rugby league mourned his passing deeply, wearing black armbands in his honour. As Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said: "He had a massive impact here at the Raiders. He was a real big, tough front-rower, with speed and agility and a great offload — but most of all, a wonderful man."