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John Farragher
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John Wayne Farragher (1 April 1957 – 1 November 2025) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played for the Penrith Panthers as a prop in the 1970s.[2]
Key Information
Playing career
[edit]A Gilgandra junior, Farragher was graded by the Penrith Panthers in the 1977 season. Penrith coach Barry Harris gave Farragher his first-grade debut in the 1978 season in his side's 9−8 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval in round 4.[3]
On 28 May 1978, in just Farragher's seventh appearance in the top grade, against the Newtown Jets at Henson Park in round 10 of the 1978 season, a collapsed scrum during the first half left him seriously injured. It was later revealed that he had dislocated his neck and damaged his spinal cord. Whilst surgery was able to correct the neck dislocation, he became a quadriplegic.[4][5]
Post playing
[edit]In the aftermath of his injuries, a trust fund was set up to provide Farragher with the financial support needed for the rest of his life. After extensive rehabilitation he returned to work at the Panthers Penrith Leagues Club in 1982, taking on a role in public relations to greet and assist the club's members and guests. He continued to hold the role, with his charm, warmth and passion for the Panthers making him a popular and recognisable character among the club's patrons. In the 2016 Australia Day Honours, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "for service to rugby league, and to the community of Penrith".[6][7]
Farragher died on 1 November 2025 at the age of 68 after a cardiac arrest at Nepean Hospital.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "John Farragher - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ Collis, Ian (2018). The A to Z of Rugby League Players. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 9781921024986.
- ^ "Penrith Panthers". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Players | John Farragher". 25 May 2020.
- ^ Lester, Gary and Pritchard, Greg; Bound for Glory: The Story of the Penrith Panthers; pp. 101-103 ISBN 9780949853486.
- ^ "Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia (F-L)" (PDF). Australia Day 2016 Honours Lists. Office of the Governor-General of Australia. 26 January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ^ "John Farragher awarded OAM". 25 January 2016.
- ^ "John Farragher, the footballer who won Penrith's heart, dies aged 68", Western Weekender.
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