‘It’s like he’s sleepwalking’: Corey Parker’s wife Margaux reveals the toll brain damage is already taking on star

The wife of retired Maroons star Corey Parker has opened up about the worrying signs that have forced her to ask the former Brisbane great to be tested for brain damage.

Queensland Origin great Corey Parker has offered to donate his brain to medical research as his wife opened up about fears he could be another NRL legend to be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Wednesday night’s Origin opener between NSW and Queensland will mark the 20th anniversary of Parker’s debut for the Maroons in the first game of the 2004 series at Suncorp Stadium.

During that time, Parker has gone from Origin ironman, to Broncos skipper, to retired NRL star, Fox Sports expert analyst and, now, a devoted father of four whose gladiatorial past is catching up with him.

Just turned 42, Parker has revealed he has brain damage.

A no-nonsense straight shooter, he says he is telling his story not in a search for sympathy, but to help raise awareness of head-trauma injuries and explore ways to safeguard the next generation of NRL stars.

“I have some brain damage, absolutely,” Parker said.

“It would be very naive to think that, after 16 years of playing rugby league at the highest level and all the hits I copped, I wouldn’t have some signs or symptoms of CTE.

“This is not a poor-me, get-the-violin-out story. I’m totally OK with where I’m at. But if there are other people like me or have had thoughts (of brain damage) or wrestled with themselves, I just wanted to share my story.”

Margaux and Corey Parker get into the groove for the Gambaro Taittinger Ball. Picture: Adam Head

HEAD NOISE

Parker is one of the most-capped players in the 116-year history of Australian rugby league.

The former Broncos captain played almost 400 senior-level matches, including 347 appearances for the Broncos, 19 Origin games for Queensland and 13 Tests for Australia during a decorated 16-year career.

But in recent years, Parker has become more attuned to the risk of brain trauma after the tragic suicide of his former Broncos teammate Paul Green in 2022.

Green, who was 49, was later diagnosed with CTE, a progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head.

Green was the second NRL player, after Steve Folkes, to be diagnosed with CTE at a time when other league legends, such as Mario Fenech, Ray Price and Wally Lewis, have revealed their battles with early onset dementia.

Parker stresses he has not had any scans that show evidence of brain damage. But, in his head, he doesn’t need the tangible proof. He lives it every day.

“You can’t play 16 years at the top level, nearly 400 games like I did, plus all the junior games, and not have some brain damage or side effects,” Parker says.

“You just cannot do that.

“At the time you are just playing the game you love, it’s terrific and rightly so, but looking back I think, ‘F***, that (some of his collisions) weren’t great’.

“Look, I haven’t had any tests or brain scans. But the scans would already reinforce what I believe I have in my own head anyway.

“I’d happily get some tests done but they can’t give definitive answers on whether you have CTE.

“They can say based on the scans, you are showing signs, but you only know if you have CTE when you are dead and they analyse your brain.

“I’m OK with the fact I have some damage.

“You don’t need to cut my skin open to know I bleed red.”

Corey Parker receiving medical attention after a big tackle. Picture: Adam Head

MEMORY LANE

Parker has chalked up almost a decade’s service as a Fox Sports commentator since his NRL retirement in 2016.

Watching him weekly, there is no sign of brain damage. Parker speaks comfortably and confidently. He can be seen at games in suit and tie with reams of researched notes, testament to the professionalism that underpinned his NRL career as one of the sport’s most dedicated workhorses.

But, incredibly, Parker says he has only a minor recollection of tens of thousands of moments from his playing days.

“Memory loss is something I suffer,” he says.

“I used to think that by forgetting things, I wasn’t interested in a subject, that I wasn’t fully invested. But then I started noticing it was happening a lot.

“One of my good mates is Michael Ennis and Mick has great retention.

“Some people can recall things from a game in 1965, but my recollection of things from my entire 16-year career is very small.

“I played so many games that it can be a blur, I guess, but I will see old footage on TV of some games and I think, ‘Wow, I played with that guy, was he out there?’

“I’m aware of my issues. I don’t try and fight it.

“I send myself text messages and reminders on this and that so I don’t forget things.”

Aside from memory loss, the symptoms of CTE can include depression, aggression and suicidal thoughts, but Parker says he rarely has dark thoughts.

“Because I am with the kids a lot, I’m a hands-on dad and we all know what kids can be like,” he says.

“Sometimes I find myself getting really snappy with them and all of a sudden I lose my temper.

“Am I judging myself too hard? Do all parents react like this? I don’t know.

“My personality is pretty even. I wouldn’t say I suffer depression. I probably lack a bit of empathy and sympathy in that regard, but I’m not a guy who is high as a kite one day and down in the dumps the next day.

“I could be more open and talk about things a bit better, which is where my wife Margaux would have a better view of my situation.”

Margaux and Corey Parker supplied

A WIFE’S WORRY

Parker suggests this masthead speak to his wife and partner of 21 years, Margaux, to get a candid snapshot of his head-trauma concerns.

Herself a successful broadcaster and public figure with radio station Triple M, Margaux has urged Parker to undergo testing. She knows he can be stubborn. She also knows his brain damage concerns are real.

“There is definitely a restriction with thought processing,” Margaux says.

“I definitely worry about it because we’ve got four kids and we know the outcomes aren’t great with CTE.

“We’ve seen Wally Lewis with his media profile and what he is going through. Even with Paul Green’s death, he was later found to have CTE and the battle is invisible.”

Margaux says Parker is often forgetful and believes alcohol consumption can worsen his memory loss, sometimes triggering blackouts.

“There’s definitely signs of forgetfulness,” she says.

“It’s like he is sleepwalking because he is not aware of what he is doing.

“At night, he will get up and not know where he is or what room he is in.

“When he talks, it won’t always make sense to the conversation we’ve just had.

“He will wake up to go to the bathroom and he has found himself down the hallway in the lounge room.

“At a hotel, I have to make sure the door is latched because if he gets up and we’ve had a few drinks, he might end up in the hallway or lock himself in a fire escape.

“I definitely notice he is worse mentally when he drinks. He can have a few drinks and one more tips him over the edge and he will have blackout moments he does not remember.

“I have been at him for years about drinking and drinking to excess. He has to be really mindful of that.

“The impact of alcohol for anyone is not always a positive one, but if he does have probable CTE or some brain trauma, then most definitely drinking is not good for that.

“I have a doctor I have used before to perform cold-laser therapy for the brain. She does work in this space neurologically, working with the brain, for things like learning difficulties, ADHD, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinsons and she reached out to me and felt she could help Corey and Wally Lewis.

“I’ve encouraged Corey to have treatment, but he is a bit of a sceptic.

“The brain is so complex. I would love for Corey to be tested and get on the front foot and if there is an opportunity to heal and repair the damage that is there, if there is some, 100 per cent I would support that.

“In America, there is huge awareness around CTE and therapies for brain trauma, but it’s only just starting to filter through here in Australia.”

Greg Bird (L) and Corey Parker exchange punches during an Origin match.

SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

Parker graduated to first grade in an era of the gladiator. The code did not have the strict HIA protocols it has today in the NRL. Forget 11-day stand-down periods. Parker was reared in an age where any sign of weakness was a sin.

If he was concussed on the field, he would fake injury to other parts of his body, buying more time to clear his head.

“I copped some big knocks along the way, that’s just how it was,” he said.

“I had two bad concussions when I was around 14 or 15. They were in quick succession and mum and dad wanted to pull me out of the game. I got severe headaches at the time.

“When I first came into grade, I didn’t want to show any weakness. I looked up to Gorden Tallis, Shane Webcke, Andrew Gee, Brad Thorn and Petero Civoniceva.

“The training back then at the Broncos was bloody hard. At different stages, you would get buzzed by a tackle at training, you would spill blood and you would get into fights.

“It was a badge of honour to cop a whack in the head, shake it off, get up and move on. That’s just how it was. In games, you would have teammates screaming, ‘What are you doing, mate ... hurry up ... get up!’

“At the back end of my career, I would get buzzed in the head, but I would grab my shoulder or my leg and pretend something else was injured to conceal having a head knock.

“I wasn’t alone in this. You could survey a lot of guys from my generation and if they were honest, they would share the same stories.”

Corey and Margaux Parker renewed their wedding vows with the help of their children along with family and friends Picture Instagram

THE FUTURE

For that reason, Parker applauds the NRL’s crackdown on high shots and caution with concussions. He will happily agree to donate his brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank.

“I will donate my brain for research one day, no dramas at all,” he said.

“What else can you do with my brain when I’m dead?

“If it can help with CTE research, hopefully I can help in some way.

“I do think about the potential effects for two of my four kids who play league. I had a confronting situation just the other day. Our son Wylei got concussed at school footy and under the new protocols at school, we had to go to the doctor and get him assessed.

“I thought it was for him to play footy again but it was just for him to go back to school.

“The game has never been more diligent in that regard and that’s great, because it didn’t happen when we were kids.

“I do worry about the worst case. My grandparents both had dementia and died in their 70s. I worry to some degree, but I’m not the type who is going to worry myself sick on what I can’t control. I could cross the road tomorrow and get hit by a truck. I can’t worry too much over 20 years’ time. I can accept it. I’m not in denial.

“If you asked some players if they would do things differently in their careers, you might get some interesting answers.

“Personally, I have no regrets because I didn’t know any different.

“The game has never been in a better spot than what it is now. I was one of those rusted-on diehards who thought the game had gone soft with the new rules and all the rules around head knocks, but it’s not until you see the potential impacts that you applaud it.

“Our children will benefit from the safer parameters and that’s great, rather than be belted from pillar to post and play Mr Tough Guy like I had to.”