Gould's hope after 'horrible' Merritt cancer update

Phil Gould hopes the "horrible" prognosis revealed by NRL great Nathan Merritt this week turns out to be incorrect, as the rugby league world rallies around the Rabbitohs legend.

Merritt, 42, announced last month he is fighting stage four cancer in his oesophagus and liver.

The former NSW Blues winger told The Sydney Morning Herald this week he reckons he has a year or less left to live.

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Merritt has been invited by the Rabbitohs to ring the club's Legacy Bell before Friday's game against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.

He says it will almost certainly be the last NRL game he ever attends.

"The doctors have given me 12 months or so. The chemo is to prolong my life expectancy," he told the Herald.

"I'm in a bit of pain, but I'm not as bad as what others have experienced."

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Merritt says he couldn't attend South Sydney's game against the Roosters three weeks earlier when his friend Alex Johnston broke the game's tryscoring record, because, "the chemo has sapped most of my energy".

Merritt says he has lost about 22 kilograms since starting chemotherapy.

His dying wish is to see his beloved Rabbitohs win their first premiership since 2014.

"To see Souths win another comp, that would be a great way to go out," Merritt said this week.

"Souths have the team to do it. I'd just love to see them in a grand final again. As a fan of the club, it would be a wonderful moment."

While Gould will be cheering on his Bulldogs on Good Friday, he will join thousands of rugby league fans in paying tribute to Merritt before the game.

"Horrible," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus.

"I guess at all stages of our lives everyone experiences someone who has these types of health issues.

"It's a terrible thing, particularly for one so young.

"Wonderful man, and a great footballer too. It's terrible news.

"South Sydney will obviously be inspired by him this weekend. We wish Nathan and his family well, hopefully that prognosis is not as accurate as they're making out and there is some sort of recovery there."

Merritt played 237 NRL games, mostly for the Rabbitohs, as well as one Origin game for the Blues and three for the Indigenous All Stars throughout his career.