Sam Backo (born 1 January 1961) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a in the 1980s and 1990s.
Named as one of the greatest Aboriginal players of the 20th century, he represented Australia and Queensland, and played club football in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership for the Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos, primarily as a prop forward. Backo was the first Australian forward to score tries in all three Tests of an Ashes series, and following his retirement was named in an Indigenous Australian team of the century.
Early career
Former chairwoman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, Evelyn Scott gave birth to Sam Backo on . Originally from North Queensland township, Ingham he was a forward for Cairns in the Queensland Rugby League's Northern Division before moving south to Woden Valley in the New South Wales Country Rugby League's Group 8 competition in 1981. The following year he returned to his home state to play for Yeppoon in the Central Division competition.
BRL and Canberra
After playing in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Fortitude Valley, in 1983 Backo was given his first opportunity in Sydney's NSWRFL premiership with the Canberra Raiders in their second season. He made his début in March and went on to play a handful of games that season. From 1984, Backo was a regular member of the starting line-up at Canberra and in 1987 appeared in his, and the club's, first grand final, which was lost to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
