Graham Eadie: Hall of Fame footy legend fights for his life against deadly disease after suffering a stroke

Rugby League Hall of Fame legend Graham Eadie is fighting for his life as he battles bacterial meningitis and the shocking after-effects of a stroke.

The man affectionately known as ‘Wombat’ also suffers from speech problems and hand weakness.

Eadie underwent a lumbar puncture test this week on the Gold Coast, which revealed the 70-year-old had had a previous stroke in addition to the bacterial infection.

He also has seizures due to epilepsy.

‘Dad is not doing very well, but he has family around him. He’s a fighter and he’ll keep fighting,” said Eadie’s son Brook. News Corporation.

The full-back won four premierships with Manly and played 20 tests for Australia in a highly decorated football career.

Eadie also represented New South Wales, including the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980 against Queensland, before ending his career with a successful season in England with Halifax.

“I hope dad gets out of the hospital soon.”

Eadie made his first grade debut with the Manly Sea Eagles in 1971 and won four premierships.

His 1,917 points in first grade and 2,070 points in all grades were club records at the time of his retirement.

He also represented New South Wales (including the inaugural 1980 State of Origin match against Queensland) and Australia, before ending his football career with a successful season in England with Halifax.

Eadie was also one of Manly’s first elite defenders, wearing the famous brown and white number 1 jersey then worn by the likes of Matthew Ridge, Brett Stewart and Tom Trbojevic.

In 2023, Eadie is reunited with one of his most prized possessions: his 1978 grand final replay jersey.

At the time, he swapped him to Cronulla off Rick Bourke after Manly won 16-0.

It then sat in a cupboard for almost 50 years until it was returned to Eadie last year on the Gold Coast, leaving him understandably elated.