Nathan Merritt’s sister says the South Sydney NRL great’s condition is “improving slightly”, with the 40-year-old remaining in a Sydney hospital.
Merritt was rushed to the city’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Friday and placed on life support, after being found unresponsive at his aunt’s residence.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Nathan Merritt in critical condition in hospital.
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The former Rabbitohs star is believed to have had an adverse reaction to prescribed pain-killers.
Merritt’s sister Teanne posted on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon to say the family had received somewhat positive news on the winger’s condition.
“We have been advised that Nathan is improving slightly but has a long road to recovery,” Teanne Merritt wrote.
“We thank everyone, family and friends that have come up to visit Nathan and all the well wishes and kind words from all.”
Souths CEO Blake Solly released a statement on behalf of the club on Saturday.
“Nathan is in the thoughts and prayers of every Rabbitoh at the moment,” he said.
A cult hero at the Rabbitohs, Merritt scored 154 tries in 237 NRL games and remains equal-12th on the league’s all-time try-scoring lists.
He retired from the NRL in 2014, but played in the Koori Knockout on the NSW Central Coast earlier this month, where onlookers claimed the winger sustained a concussion.
It has not been confirmed whether the head knock is related to his condition.
He had a one-year stint at Cronulla in 2004 before returning to Souths.
The winger’s 218 appearances is fourth all-time for the Rabbitohs, while his 154 career tries are the most ever for South Sydney.
Merritt, a Redfern local, also made one appearance for NSW in the 2013 State of Origin series, two Australian Prime Minister’s XIII appearances and two City Origin appearances.
He also represented the NRL Indigenous All Stars three times and was awarded the Preston Campbell Medal for his man-of-the-match performance in the 2012 Indigenous All Stars game.
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