John William Sattler played as a prop in the 1960s and 1970s. He captained South Sydney to four premiership victories from 1967 to 1971 and played four Tests for Australia - three as national captain. Known as "Satts", he was one of the hardmen of Australian rugby league and was regarded as an aggressive on field player, but a softly spoken gentleman off the field – hence his other nickname "Gentleman John". 

John Sattler was born in 1942 at Telarah, New South Wales, and moved to Kurri Kurri with his family when he was 12 years old. His paternal great-great-grandfather, Peter Sattler, was a German immigrant who arrived in Maitland in the late 1890s aged 6. He attended Marist Brothers High School in Maitland, New South Wales, Sattler began playing rugby league at the late age of 16 for Kurri Kurri and represented Newcastle against the touring British side in 1962. The following year he moved to Sydney and joined the famous South Sydney Rabbitohs.

In 1967 he was appointed South Sydney Rabbitohs' captain and led them to premiership wins in the four seasons of 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971. He also captained his team in the Grand Final in 1969 where they lost to Balmain. He could play at lock forward but played his best football and enjoyed his premiership and national representative success as a prop forward.

After 195 games with South Sydney, and four premiership victories, John Sattler signed for Brisbane Western Suburbs in 1973.

In the 1970 grand final, Sattler played with a broken jaw to help Souths to victory over Manly. In the premiership decider of 1970 South Sydney were up against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 19 September. Having lost the previous Grand Final to the Balmain Tigers, Souths were desperate to win. Approximately ten minutes into the game Sattler collapsed after being hit with a forearm by Manly forward John Bucknall while not in possession of the ball. He suffered a double fracture to his jaw but pleaded to teammate Mike Cleary, "Hold me up so they don't know I'm hurt". He was helped up and continued to play in the game. At half time Souths were leading 12–6 when his teammates learnt about his injury.

During the interval Sattler refused treatment and insisted he continue playing. He also told the side, "the next bloke who tries to cut me out of the play is in trouble", to prevent his teammates trying to protect him from further injury. At the end of the game South Sydney had scored 3 tries to nil in a 23–12 victory. He later went to hospital to receive treatment but only after receiving the Giltinan Shield and making an acceptance speech. It is considered one of the greatest folklore moments in South Sydney's illustrious history and was to be repeated with an uncanny similar hit on Sam Burgess in the 2014 Grand final, which the Rabbitohs also won some 44 years later.

Being injured during the 1970 Grand Final, he was not selected as captain for the Australian touring side announced later that night for the World Cup in England. However he had previously been selected in Australia's tour of Britain and France in 1967 and in the Australian teams which toured New Zealand in 1969 and 1971, in which he was selected as captain. He only managed to play in four tests for Australia, captaining his nation in three out of those four games. John Sattler captained the Queensland state side against New South Wales in 1973 before retiring from professional rugby league the following year.

Sattler was sent off fifteen times during his career and served a total of 30 weeks of suspensions. But he is remembered for his physical and mental toughness rather than his poor disciplinary record. Sattler was inducted as a Life Member of the South Sydney Football Club in 1972, the first player to be bestowed with such an honour while still playing.

Sattler entered the hotel business, first in Gladstone, and later at places such as Bribie Island, Queen's hotel in Southport and Broadbeach. John Sattler was also recognised for saving a man's life from an oncoming train at Jannali railway station. In February 2008, Sattler was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia

In Round 4 2023, after the passing of John Sattler, the Rabbitohs wore a commemorative jersey featuring the celebrated "torn rabbit" which was made famous iniSattler'a 1970 Grand Final performance, with the Sattler family joining the playing staff for a minute's silence prior to kick-off against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles the same club from that grand final. At the 13th minute, the Accor Stadium crowd - led by The Burrow - brought in a minute-long applause in honour of Sattler, who wore the no.13 jersey in his 10-year career in the Cardinal and Myrtle. The Rabbitohs won 13–12 in extra time victory, capping off a successful day for the club, with every grade winning their matches.