Carl Webb MND: Former Origin hero diagnosed with motor neurone disease
The rugby league community has banded around Carl Webb following the Queensland cult legend’s motor neurone disease diagnosis, with one old rival reserving special praise for the former Origin enforcer.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE: The rugby league community has banded around Queensland Origin legend Carl Webb after the fearless former NRL forward was diagnosed with early onset motor neurone disease.
Webb, 38, has been digesting the shock diagnosis for the past month and is in the process of relocating to Brisbane to be closer to family and tackle the illness.
Motor neurone disease is a condition which damages parts of the nervous system, causing muscle weakness and wasting.
The disease is irreversible and the average life expectancy following diagnosis is about three years, although AFL great Neale Daniher has waged a seven-year battle with MND and helped create huge awareness of the condition.
Watch the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO. Every game of every round LIVE & Ad-Break Free during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Former Brisbane league players Adam Maher and Paul Fisher have died from the disease this year, aged 47 and 51 respectively.
Webb has been living in Dalby, 200km west of Brisbane, and working in a central Queensland mine.
The Courier-Mail understands he underwent testing after noticing changes to his limbs and was diagnosed with early onset MND.
The Men of League foundation and Former Origin Greats (FOGS) are helping Webb relocate to Brisbane to be closer to his four young daughters.
“I’ve been in contact with Carl for the past month in regards to what steps we need to take and the support he will need,” said FOGS chairman Gene Miles.
“It was a shock for him. He is in for a tough time but we will be there with him, that’s the way we are.
“He wants to relocate to Brisbane to be closer to his girls and we will be assisting him in every way we can to make that happen.
“We’ll be there for him.”
BELOW: DONATE AND HELP FIND A CURE FOR MND
Webb made a name for himself with the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels with his explosive running and brutal defence in a 187-game NRL career between 2000-2011.
Webb also played one Test for Australia in 2008 and made 12 Origin appearances for Queensland from 2001-08.
Melbourne Storm star Cameron Smith captained Webb in the Origin arena and said he was devastated by the news.
“I’m shocked,” Smith said.
“Carl Webb played elite sport so he looked after himself throughout his life. It’s just terrible news.
“Carl played the game hard and with a lot of passion, particularly when he pulled on the Maroon jersey.
“He was a wonderful guy and I love playing alongside him because he was doing his best for his team. As a smaller bloke like myself, Carl looked after you and made sure nothing happened to you.
“It’s a shame that this sort of thing can happen. It doesn’t seem fair sometimes.
“I just want to wish him and his family all the very best with battling and fighting this terrible disease.
“It’s devastating news and my thoughts are with him.”
Webb’s arguably most famous moment came in the 2005 State of Origin series, when he went toe-to-toe with Blues prop Luke Bailey at Suncorp Stadium.
With a “Q” shaved into the side of his head, Webb repeatedly whacked Bailey to earn cult hero status among Queensland fans.
“My whole career comes down to that one YouTube clip my kids want to throw back at me – that I got towelled up by Carl Webb,” Bailey said.
“I ran at him a couple of times and he got me. I didn’t know him from a bar of soap before that happened.
“It was a good rivalry and continued when we played the Cowboys. I had a couple of battles with him.
“Every year the rematch was talked about. It was good to have a rumble with him and media liked to blow it up which was good.
“He was an absolute beast in his prime. He was a tough competitor and left everything on the field. He was one of the toughest.
“I’m sure he will do the same with his illness and will put up a big fight.”
Fundraisers for Webb are in the works and could centre around the NRL’s Round 5 Queensland derby between the Broncos and Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on April 10.
To donate to help find a cure, head to fightmnd.org.au/donate/
Originally published as Carl Webb MND: Former Origin hero diagnosed with motor neurone disease