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

Hall of Fame rugby league 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' is also suffering from speech issues as well as weakness in his hands.

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

He also has seizures through epilepsy.

'Dad's not doing too well but he has family around him. He's a fighter and will keep on fighting,' Eadie's son Brook told News Corp.

'Hopefully Dad will be out of hospital soon.'

Eadie made his first-grade debut with the Manly Sea Eagles in 1971 and went onto win four premierships. 

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

He also represented NSW - including the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980 versus Queensland -  and Australia, before winding up his footy career with a successful stint in England with Halifax. 

Eadie was also one of Manly's first elite fullbacks - with the famous No.1 maroon and white jersey then worn by the likes of Matthew Ridge, Brett Stewart and Tom Trbojevic.

In 2023, Eadie was reunited with one of his most treasured possessions - his jersey from the 1978 grand final replay.

At the time, he swapped it with Cronulla opposite Rick Bourke after Manly won 16-0.

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