But by the time the former Canberra Raider became one of the best ever props he loved playing for the man affectionately known as "Bozo".

Lazarus said it was a very sad day for rugby league, losing one of its Immortals.

Fulton died after a long cancer battle, aged 73.

A Manly great, he was the coach that gave Lazarus his Australian debut in 1990.

Fulton never lost a series in charge of the Kangaroos during a seven-year stint, winning the 1992 and '95 World Cups, as well as Kangaroo tours against Great Britain and France and a Trans-Tasman series against New Zealand.

He made his playing debut for Manly in 1966 and just two years later captained the Sea Eagles in a grand final loss to South Sydney before playing in three premierships for the Silvertails.

Fulton played 37 Tests for Australia before going on to coach his country on 40 occasions.

His extraordinary career led to him being one of the first four Immortals inducted in 1981, along with Clive Churchill, Johnny Raper and Reg Gasnier.

But Lazarus remembers a very unique character who was also very confident.

"It is very sad news. I didn't realise he was as sick as he was. It's just really sad," he said.

"Rugby league's lost one of their Immortals and a guy that contributed a lot to the game.

"And as a really young guy he was playing for Manly and I was a massive Parramatta fan as a kid and he, in those '70s grand finals against Parramatta, cruelled me a bit.

"Then he was my coach mostly for my Australian career and I just loved playing for him and I loved being in his company.

"It's just a very sad day. It hits home a little bit."

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Lazarus recalled two Kangaroos tours to Europe and the Trans-Tasman series when they combined as coach and prop.

He was thankful Fulton had a penchant for big men in his forward packs. Lazarus, Steve "Blocka" Roach, Mark "Spud" Carroll, Mark Sargent and Paul Sironen all cast imposing shadows.

Plus he recalled the way Fulton was able to keep a squad united during an arduous 10-week tour, playing twice a week.

He recalled him having people like world champion boxing trainer Johnny Lewis, who you could talk to and use as an escape from rugby league.

"We never lost a series under him, I don't think and I'm pretty certain that's the truth," Lazarus said.

"Luckily for me Bozo liked big men and when you have a look back at the forward packs he used to coach at both club level and Test level he always had his big men there.

"I was lucky enough to be a big man. Blocka, me, Spud, Mark Sargent, Paul Sironen. These guys were all over six foot two and all over 110 kilos.

"He used to surround himself with them, which was handy for me."

There were a couple of moments that instantly sprung to Lazarus's mind when asked about his time with Fulton.

The first involved the team bus they used on tour.

Someone had a video tape of Bozo from his playing days. Running along a beach and doing a few exercises.

The team was having a bit of a laugh about it when the man himself got onto the bus and instantly demanded it be turned off.

The other was in France when movie star Kevin Costner, who was there filming Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, ended up in the Kangaroos change rooms at one of their games.

"Some of the boys got to meet [Costner] and they invited him along to this game, it wasn't a Test match it was against some provincial team," Lazarus said.

"And at half-time we took Kevin Costner into the dressing rooms and Bozo is trying to talk to the players about what's going on on the field and everyone just wanted to talk and meet Kevin Costner.

"Bozo was, 'Who's this muppet'? He was a unique person and very confident in his abilities as a player, and it showed on the field, but he was also a very confident coach."

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