Wally Lewis wedding in turmoil as family rift hits sad new low

Rugby league icon Wally Lewis’ wedding day may turn into a day of anguish with rumours surrounding the family’s falling out.

Wally Lewis’ family rift is set to reach a crossroads when the rugby league icon re-marries in April.

Lewis has been in a relationship with fiancee Lynda Adams since the 65-year-old split from ex-wife Jacqui in February, 2021 — and the Queensland State of Origin cult hero popped the question towards the end of last year, according to Woman’s Day.

Lewis’ messy divorce unfolded in public with reports he had been seeing Adams before breaking things off with Jacqui. The pair had been married for 36 years.

The marriage breakdown caused a division within the family with the former couple’s three children — Mitchell, Lincoln and Jamie-Lee — supporting their mum through the turbulence.

It was reported at the time actor Lincoln, 37, was refusing to speak to his dad.

Months later, ahead of his appearances on Channel 7’s Dancing with the Stars in 2021, it was reported the former Home and Away star no longer had a relationship with his dad.

“I am really looking forward to having my mum, sister, brother, sister in law and nephews all sit down together and for the first time watch the boys have a giggle at Uncle Linc on Dancing With The Stars,” he said, without mentioning his dad.

“We are all such a tight bunch.”

Wally Lewis, Lynda Adams, Lincoln Lewis and Margot Robbie.

The relationship between the three adult siblings and their father remains fractured it has been reported previously.

Woman’s Day now reports that a source close to the family believes the three siblings may not attend their famous dad’s wedding when he ties the knot with Adams in North Queensland.

Time does not heal all wounds.

“Lynda is working with a top Queensland wedding designer to create a showstopper of a dress and her daughter Sydney, 15, is set to be in the wedding party but this is where it gets a little awkward… Lynda hasn’t been seen with any of Wally’s kids or his four grandkids,” the source told Woman’s Day.

“I don’t think any of the three kids will ever forgive their dad for hurting their mum, who has been the family’s rock and who has dedicated her entire life to being a terrific mum and grandma,” the source said.

The source added that Wally’s children see attending the wedding as a “real act of betrayal” towards their mother.

The Channel 9 NRL commentator in 2021 first confirmed his relationship with Adams and acknowledged the “pain and upset” his family endured.

Former rugby league player Wally Lewis with his wife Jacqui on the red carpet. AAP Image/Nikki Short.

Wally Lewis and Lynda.

The athlete famously known as “The King” has rarely spoken about his personal life, but in 2022 said his messy family situation was one of the reasons he wanted to get his estate in order, should he die unexpectedly.

“It’s been very uncomfortable,” he said.

“The separation took part and it’s been a difficult period. I’ve spoken to people who have been in similar situations who have said it’s never going to be comfortable.

“We seem to all get older a lot faster. A day seemed to take an eternity to pass when we were kids. Now, they’re rolling over like the scoreboard on a pinball machine. If you’re a realist, you want to have things in order.”

The wedding could be the event that makes or breaks the relationship between Lewis and his kids.

Woman’s Day reports “Jamie-Lee was mortified when her dad told her he was getting married again”.

For Lincoln, it has been particularly tough.

Wally and Lincoln previously shared a close bond and Wally attended the 2014 Logies as Lincoln’s date.

“It’s been hard on everyone obviously, and anyone who goes through stuff … it’s obviously going to be hard,” Lincoln said in 2021.

Wally Lewis with wife Jacqui and children Lincoln, Mitchell and Jamie Lee in 1998.

Wally Lewis at State of Origin with Mitchell Lewis (right) and Lincoln Lewis (second from left).

“You’re going through things in the public eye and that comes with the territory.

“We’ve all banded together, we’re a tight family unit. She’s got some amazing friends around her. That’s the thing that gets anyone through (difficult times).”

The other side of the situation is the affection Wally has shown towards Lynda as she continues to support him while he battles chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

CTE is brain disorder caused by repeated blows to the head, often triggering memory loss, the deterioration of basic cognitive skills and behavioural issues.

In his autobiography, My Life: Wally Lewis, the Kangaroos international also showed plenty of affection and admiration for Jacqui as she helped him through his earlier health struggles.

The book, released before his marriage breakdown, shows Jacqui helped him through his epilepsy diagnosis — a condition he kept secret from 1987 to 2006 when he had a seizure on air on Nine News.

Lewis finally underwent a four-hour operation in 2007 in an attempt to alleviate some symptoms.

His life has changed a lot since then and the April will bring another big change.

Originally published as Wally Lewis wedding in turmoil as family rift hits sad new low