Retired league stars need care after brain injuries

Compared with a generation or more ago, progress in preventing young footballers from suffering head knocks, concussion and other brain injuries is an important advance. Even in highly competitive elite football, players’ health and safety must never be jeopardised, which it was for many years. As we reported last week, the harrowing stories of four more former elite rugby league players (three from the same club, the Newcastle Knights), all suffering early-onset dementia in their 50s, add to a growing body of evidence that suggests concussion-related brain issues among retired players is a far more extensive problem than has been acknowledged.

The University of Sydney, which oversees the NRL’s concussion research project, led by Dr Andrew Gardner and Professor Chris Levi, insists most participants sign on to do their part in helping prevent head injuries to current and up-and-coming league stars. However, there has clearly been a justified belief among ex-players and their families that the program was an avenue towards a diagnosis and receiving the treatment they need. Dr Gardner’s comments in 2019 – that his study would “allow us to identify problems and immediately refer former players for treatment” – would have contributed to that belief. But at the most vulnerable time in their lives, unfortunately, some ex-players and their distraught families appear to have been let down and missed out on vital treatment.

On Saturday Jess Halloran and Wendy Carlisle told the story of Robbie O’Davis, 50, who finally learned in April he is suffering “probable” chronic traumatic encephalopathy – head knock-related dementia. His neurologist believes a scan conducted by the NRL-backed researchers in 2018 showed signs of brain injury but O’Davis alleges he was not alerted. Last year he lost his friend, former Cowboys coach Paul Green, to suicide. Green had stage three CTE. He was 49 years old. At least the diagnosis – that their dad had a brain illness – helped Green’s widow, Amanda, explain the tragedy to their daughter Emerson, 13, and son Jed, 10. “I was able to sit Jed down and explain: ‘Daddy’s brain was sick, that’s why he did what he did’,’’ Ms Green said.

Knights foundation player Glenn Miller was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 54, and Marc Glanville, 57, who believes he has dementia, went into an explosive rage so terrifying he was recently admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Former St George player Trevor Crow, who as chairman of the Newcastle Rugby League helped draft concussion guidelines, is also suffering early-onset dementia and has reportedly become “childlike” at 59.

The former players and their devastated families spoke to The Weekend Australian because they are troubled by their experience with the research project, including the issue of the code’s support for what the former players warn is an “epidemic” of footballers suffering CTE. Miller’s wife, Sheree, for example, was horrified to learn in 2021 her husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease by the researchers three years earlier – but the family had no idea. The diagnosis was not shared with her husband’s GP, she claimed. The researchers must be transparent about the study and provide answers to the disturbing allegations made by O’Davis.

Members of the Australian Rugby League Commission, who meet on Wednesday, should also consider how it could be acceptable for ex-players who are suffering brain degeneration – and for that reason may act counter to their own interests – to be given health information without the appropriate support around them. The commission and the university should order an in-depth review of the research project.