‘The ultimate top bloke’: Carl Webb remembered as life of the party

Carl Webb will go down as one of rugby league’s most feared opponents, loyal teammates and greatest characters. Read Matt Bowen’s touching tribute to the Queensland legend.

SPORT NEWS BCM 25/5/05 (L-R) Carl Webb, Matt Bowen & Johnathan Thurston, the cowboy connection. State of Origin Suncorp Stadium. Extra Time. PicDavidKapernick

Queensland legend Carl Webb has been remembered as the “ultimate top bloke” and the type of teammate everybody wanted to play alongside by long-time friend Matt Bowen.

Webb and Bowen shared the field on 102 occasions for the Cowboys and five times for Queensland in State of Origin.

Bowen said it was a sad day for Webb’s family and friends as well as the entire rugby league community.

“He was a very good mate. He was one of those guys that you loved to be around,” Bowen said.

“He loved being part of your team and you hated playing against him because he was an aggressive runner and a feared defensive player.

Carl Webb (Matt Bowen & Johnathan Thurston in b/g) at North Queensland Cowboys training

“Charlie was the life of the party, always making people laugh and joking and carrying on, and he’ll be missed for that.

“It’s a very sad day but there are a lot of lovely memories that we held together and not just on the playing field but off the field as well.

“He was the ultimate top bloke.”

North Qld Cowboys players to make the Queensland squad (L-R) Carl Webb (front) Paul Bowman , Johnathan Thurston , Matt Bowen , Matt Sing , and Ty Williams . PicJamieHanson

Webb has been a vocal advocate for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) awareness after he announced his own diagnosis in 2020.

The devastating disease has no known cure and sufferers’ average life expectancy is just two to three years.

Bowen said he was glad he got the opportunity to catch up with his mate two months ago when he played in a star-studded charity game raising funds and awareness for MND and Huntingtons Disease.

Cowboys training......... Matt Bowen and Carl Webb Picture: Ned Kelly

“Battling that terrible disease for the last couple of years, we had a charity game for him a couple of months back and I got to catch up with him then,” Bowen said.

“It was a wonderful cause, obviously for his foundation, and I didn’t want to miss that. I got to catch up with him and I was speaking to him a fair bit.”

The former Cowboys enforcer played 115 games for North Queensland out of his 187 NRL appearances after debuting for Brisbane in 2000 – coincidentally in a 50-8 thrashing of the Cowboys in Townsville.

Webb still holds the Cowboys’ club record for the bench press, a mighty 185kg set in 2007 that may never be beaten.

Carl Webb dodges Matt Bowen at North Queensland Cowboys training

Bowen said it was a shock to see how quickly MND struck down a player who was renowned for his strength and toughness.

“He was the strongest in the gym and I think he still holds a couple of records not just here but at the Broncs as well,” Bowen said.

1/7/07 Qld State of Origin training camp at Sanctuary Cove. Matt Bowen is congratulated by Carl Webb when arriving at training after being brought into the team. PicAdamHead

“You see that guy training in the gym and then the first time I saw him when he had the disease, he couldn’t even walk up some stairs.

“It was terrible to see from a guy that fit in rugby league to what that disease did to him. It’s really hard to swallow and I think he’s going to be sadly missed.”

The Cowboys and Broncos will dedicate their two 2024 NRL clashes to Webb, with a home and away fixture scheduled giving both teams the chance to honour the hard-hitting prop.

Carl Webb and Matt Bowen chat at North Queensland Cowboys training

Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel said Webb played a pivotal role in the transformational change of the club in the mid-2000s.

“He was a footballer’s footballer, uncompromising and one of the toughest to wear our jersey,” Reibel said.

“His unrelenting intensity in which he played the game was matched off the field by the respect and love for not just his teammates, but for everyone who came in contact with him.

“Even in recent times, when fighting this horrible disease, he found a way to put a smile on his face and those around him.

“We extend our heartfelt and deepest condolences to Carl’s family and friends.”

Originally published as ‘The ultimate top bloke’: Carl Webb remembered as life of the party