South Sydney Rabbitohs star Nathan Merritt’s family gives update on his condition after he was left fighting for life in hospital

Nathan Merritt’s family have issued an update after the former NRL star’s condition has improved ‘slightly’.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs legend, 40, was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney’s west and placed on life support last Friday after being found unresponsive.

The father-of-five is believed to have had an adverse reaction to prescription painkillers and collapsed at his aunt’s house, where he was staying.

Merritt’s sister Teanne gave a reassuring update on Tuesday, two days after she revealed he was still in critical condition.

But she warned that her brother is not out of the woods yet and has a challenging journey ahead of him.

Visitors to the hospital, other than close family members, remain off limits.

“We have been advised that Nathan is improving a little, but has a long road to recovery,” Teanne posted on Facebook.

Nathan Merritt’s condition has improved ‘slightly’ after he was rushed to hospital last Friday

“Thank you to everyone, family and friends who have come to visit Nathan and all the well wishes and kind words from everyone.

“At the moment, only immediate family can visit Nathan. Thank you all for your continued love and support.’

It comes after family acquaintances have said News Corp on Monday that Merritt’s lung capacity had improved over the past 24 hours and that the internal swelling had gone down.

“Nathan is still serious and he’s not out of the woods, but there’s a little improvement,” said a friend.

“There are some encouraging signs, which are good. His lung capacity has increased.

“Hopefully he can get a little bit better every day. It’s a slow process.’

Merritt has been regularly visited by Canterbury Bulldogs and NSW Blues star Josh Addo-Carr, as well as former St George’s five-eighth and boxing champion Anthony Mundine.

Mundine claimed that the combination of pneumonia and playing football in the Koori Knockout may have contributed to Merritt’s collapse.

“He didn’t know he had pneumonia,” Mundine said. He kept asking for his puffer every 10 minutes because he was having trouble breathing from the Pneumonia.

Teanne Merritt warned her brother Nathan (pictured playing for South Sydney) still has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

There is no evidence to suggest that Merritt suffered a concussion in the leg tournament.

Merritt, who hung up his boots in 2014 after 237 games, is regarded as one of the greatest players in Rabbitohs history.

Born and raised in Redfern, he started his football journey as a junior player with Alexandria Rovers in the South Sydney Junior competition.

After retirement, he channeled his passion for sport into a cause close to his heart, founding the Nathan Merritt Foundation dedicated to providing guidance and support to Indigenous youth in Sydney.

“Nathan is in the thoughts and prayers of every Rabbitoh at the moment,” South Sydney CEO Blake Solly said on Saturday morning.

Merritt is considered one of the greatest players in the long history of the South

The incident comes after Merritt pleaded guilty to common assault after repeatedly punching a bar security guard who was trying to help him get home after a drinking session in December 2022.

His barrister told Burwood Local Court it was ‘pure luck’ no one was seriously injured in the attack and revealed Merritt – who the court was told suffered from depression after retiring from football – was so drunk he had only vague memories of the attack.

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