Souths legend Merritt awakes from a coma in hospital
Nathan Merritt, a South Sydney icon, has awoken from a coma, one week after being discovered unconscious and struggling for his life.
Merritt was conscious and accompanied by his close family at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney’s inner west, the Rabbitohs reported on Friday night.
“Fantastic news tonight!” Souths made a post on X, the social media network that was once known as Twitter.
“The Merritt family has informed us that Nath is now awake and surrounded by his immediate family.”
“He is still in the hospital, receiving excellent care from his doctors and nurses.” Merro, keep up the good work! We’re all rooting for you!”
Merritt was brought to the hospital and put on life support last Friday after being discovered unresponsive at his aunt’s residence one week after competing in the Koori Knockout.
The former NSW State of Origin winger was said to have experienced an allergic reaction to pain relievers.
Before Friday’s update, Merritt’s sister had posted on social media that the 40-year-old’s condition had improved slightly.
The flyer is one of the most popular individuals in South Sydney’s modern history, having played 218 of his 237 first-grade games for the club across two spells.
He retired in 2014 as the Rabbitohs’ all-time top tryscorer and the club’s second-most capped player since its inception in 1908.
He is the club’s second-most prolific scorer, trailing only his 2014 replacement Alex Johnston, and the club’s fourth-most capped player.
Merritt grew up in Redfern public housing and made his NRL debut with the Rabbitohs as an 18-year-old in 2002, the club’s first season back in the NRL.
Merritt was a fan favorite even during a stretch of mediocre performance because of his tendency of finding the tryline.
He was the NRL’s leading tryscorer in 2006, his first season back at South Sydney after two years in Cronulla, and again in 2011.
Merritt is the 12th most prolific tryscorer in Australian rugby league history, with 154 tries for Souths and Cronulla.
He became the first Rabbitoh since 1957 to score five tries in a game in round 22 of the 2011 season, when he featured in a 56-6 thumping of Parramatta.
Merritt demonstrated his flexibility in 2009 by kicking an improbable field goal to win a game for Souths versus Wests Tigers at the SCG.
Merritt received the Peter Frilingos Award for ‘headline moment of the year’ at the 2009 Dally Ms.
Merritt made his long-awaited Origin debut for NSW in the 2013 series, and he also played for City Origin twice.
He played for the Indigenous All Stars three times, collecting man of the match honors on the third occasion in 2012.
Merritt had remained a member of the Rabbitohs’ larger club after leaving the game, having taken up a job with the organization’s community arm Souths Cares.
