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Wally Lewis has revealed that he is suffering from early onset dementia, a result of years of head knocks that were sustained in his rugby league career.
Speaking on Sunday night’s 60 Minutes, he announced that he had been diagnosed with likely Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative condition, and had stepped back from his role with Channel 9 in Queensland has a result.
“For a lot of sports guys, I think most of us take on this belief that we’ve got to prove how tough we are, how rugged,” he said.
“And if we put our hands up and seek sympathy, then we’re going to be seen as the real cowards of the game. But we’ve got to take it on and admit that the problems are there.”
CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously, through brain examination, but dementia expert Dr Rowena Mobbs told 60 Minutes that she was confident that Lewis’ condition was a result of his footy career.
“You could interpret it as guesswork,” she said. “But it’s educated guesswork by a specialist in dementia.
“It does look like CTE. There’s plenty of evidence pointing towards that – I’m 90 per cent certain this is the case.”
The speculation over Adam O’Brien’s future at Newcastle appears to have ended with Sydney Morning Herald journalist Danny Weidler announcing that the club will be sticking with the coach for at least another year.
Over the weekend, the news broke that Newcastle had met with former Titans boss Justin Holbrook about potentially taking over from Adam O’Brien – while knocking back their incumbent coach’s request for a contract extension.
The Knights have been on a hot streak in the last few weeks, but club bosses are still unsure if O’Brien is their long-term option as coach. His contract is until the end of 2024.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, O’Brien was unaware of the meeting between higher-ups and the recently sacked Holbrook.
It is remarkably similar situation to that which brought O’Brien to the club: his predecessor, Nathan Brown, left McDonald Jones Stadium after finding out that club bosses had sounded out O’Brien, who was then an assistant to Trent Robinson at the Roosters.
Club legend Andrew Johns backed O’Brien to stay with the Knights.
“He deserves another year,” he said.
“For a fair chunk of the year to start with Kalyn Ponga was out, since Kalyn’s come back and playing fullback it’s a different team. He’s the man to let the club move forward,.
“I think he should be coach, I think they should extend him, give him another year and get it done the next couple of weeks.”
Marata Niukore scores a try as he is tackled by Will Kennedy. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Cronulla are fearing the worst for fullback Will Kennedy after he departed Saturday night’s loss to Penrith with a hamstring injury.
He has been sent for scans, but with just six weeks remaining of the season – if the Sharks do not make the Finals – it might be too soon for a return, especially given the potential for re-injury with hamstring issues.
Should Kennedy be unable to return, the options are thin for coach Craig Fitzgibbon. Back-up Kade Dykes is out for the year with an ACL tear and the club released Lachie Miller to Newcastle at the start of the season.
He could move Nicho Hynes to the back, where he impressed for Melbourne, though that would remove his star halfback from his favoured role.
Matt Moylan, who was dropped two weeks ago, is a potential solution. He came through as a fullback before transitioning to the halves.
A leftfield option would be to ask Newcastle for Miller back, as he has been playing reserve grade at the Knights and seems to be surplus to requirements.
Dale Finucane (pec) and Teig Wilton (knee) are already out for the rest of the year.