Death of Warrington born Australian Immortal Bobby Fulton

Pictures Eddie Whitham

WARRINGTON born Australian Rugby League legend Bobby Fulton has died after a short and private battle with cancer, aged 74.

One of the original four Aussie Immortals, Fulton was born in Stockton heath before moving to Australia with his family.

Following the 1969 NSWRFL season after a decade with Manly-Warringah, Fulton accepted an offer to play a season with his ‘home town’ club Warrington in the 1969–70 English season.
Fulton played 16 games for Warrington, scoring 16 tries and kicking 1 field goal before returning to Australia and Manly for the 1970 season.
He returned with the touring Australians in 1979 and played at Wilderspool on the night Warrington pulled off a shock victory.
The legendary Manly, NSW and Australian representative is survived by wife Anne, sons Scott, Brett and daughter Kristie.
His long-time mate and radio colleague Ray Hadley announced Fulton’s passing on 2GB on Sunday.
“It is with great regret and sadness that I report Bob Fulton has passed away just a short time ago after a battle with cancer that was kept very private,” he said.
“He was surrounded by Anne and his children and dear friend Royce Ayliffe when he went.
“He was first diagnosed some time ago and obviously those close to him knew of it and myself and Peter Peters were advised by Bob at the time. Sometime during that later part of last year he was given weeks to live.
“He fought and fought and fought. One of the things he promised me he’d do he came to my wedding on the 27th of March even though he was not in the best of health.
“I received a message from Anne four days ago that things were not looking too good and that he’d be in contact with me shortly. That never occurred because he’s passed away this morning in hospital.”
Fulton had worked alongside Hadley for 32 years, forming an unbreakable bond on and off the airwaves, before he retired from radio at the start of 2020.
“He was the first of those Immortals and I always thought he would be immortal, I just thought he’d live forever.”
One of the first four players to be granted Immortal status in 1981 – along with Clive Churchill, John Raper and Reg Gasnier – he represented Australia in 35 Tests as a player and on 40 occasions as a coach.
He represented NSW on 17 occasions and played 213 premiership games for Manly and 50 for the Roosters. He coached the Sea Eagles in 305 games and the Roosters 100 times.