Former Kangaroos star Ian Roberts will reveal rugby league has left him with brain damage

KANGAROOS great Ian Roberts will reveal on Sunday night he is brain-damaged from his rugby league playing days.

Ian Roberts receives treatment from a trainer after suffering concussion in high tackle.

KANGAROO great Ian Roberts will reveal on Sunday night that he is brain-damaged from his rugby league playing days.

In a gripping interview on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program, Roberts exposes the after effects of a career for Australia, NSW, South Sydney, Manly and the Cowboys.

The 48-year-old says: “I have brain damage. I’ve been acting now for 10 years, studying lines and that kind of thing.

News_Image_File: Ian Roberts playing for the Manly Sea Eagles is tackled to the ground.

One day you have it down and then the next day you’re like I have just lost all that info (sic) again.

“That’s really, I mean really scary stuff . . .”

Fears of future legal action from battered old players like Roberts is why the NRL is treating concussion issues so seriously.

News_Image_File: Ian Roberts with some of the wounds he received while playing for Australia.

It’s why the shoulder charge has been outlawed and punching banned in recent years, much to the annoyance and irritation of old-school fans.

There is huge concern in the NRL about the concussion backlash in the US, with former NFL stars lining up to take legal action.

Roberts is one of the toughest and most fearless men I have ever seen on a football field.

He played the game with relentless aggression and as a result suffered a number of concussions.

“You know, when you are 25, at the top of your game, you know you’re ten foot and bullet proof,” he told the show.

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“I’m 48 at the moment and when you have those lapses I have to check myself and I’m like, ‘oh why can’t I remember that or am I remembering that rightly?’”

He also has advice for mums and dads that will alarm the NRL administration.

“I have got to say any parent, they have got to question the safety of their children (playing football),” he said.

News_Rich_Media: Fox Sports rugby league commentator Steve Menzies discusses Sonny Bill Williams' imminent shoulder charge ban, Penrith's new halves combo and Daly Cherry-Evans' potential in 2014.

It’s why the NRL is coming down so hard on incidents like the Sonny Bill Williams shoulder charge in the season opener that will sideline the Roosters champion for three weeks.

The Insight program on SBS on Tuesday will also reveal some alarming concussion statistics.

Hospitals in Victoria and NSW have noticed a 32 per cent increase in sports related concussions in children in the last decade, although approximately 75 per cent of concussions still go unreported and undiagnosed.

YANKEE FOOD AT THE SCG

THE Sydney Cricket Ground will be transformed into something more like Chicago’s Wrigley Field for the Major League Baseball event in two weeks.

To make it a real American baseball experience, caterers will be offering everything from Nachos, 24” hot dogs, bacon on a stick and ice cream in a helmet.

The SCG’s usual outlets, the Pie Emporium, Doyles Seafood, Wagyu and Gourmet Burgers and oven baked pizzas will also be open and available.

Tickets to Team Australia against the Dodgers on Thursday, March 20, and Team Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, March 21, are still available via ticketek.com.

News_Image_File: Tessa Nikov and Courtney Merfeld holding some of the US baseball food that will be available at the SCG.

ROO SELECTIONS THWARTS SBW

Sonny Bill Williams is so desperate to play State of Origin this year he’d give up his Kiwi Test jersey to do it.

The main trouble is that players have to be available for Kangaroos selection to qualify for Origin.

News_Image_File: Sonny Bill Williams is willing to give up a Kiwi test jersey to play origin.

It’s a shame because Sonny Bill is far more entitled to be wearing a Blues jersey than Greg Inglis is of wearing a Maroons jumper because of his junior football history.

NRL REJECTS BID FOR WICKS RETURN

The NRL has rejected Danny Wicks’ hopes of a comeback in country rugby league this season.

The former Knights prop was jailed for 18 months and suspended from rugby league under WADA rules for four years after being found guilty of drug trafficking in 2011.

News_Image_File: Danny Wicks‘ bid to return to rugby league has been rejected by the NRL.

Lower Clarence in Group 1 applied to the NRL for the suspension to be reduced by 12 months.

SUPERCOACH IN ELITE COMPANY

SUPER coach Wayne Bennett was spotted in elite company at the exclusive Rockpool Bar and Grill at Thursday lunchtime.

Olympic boss John Coates, former prime minister Paul Keating, the CEO of Casinos and Resorts Australasia John Lee, Bennett’s son-in-law Ben Ikin and Sports Commission chief executive John Wylie were all hidden away in a private dining area.

It must have been an important catch-up because the normally smart-casual attired Bennett was wearing his best suit and tie. He would not comment when we phoned to check out what the meeting was all about.

BROWN RETURNING

NATHAN Brown has won three out of three at St Helens in a terrific start to the English Super League.

News_Image_File: ST Helen’s coach Nathan Brown may be returning to Australia.

I’m now hearing he will be bringing his family back to Australia at the end of the season.

With a number of coaches on shaky ground, a far more mature Brown is now ready for an NRL gig and would make an ideal replacement.

PRICE IS RIGHT

ST GEORGE coach Steve Price is more than likely to last the entire season, ­irrespective of how the team performs this year.

News_Rich_Media: Lara Pitt and Laurie Daley preview the round one clash between St George and Wests Tigers.

Why? Because the club has no money and cannot afford to pay out his contract and then hire a replacement.

The Dragons recently had to approach the NRL to get an advance to solve cash-flow problems.

FAREWELL TIMED TO STEAL THUNDER

IT was so typical of Andrew Demetriou to hold off his retirement announcement from the AFL until the week of rugby league’s season launch.

As a result the NRL lost valuable exposure on Monday news bulletins and Tuesday newspapers.

News_Rich_Media: Outgoing AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou has left some departing words at the season launch, discussing the long-term plan for the competition.

It’s not the first time it’s happened during his stint as the AFL boss. Often Demetriou’s major announcements have been held back for Origin week or other big events to pinch publicity from his main rivals.

SAINT

FRIDAY night footy, takeaway Thai and Toohey’s New throwdowns.

I love you rugby league.

SINNER

SOMEONE needs to tell Shane Warne that smoking inside the Australian cricket dressing room is not only a bad look but also a health hazard. And it’d be handy if he could stay awake while they’re playing.

News_Image_File: Shane Warne during day 5 of the 3rd Test match between South Africa and Australia.

SHOOSH

WHO is the former NRL coach experiencing severe financial hardship over failed business investments and can’t find a job anywhere?

SHOOSH II

WHICH jockey recently spent $20,000 on a new set of teeth for his upcoming wedding to his Thai bride?

SPOTTED

PAUL Gallen on the Gold Coast last week at a bucks party for his Origin team- mate Greg Bird. We’re certain they won’t be as friendly at Shark Park tomorrow night.

News_Rich_Media: Lara Pitt and Laurie Daley preview the round one clash between Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans.

YOU LITTLE CHAMPION!

I RECEIVED the most beautiful email this week from the father of Nathaniel Micallef, the brave little two-year-old boy who I mentioned last year was fighting bone cancer. As part of Camp Quality, the family turned to the Canterbury Bulldogs and their skipper Michael Ennis for inspiration. Just this week the family received the wonderful news that Nathaniel had won his battle and is now in remission.

STAY SHARP

IT’S a massive year for interim Sharks coach Peter Sharp, who is not only holding fort for Shane Flanagan in the Shire but is also getting married in October.

News_Rich_Media: Fox Sports rugby league analyst Paul Kent deciphers NRL CEO Dave Smith's announcement regarding punishments handed down to Shane Flanagan, Cronulla Sharks and Trent Elkin.

LINCOLN LINKED

A 10-year-old boy named Lincoln Pasterfield will lead the Sharks onto the field against the Titans tomorrow night. He is the son of popular racing media identity Tommy from Campbelltown, who bought the prize at last year’s grand final lunch.

BUSH KIDS LOVE BIG CITY

IT might have been an ordinary crowd but no-one enjoyed the NRL season-opener more than this group of youngsters. The 15 students came from Moree, rewarded for their dedication to school and the Clontarf Foundation, an organisation that exists to improve the education, discipline, self-esteem, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginals in the town.