- Cronulla teammates fear for wellbeing of missing star
- He played for the Sharks between 1986 and 1992
Concerned teammates are desperately trying to locate former footy star Michael Speechley, who was last spotted living in his car a few years ago.
Speechley, 60, played for a host of NRL clubs, but made his name at the Cronulla Sharks between 1986 and 1992 playing five-eighth.
Famed for his tacking technique, ‘The Lawnmover’ has been reportedly sighted at a handful of venues in Sydney’s south, including RSL clubs in Brighton and Ramsgate.
Now the likes of Sharks chairman Steve Mace, ex-club CEO Barry Russell and Cronulla old boys’ committee member and former star player Alan Wilson just want to see if the reclusive Speechley needs a helping hand.
One-time teammate Darren Higgins bumped into Speechley four years ago, and an awkward conversation unfolded.
At the time, Speechley told Higgins he had to go to hospital for pneumonia treatment – and he hasn’t been seen since.
‘He just disappeared off the face of the earth,’ Higgins told News Corp.
‘At that time, he wasn’t travelling too well. We are all worried about him. We love ‘Speech’, he’s a good fella.’
Concerned teammates are desperately trying to locate former footy star Michael Speechley (pictured playing for the Sharks in 1987), who cannot be contacted
Speechley made his name at Cronulla between 1986 and 1992 while playing five-eighth. He was also famed for his tackling technique
The ex-Shark’s sad situation recalls the polight of former Bulldogs flyer Sandy Campbell (pictured), who was living rough on the Gold Coast in 2022
News of Speechley’s plight comes after it was confirmed in 2022 that fellow former rugby league star Sandy Campbell was living rough on the Gold Coast as he battled throat cancer.
Campbell was seen living under a Coolangatta surf club on the beach, all of his possessions stuffed into a shopping trolley.
Among the items was a chemotherapy infusion pump he needed to treat throat cancer.
He is said to be estranged from his wife and twin daughters.
Campbell’s good friend Darren Smith told News Corp it had been a tragic decline for the former Bulldogs star.
‘He’s got nothing,’ he said. ‘What do I do? I was going to start a GoFundMe page to try and help him out.
‘No one can give him accommodation and he’s got no money. It’s very sad.’
Last year, Campbell received some further tough news – he was diagnosed with a tumour behind his right ear.
Campbell is living in a self-contained van he was gifted in a bid to keep him off the streets.
