Former Newcastle Knights and Catalans Dragons rugby league player Scott Dureau has died at the age of 39. The Catalans Dragons announced the news on social media, stating Dureau had been courageously battling cancer for several years.
Dureau began his professional career with the Newcastle Knights in 2007, playing three seasons and appearing in 42 NRL games, scoring five tries and accumulating 48 points. He then moved to the Catalans Dragons, where he spent the majority of his career, playing 97 games as the team's first-choice half-back. During his time with the Dragons, Dureau achieved both team and individual success, including being named to the Super League Dream Team in 2011.
"Beyond being an exceptional player, Scott was a man admired by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His outstanding talent and achievements on the field, but above all his humility and kindness, will forever remain in our memories," the Catalans Dragons said in a statement. The club extended condolences to his wife Libby, his daughters Imogen and Everly, and his family and friends.
Dureau was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2013 after experiencing headaches and blurred vision while playing for the Dragons. While surgery was successful at the time, the cancer returned in 2019, spreading to his lungs. He was initially given 18 months to live but continued to fight the disease for seven years. In 2023, a routine check-up revealed a further cluster of five small tumors in his brain, marking the fourth time he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Tributes have been shared by other rugby league clubs, including Hull FC and the Huddersfield Giants, who offered their condolences to Dureau's family and the Catalans Dragons organization.