Carl Webb Dies at 42: The Rugby League Community Mourns the Loss of a MND Hero
The rugby league world is mourning the death of former Queensland State of Origin star Carl Webb, who passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023, after a four-year battle with motor neuron disease (MND). He was 42 years old.
Webb, who played 187 NRL games with the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, and Parramatta Eels, as well as 15 Origin games and one Test for Australia, was diagnosed with early-onset MND in 2020 when he was just 38.
MND is a rare and incurable condition that affects the nerve cells that control the muscles, causing them to gradually weaken and waste away. It leads to loss of movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing, and eventually death. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is two to five years.
Webb’s death was announced by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) on Friday, December 22, 2023, in a statement that paid tribute to his courage and legacy.
“Carl was a fearless competitor on the field who represented both his state and country with pride,” QRL managing director Robert Moore said.
“He was also a wonderful human being who was adored by his family and friends.
“Carl fought MND with incredible bravery and he inspired many people along the way through his advocacy work with the Carl Webb Foundation.
“On behalf of the QRL, I extend my deepest condolences to Carl’s partner Jess, his children, his family, and his friends. He will be sadly missed but never forgotten.”
In honour of Carl Webb and to raise awareness for the Carl Webb Foundation, Fox League will air a tribute to the NRL great ❤️️https://t.co/MBXQwlhFiD pic.twitter.com/PB7c5F57WB
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) December 22, 2023
A fierce and formidable forward
Webb was born in Mount Isa, Queensland, on March 20, 1981, and was of Indigenous Australian and New Zealand descent.
He started his rugby league career with the Dalby Diehards in the Toowoomba Rugby League competition, before joining the Brisbane Broncos in 2000. He made his NRL debut that year against the North Queensland Cowboys, and his Origin debut the following year, scoring a try off the bench in a 34-16 win for the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium. He was part of the Queensland team that won the 2001 series 2-1, and also the 2006 series that started the Maroons’ record-breaking eight-year winning streak.
Webb was known for his hard-hitting and aggressive style of play, earning him the nickname “The Wrecking Ball”. He was a versatile forward who could play as a prop, second-row or lock, and he was also a prolific try-scorer, crossing the line 37 times in his NRL career.
He played 66 games for the Broncos from 2000 to 2004, before moving to the Cowboys in 2005, where he played 115 games until 2010. He was part of the Cowboys team that reached the 2005 grand final but missed the match due to suspension for punching. He also played six games for the Parramatta Eels in 2011, before retiring from the NRL.
He also represented Australia at international level, playing one Test against New Zealand in the 2008 ANZAC Test. He was named in the Australia training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup but did not play in the tournament. He also played for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea in 2008, and for the Indigenous All Stars team in 2010 and 2011.
A brave and inspiring fighter
Webb’s life changed dramatically in 2020 when he was diagnosed with early-onset MND, a rare form of the disease that affects people under the age of 40. He was one of about 2000 Australians living with MND at the time and one of only 10% who had the genetic form of the disease.
Webb decided to go public with his diagnosis in March 2020, to raise awareness and funds for MND research and support. He launched the Carl Webb Foundation, a charity that aimed to “make MND history” by finding a cure and improving the lives of those affected by the disease.
He also became an ambassador for the FightMND campaign, which was founded by AFL legend Neale Daniher, who was also diagnosed with MND in 2013. Webb joined Daniher and other MND fighters in the annual Big Freeze event, where celebrities and sports stars slide into a pool of ice to raise money and awareness for MND. Webb took part in the Big Freeze 6 in 2020, wearing a cowboy hat and a Queensland jersey, and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Webb showed remarkable courage and resilience in his fight against MND, despite the rapid progression of the disease that robbed him of his mobility, speech, and independence. He continued to attend rugby league matches and events and to support his former teammates and clubs. He also maintained his sense of humor and his love for his family and friends, who rallied around him and helped him cope with his condition.
He was one of the toughest men in rugby league and today there are tributes for former Queensland Origin star Carl Webb – who has died at the age of 42.
— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) December 22, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/nz8xKxXJpS@DominiqueLoudon #9News pic.twitter.com/xAeU9ppRc1
Webb’s partner Jess, who cared for him until his final days, said he was a “beautiful soul” who never gave up hope.
“He was always positive, always smiling, always cracking jokes. He was just amazing,” she said.
“He was so strong and brave. He never complained or felt sorry for himself. He just wanted to live his life and enjoy every moment.
“He was an incredible father to his children and a wonderful partner to me. He was my best friend and my soulmate. I will miss him so much.”
Webb is survived by his partner Jess, his four children, his parents, his siblings, his extended family, and his many friends and fans. He will be remembered as a rugby league legend, an MND hero, and a great Australian.
How you can help
If you would like to honor Webb’s memory and support his cause, you can donate to the Carl Webb Foundation or the FightMND campaign, which are both dedicated to finding a cure for MND and helping those living with the disease.
You can also learn more about MND and its symptoms and spread the word to raise awareness and understanding of this devastating condition.
Together, we can make a difference and make MND history.
