Former Leeds player and NRL icon in critical condition

A former Leeds player is in critical condition after a heart attack.

The player in question is 62 year old Sam Backo who suffered a heart attack and is no in hospital in a serious condition being monitored closely by doctors.

His former teammate Colin Scott said to the Mole of Wide World of Sports: “His wife called me and said he was in a bad way.”

The prop has been described as “an icon” this morning and was a Queensland and Australian representative.

Despite being a prop, he was no stranger to to a try especially for Australia scoring close range tries with incredible power.

In fact he scored in all three of the Ashes Tests in 1988 becoming the first forward to do so.

The original Slamming Sam, a nickname taken on by Sam Burgess in recent times.

Like Burgess, Backo spent some time playing in the UK.

He joined Leeds in 1988 making a lovely cameo at Headingley in a short term stint at the club.

He scored a crucial try against Hull FC in the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup when the Loiners were up against it to give them the lead at a crucial point in the game.

Backo would start the final on the bench helping Leeds pick up the trophy.