Rugby league great Wally Lewis announces dementia diagnosis

The NRL legend has announced he has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), admitting he struggles to recall much in his short term memory.

Wally Lewis has announced he has a fatal form of dementia.

Footy great Wally Lewis has announced he has a fatal form of dementia, admitting he struggles to recall much in his short term memory and regularly repeats stories without realising.

The NRL legend simply known as ‘The King’ announced on Sunday night he had been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a form of dementia caused by repeated blows to the head.

“I can’t even remember the name of what it’s called,” he told 60 Minutes.

Rugby league legend Wally Lewis reveals a painful health update.

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Recalling his first meeting with a doctor, Lewis said he struggled to remember items the medical practitioner told him to repeat. “Pride is a wonderful thing, but there wasn’t a lot of it around then,” he said.

Wally Lewis with the NRL Greats mural wall. Picture: Annette Dew

Lewis, 63, said the diagnosis was especially difficult because NRL stars are expected to maintain a facade of “ruggedness”.

“For a lot of the sports guys, most of us take on this belief that we have to prove how tough we are, and if we put our hands up and seek sympathy we will be the real cowards of the game,” he said. “But we’ve got to take it on that the problems are there.”

With a career spanning three decades, Lewis’ diagnosis will come as a shock to thousands of fans who will watch his work across media platforms as a sports commentator.

Having captained both Australia and Queensland, Lewis won a record eight man of the match awards throughout his lengthy State of Origin career.

Lewis underwent an epileptic seizure in the middle of a live broadcast while reading the sports bulletin for 9News in 2006, and underwent brain surgery to control the seizures the year following. He said the disease had crippled him, adding that he had a “fear of failure” in making a mistake while in a live news broadcast.

Lewis said he bears no distain for NRL and will not be seeking compensation, but instead will donate his brain for research to create awareness by sharing his story.

“We’re not seeking sympathy, we’re seeking support,” he said.

NRL legend Wally Lewis talking to the media at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Jerad Williams

Lewis’ partner Lynda Adams said the toughest part for her was when he repeated stories without realising he had done so.

“I remember Wally picked me up, and we were driving along and he told me a story,” she told 60 Minutes. “Five minutes later ... he told me the same story.”

Lewis’ announcement comes as the Senate prepares to release the findings of an inquiry into concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports this week.

Just six months ago, Mr Lewis announced his father Jim, a rugby league great in his own right in Queensland rugby league circles, had been diagnosed with dementia.