ONE of Warrington's greatest rugby league sons, Bobby Fulton, has died at the age of 73.

A highly decorated playing legend who went on to become just as successful a coach, died in Australia on Sunday after a battle with cancer.

Warrington born in December 1947, he grew up in Stockton Heath but emigrated aged three to Australia where he became a superstar of the game with Manly, going on to represent the Kangaroos national team both as a player and head coach.

> Bobby Fulton: Godfather's letter and the chocolate box autograph

He returned 'home' to play a guest spell with The Wire in the 1969-70 season to the delight of the club's supporters at the time who remember him with great fondness.

Fulton was one of the heroes of the 1973 Kangaroo tour, which saw him starring in the only Test match played at Warrington's Wilderspool Stadium.

Warrington Guardian:

He scored a try that day, December 1, 1973, as the tourists sealed a 2-1 Ashes series victory over Great Britain.

And he was back on 'home' turf in 1978 as captain of the Australian side famously beaten by a depleted Wire side at Wilderspool in 1978.

Warrington Guardian: Bobby Fulton leads the tourists out of the tunnel at a packed Wilderspool

Warrington Guardian: Captains Bobby Fulton and Billy Benyon shake hands before the start. Pictures by Eddie Whitham

Bobby Fulton when he captained Australian against his birth town club Warrington Wolves at Wilderspool in 1978. Pictures: Eddie Whitham

He was also at his old haunt as coach of the Kangaroos for another touring club match against Warrington in 1994, a contest his side won 24-0 on a rain-swept November night.

Warrington Guardian:

His long-time mate and radio colleague Ray Hadley announced Fulton's death on 2GB, a commercial station in Sydney.

Fulton's wife Anne, sons Scott, Brett and daughter Kristie were at his hospital bedside when he died.

> A closer look at Bobby Fulton's Wire career

"He was first diagnosed some time ago and obviously those close to him knew of it. Some time during that later part of last year he was given weeks to live," said Hadley of a man he had shared the airwaves with for 32 years.

"He fought and fought and fought. One of the things he promised me he'd do he came to my wedding on March 27 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 is one of the original four Immortals in the Australian game - the players seen to have been the most iconic the sport has produced.

He was granted his Immortal status in 1981 - along with Clive Churchill, John Raper and Reg Gasnier - and represented Australia in 35 Tests as a player and on 40 occasions as a coach.

Fulton represented New South Wales on 17 occasions and played 213 premiership games for Manly and 50 for Eastern Suburbs (Sydney Roosters).

He coached the Sea Eagles in 305 games and the Roosters 100 times.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys paid tribute to Fulton.

"Today, rugby league has lost a true legend of our game," he said.

"The word legend is used a lot in tributes, but Bob was a genuine legend of rugby league.

"He was an original Immortal, a Kangaroo, a Blue and a club legend of Manly, winning three premierships as a player, including man of the match in the 1973 Grand Final.

"As a coach he led the Kangaroos to two World Cup victories and Manly to two premierships.

"He was also a great promoter of our game.

"Bob will forever be part of rugby league’s DNA and our game is richer for having had Bob part of it."

Manly chairman Scott Penn said the club is deeply saddened by the death of the man affectionately known as 'Bozo'.

"As the only person to both captain and coach the Sea Eagles to premierships, he will be forever remembered as one of our all-time greats," he said.

"We are forever in Bob’s debt for his passion and determination to make the Sea Eagles the best in the league.

"We send all our love and support to Anne, Scott, Brett and Kristie at this difficult time."

Fulton was considered to be an outstanding off-the-cuff performer, a player who could produce the unexpected and unorthodox who could single-handedly turn a game.

But what stood him out from the crowd was his competitiveness.

His family emigrated when he was young and he was raised in Wollongong.

He joined Manly as an 18-year-old and in 11 years with the Sea Eagles never played anything other than first grade.

Fulton won premierships with Manly in 1972, 1973 (when his two tries paved the way for victory over Cronulla) and 1976, when he captained the Sea Eagles to victory in his final game for the club.

He then accepted a rich offer to join Easts, played two years there, and then turned to coaching, steering Manly to premiership titles in 1987 and 1996, and coaching Australia from 1989 to 1998.

Warrington were in a rocky financial period of their history when Fulton joined for a guest spell outside of Manly's season.

And therefore the club were not able to take advantage of the talent he brought to the table.

Fulton made a try-scoring debut at centre for The Wire in a 14-10 home loss to Salford on October 10, 1969.

He played in the next 15 successive games at stand-off, partnering Parry Gordon in all but one of those, before returning for the start of Manly's new campaign.

Ten of the 19 wins from 40 games that season were achieved with Fulton in the side.