A would-be Gold Coast thief has learned the hard way that Scott Sattler is a former rugby league tough guy.

The premiership-winning forward said he was jumped by a man wielding a retractable blade while jogging at Southport on Sunday night.

The son of legendary South Sydney tough guy John Sattler was stabbed in the shoulder during the ensuing scuffle.

"Some scumbag came out of nowhere and tried to rob me," Sattler told a Gold Coast radio station GoldFM.

But the ex-Queensland Origin forward didn't take it lying down.

The man fled empty-handed after being punched in the face by Sattler.

"Anyone out there with a brother or son with half a tooth missing, I've got it lodged in my knuckle," Sattler said.

"I have a cut on my shoulder and my knuckle is a bit busted up.

"I'll never get the image of his face out of my mind."

Sattler said he planned to make a formal complaint to police.

The former lock forward helped underdogs Penrith win the 2003 premiership with an inspirational sideline tackle on Sydney Roosters winger Todd Byrne which has entered NRL folklore.

He became the inaugural Gold Coast Titans football manager after the drawing the curtain on his 12-year senior playing career at the end of 2004.

But he left that position at the start of this season to pursue other interests including a blossoming media career.

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