Mates rally for Webb
THE rugby league community is rallying around former Cowboys hardman and Origin legend Carl Webb after he was diagnosed with early onset motor neurone disease.
Webb, 38, has been digesting the shock diagnosis for the past month and is relocating to Brisbane so he can be closer to family and tackle the illness.
Webb has been living in Dalby, 200km west of Brisbane, and working in a central Queensland mine.
He had been living in
Trinity Park after he retired from football in 2011.
Webb’s good mate Matty Bowen, who played alongside the fearless NRL forward at club level and in State of Origin, said Webb would not be alone in his fight against the disease.
The condition damages parts of the nervous system, causing muscle weakness and wasting.
The disease is irreversible and the average life expectancy following diagnosis is about three years, although AFL great Neale Daniher has waged a seven-year battle with MND and helped create huge awareness of the condition.
“He’s pretty overwhelmed by all the support he’s getting, the rugby league community is getting behind him,”
Bowen said.
“It’s not just his mates that are supporting him but old opponents as well.
“It’s a big thing to take in and it’s hard, but he’s keeping as positive as possible.”
It is understood he had testing after noticing changes to his limbs and was diagnosed with early onset MND.
The Men of League foundation and Former Origin Greats (FOGS) are helping Webb relocate to Brisbane to be closer to his four young daughters.
“I’ve been in contact with Carl for the past month in regards to what steps we need to take and the support he will need,” said FOGS chairman Gene Miles.
“It was a shock for him. He is in for a tough time but we will be there with him.
“He wants to relocate to Brisbane to be closer to his girls and we will be assisting him in every way we can to make that happen.”
Fundraisers for Webb are in the works and could centre around the NRL’s Round 5 Queensland derby between the Broncos and Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on April 10.