A goal-kicking halfback who ran the Catalans Dragons' attack for five Super League seasons, Scott Dureau died on July 18, 2026, at 39. He had made 42 appearances for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL before moving to France to join the Super League club, according to Zero Tackle.

Dureau was born in Taree, New South Wales, on July 29, 1986, and played his junior rugby league on the state's mid north coast before signing with the Knights. He debuted for Newcastle in 2007 and spent four seasons in the NRL, scoring five tries and kicking 12 goals in 42 games through 2010.

In 2011 he joined Catalans Dragons, the Super League club based in Perpignan, and quickly became its first choice goal kicker and playmaker. He was named to the Super League Dream Team in both 2011 and 2012, and in 2012 he won the Albert Goldthorpe Medal, the competition's award for its best player. By the time he left the club he had made close to 100 appearances and scored more than 800 points.

He returned briefly to Australia in 2014 on a mid season loan to the Sydney Roosters, though he did not play a first grade match for the club, then went back to Catalans for what became his final Super League season in 2015.

After retiring as a player, Dureau moved into coaching and development at the Newcastle Knights, spending six years on staff and eventually serving as the club's youth academy manager, before departing in 2021 during a restructuring of its high performance department, according to the Newcastle Herald.

He was survived by his wife, Libby, and their two daughters, Imogen and Everly. Announcing his death, Catalans Dragons said Dureau was "a man cherished by all those who had the privilege of knowing him," adding that "his talent and numerous achievements on the field, but above all his humility and kindness, will forever be etched in our memories," according to Love Rugby League.

Dureau's playing career spanned two rugby league competitions on two continents, capped by a five year run in Perpignan that produced a Goldthorpe Medal and back to back Dream Team selections, rare honors for an overseas half. After retirement he spent six more years on the Newcastle Knights' staff, working directly with the club's younger players as youth academy manager. He leaves his wife, Libby, daughters Imogen and Everly, and a playing record of more than 130 first grade appearances across the NRL and Super League.