'Special' league icon Raper farewelled

Rugby league great Johnny Raper has been remembered as one of the game's greatest players and a loving family man at a state funeral in Sydney.

Hundreds of mourners attended Monday's service at the Sydney Cricket Ground including NSW premier Dominic Perrottet and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo.

Family, friends and members of the public gathered to farewell the legendary lock known as 'Chook', who died aged 82 on February 9 after a six-year battle with dementia.

Raper won eight premierships as a player with St George between 1959 and 1966, played 39 Tests for Australia and was inducted as one of the game's inaugural Immortals alongside Reg Gasnier, Clive Churchill and Bob Fulton in 1981.

Former prime minister John Howard, a St George supporter, spoke of the enormity of Raper's achievements and his personality.

"We love our sporting heroes," Howard said.

"He not only left behind a wonderful legacy in his chosen sport but also as an Australian sporting character.

"He never gave up, he was always positive and he always had a point of view."

ARL commission chairman Peter V'landys, ex-NRL boss David Gallop, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley and Wayne Pearce were among the rugby league dignitaries present.

Raper was the eldest of nine boys born in Camperdown in 1939. After his debut for Newton in 1957 he moved to St George in 1959 while working as a policeman.

He also enjoyed success in the international arena and was remembered for his role in the Swinton Massacre, as Australia beat Great Britain in 1963 to claim the Ashes overseas for the first time in 50 years.

He captained his country on eight occasions and was awarded an MBE in 2000.

He married wife Caryl in 1961 and they had three sons, Stuart, Kurt and Aaron.

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