Graham Murray Passes Away at 58
A Look Back at the Life of the Aussie Footballer and Coach
Graham Murray has passed away Sunday evening after doctors switched off his life support. He was 58.
The former New South Wales State of Origin team head coach had been admitted at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane after suffering a second heart attack that proved to be fatal.
Family and friends were said to be by his bedside when they took off his life support.
Murray was set to be head coach for Wynnum Manly Seagulls late last year, but due to his poor health, he stood the position down.
Playing and Coaching Career
The Aussie footballer played for Parramatta in the years 1976-1980 before playing for South Sydney. During this time, he was known as 'little Artie,' after Arthur Beetson, the best post-war forward in the rugby league history, due to his aptitude for organizational play. Ironically, they both met similar ends by means of a heart attack.
He began his coaching career as a reserve grade coach at Penrith and Balmain before he was made coach of Illawarra in 1991. During his tenure as coach, the Illawarra Steelers won 51 games and suffered only 39 losses. Then in 1995, he successfully established an alternative team in Newcastle called the Hunter Mariners. Although they made it to the finals of the World Cup Challenge, the team was eventually shut down. He went on to coach Leeds Rhinos, Sydney Roosters, North Queensland Cowboys which ultimately led him to coach the New South Wales team at State Origin level.
He will be forever remembered as 'Muzza' to his former mates and a legend to the world of rugby league.