The NRL and wider rugby league communities are mourning the tragic death of former Newcastle Knights and Catalans Dragons player Scott Dureau at 39. Catalans confirmed the devastating news on Monday night after Dureau endured a long and difficult battle with brain cancer that forced him to retire in 2015.
Dureau played 42 games for Newcastle from 2007 to 2010, and 97 for Catalans from 2011 to 2015. He announced his retirement in 2015 after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour from behind his eye two years earlier.
Scott Dureau is being remembered fondly. Image: Getty
“A former iconic player of the club, he had been courageously battling the illness for several years,” the Dragons said in a statement. “Beyond the exceptional player that he was, Scott was a man cherished by all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
“His talent and numerous achievements on the field, but above all his humility and kindness, will forever be etched in our memories. In these painful moments, President Bernard Guasch and the entire club extend their most sincere condolences to his wife Libby, his two daughters Imogen and Everly, his family, and all his loved ones.”
Scott Dureau was a star for Catalans Dragons in the English Super League. Image: Getty
Dureau was named in the Super League “Dream Team” in 2011 and 2012, and won the Albert Goldthorpe Medal as player of the season in the second of those seasons. After his retirement he took up a coaching role with the Knights.
However the cancer returned in his brain in 2018 and eventually spread to his liver, and he was told at the time he only had 18 months to live. He fought on courageously for another eight years but ended up needing surgery to remove another five tumours.
“That was probably the worst moment of my life,” he told the ABC at the time. “I had six tumours that had formed pretty rapidly. To hear that news was pretty shattering.”
It continues an awful few weeks for the NRL community after the deaths of Karl Lovell (48), Noel Cavanagh (84) and Steve Keir (62). Lovell and Keir also lost their battles with cancer.
One person wrote on social media on Monday night: “RIP Scotty Dureau. A guy whose career was cut short because of illness but he never once complained. A lifelong friend of mine, I’m so thankful we got to catch up for a beer before it was time. Until we meet again.”
Another wrote: “How very sad, rest in peace Scott, my condolences to family and friends.” While a third added: “Way too young. Condolences to his family and friends.”