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Sam Backo

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Samson Neale Backo
Nickname(s)
Slammin
Born
Sunday, 1st January, 1961
Died
Sunday, 3rd August, 2025 (Aged 64 years and 214 days)
Place Of Birth
Ingham, Queensland, Australia

Competitions Won

The Ashes
1988
World Cup
1985/88, 1989/92
Test Series
1989 New Zealand vs Australia
State of Origin
1988, 1989
Yorkshire Cup
1988/89
Midweek Cup
1989

Honours & Awards

Dally M Prop Of The Year
1988

Biography

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.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tests (Senior International Matches) -6-63-3---12---51-83.33%List
Other International Matches -2-2----------11-50.00%List
The Ashes 13-33-3---12---21-66.67%List
World Cup 22-21-1---4---11-50.00%List
Tour MatchesAustraliaAUS-8194-4---161--72-77.78%List
Test Series 26-63-3---12---51-83.33%List
Representative Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
State of Origin 27-73-3---12---61-85.71%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) -1181713518-18---722--7062351.85%List
NRL Finals -6-62-2---81--24-33.33%List
Midweek Cup 15271-1---4---43-57.14%List
Challenge Cup AU -1-1-----------1-0.00%List
Club Career - UK Comp WinsStartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
English Championship -7613----------94-69.23%List
Challenge Cup -112----------2--100.00%List
Yorkshire Cup 1-331-1---4---3--100.00%List
UK Top Division -7613----------94-69.23%List
Overall StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 1463017627-27---1083--10172357.39%List

Test Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Australia1988-89 6-63-3---12---51-83.33%List

International Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Australia1988 1-1----------1--100.00%List
Rest Of The World1988 1-1-----------1-0.00%List

World Cup Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Australia1988-89 2-21-1---4---11-50.00%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Sydney Maroons1987 1-1----------1--100.00%List
QLD1988-90 7-73-3---12---61-85.71%List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
CanberraCanberra19831983 NSWRFL Winfield Cup 448----------35-37.50%List
CanberraCanberra19841984 NSWRL Winfield Cup 152174-4---16---107-58.82%List
CanberraCanberra19851985 NSWRL Winfield Cup 192212-2---8---811238.10%List
CanberraCanberra19861986 NSWRL Winfield Cup 182201-1---4---712135.00%List
CanberraCanberra19871987 NSWRL Winfield Cup 27-276-6---24---1611-59.26%List
CanberraCanberra19881988 NSWRL Winfield Cup 22-222-2---82--148-63.64%List
BrisbaneBrisbane19891989 NSWRL Winfield Cup 105153-3---12---96-60.00%List
BrisbaneBrisbane19901990 NSWRL Winfield Cup 325----------32-60.00%List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Canberra1983-88 1051011515-15---602--5854350.43%List
Brisbane1989-90 137203-3---12---128-60.00%List

English Career - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
LeedsLeeds1988/89 810181-1---4---144-77.78%List

English Career - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Leeds1988 810181-1---4---144-77.78%List

Your Say

  • Henson
    24 May 2018 9:33pm

    Thanks for the memories of a Man that played the game for the game brilliant Sam.

  • Nicholas
    12 Jul 2025 4:39pm

    So devastating to hear that Sam is in hospital and extremely unwell.A damaging foward who always put fear into his opposition.Tuff,strong,loyal and honest player that commended respect.Canberra Raider and Brisbane Broncos Icon.Indigenous Immortal of the game.Sending my love and best wishes.

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Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, AJ Lucantonio, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, Bill Bates

Sources:David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999)