Legendary rugby league star Wally Lewis appeals for concussion and CTE awareness support

CANBERRA, Australia – A legendary rugby player cited the fear and anxiety that has arisen in his life among his reasons for urging the Australian government to fund support services and education about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Wally Lewis, nicknamed “The King” when he played rugby league for Queensland state and Australia in the 1980s, made an appeal on behalf of the Concussion and CTE Coalition for millions of dollars in funding during a speech at the National Press Club on Tuesday.

Lewis, 64, said he lives with probable CTE, which he described as a type of dementia associated with repeated concussive and subconcussive blows to the head.

Lewis, who worked for decades as a television sports anchor after retiring as a player in the early 1990s, drew on his own experience to get his message across.

“The fear is real. I don’t want anyone to have to live with the fear and anxiety that I live with every day, worrying about what I’ve forgotten…the fear of what my future will be like,” Lewis said. “And living with the constant fear and anxiety of letting people down – the people who all my life have been able to trust me and have relied on me for my strength and leadership.”

Lewis led Australia’s Kangaroos to 24 international matches, was among the original players to popularize the annual State-of-Origin series and was included in the Australian Rugby League Team of the Century in 2008.

The National Rugby League honored him as the game’s so-called “Immortal”.

However, his memories of this are unclear. He began playing rugby league at a young age and also played rugby union at an elite level before embarking on a professional rugby league career.

“It is a journey marked by the twin shadows of fear and embarrassment, a journey through the fog of dementia and the erosion of my memory,” he said. “I once had the confidence in myself to succeed, to lead a team to victory, to captain my country, to remember the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams, to organize myself every day, and to feel well and truly in control of my life.

“Now, much of that confidence has been taken from me by the effects of probable CTE dementia.”

Lewis said better community awareness about concussions and prevention programs is needed, including a sharper focus on combat techniques, from youth players to professionals.

Awareness about CTE and concussion has increased since players in contact sports, including the sport in the United States and rugby union in Britain, have taken concussion lawsuits.

The Rugby World Cup took place last year against the backdrop of a concussion lawsuit in Britain that had similarities to one settled by the NFL in 2013, with a likely cost of more than $1 billion.

CTE, a degenerative brain disease known to cause violent mood swings, depression, dementia and other cognitive difficulties, can only be diagnosed posthumously. It has been linked to repeated blows to the head suffered by rugby and hockey players, boxers and military personnel.

“Like Wally Lewis, I have influence – I have a platform – and I intend to use it at every opportunity to bring change for all Australians like me who are affected by CTE,” said Lewis, “and do everything I can to protect the brains of Australian CTE children.”

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