Rugby league legend, Johnny Raper, has died at age 82 following a long battle with dementia.
Considered one of the greats of the game, Mr Raper played for the Newtown Jets and Newcastle sides, Kurri Kurri and Wests, but he is best known for being a key part of the St George Dragons team that dominated the NSW Rugby League competition in the late 1950s and 1960s.
He played in eight consecutive premiership victories between 1959 and 1966 and was named one of the original Immortals of the game.
He also captained Australia to victory at the 1968 World Cup and twice won NSWRL player of the year.
It’s the third loss of a rugby league Immortal in the last year following the deaths of Norm Provan and Bob Fulton in 2021.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, Peter V’landys, has paid tribute to Mr Raper.
“Today we have lost one of our all time greats.”
“An Immortal, a Kangaroos captain and an eight-time Premiership winning player. Johnny was the best of the best,’’ he said.
“Johnny was a football genius. He had a gut instinct for rugby league like few we have seen. He wasn’t the biggest player on the field, but he was the smartest. Johnny’s feats with the Dragons will remain part of rugby league legend forever.”
In a statement today, Dragons chairman and former captain Craig Young described Mr Raper as “an inspiration”.
“Johnny Raper was an inspiration to his teammates and the entire St George organisation and is one of the key reasons why the famous Red V holds such esteem to this very day,” Mr Young said.
“Johnny was a larger-than-life character on and off the field who loved the game dearly.
“He will be sadly missed and never forgotten.”
Mr Raper is survived by his wife, Caryl, and sons Aaron and Stuart.
