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Playing rugby league gave me brain damage, says South Sydney legend Mario Fenech
DEAN RITCHIE THE DAILY TELEGRAPH MARCH 17, 2014 12:00AM
Mario Fenech suffered brain damage playing rugby league.Mario Fenech suffered brain damage playing rugby league. Source: News Limited
MARIO Fenech has revealed he has suffered brain damage which is believed to be the result of head knocks while playing rugby league.
It’s an admission that will rock the concussion debate, which began last week after former Australian forward Ian Roberts also said he had been *diagnosed with brain damage.
Fenech, the former South Sydney legend, was advised to have scans recently which revealed “some damage’’.
“Over 15 seasons I had plenty of head knocks,” Fenech said. “I was advised to have a scan and it showed there was some damage. I had some memory loss and thought I better get it checked out.
“The damage wasn’t that bad but I have been told to have another set of scans. In my day, I was knocked senseless eight or nine times. That’s the way the game was back then.
“I only got the scans for my benefit to make sure I am OK.”
Fenech played 274 games for Souths, Norths and the South Queensland.
“I knew (concussion) was part of the deal,” Fenech said. “That’s how it worked.
“It was a hard game back in those days.
“The NRL has a duty of care to its players and are working hard to make it a fair game and to make sure there isn’t any dramas At the end of the day, I am just looking after my welfare.
“As I get older I want to make sure I am fine. Being healthy is important.”
Ex-Manly fullback Shannon Nevin has also spoken about being concussed 15 times during his career. He described concussed teammates as being “zombies”.
“Being a fullback I would be talking to them in defence and be telling them to go one way, and it’s like they were looking through you,” he told The Manly Daily.
Mark Geyer will also have brain scans to determine whether he has any damage.
DEAN RITCHIE THE DAILY TELEGRAPH MARCH 17, 2014 12:00AM
Mario Fenech suffered brain damage playing rugby league.Mario Fenech suffered brain damage playing rugby league. Source: News Limited
MARIO Fenech has revealed he has suffered brain damage which is believed to be the result of head knocks while playing rugby league.
It’s an admission that will rock the concussion debate, which began last week after former Australian forward Ian Roberts also said he had been *diagnosed with brain damage.
Fenech, the former South Sydney legend, was advised to have scans recently which revealed “some damage’’.
“Over 15 seasons I had plenty of head knocks,” Fenech said. “I was advised to have a scan and it showed there was some damage. I had some memory loss and thought I better get it checked out.
“The damage wasn’t that bad but I have been told to have another set of scans. In my day, I was knocked senseless eight or nine times. That’s the way the game was back then.
“I only got the scans for my benefit to make sure I am OK.”
Fenech played 274 games for Souths, Norths and the South Queensland.
“I knew (concussion) was part of the deal,” Fenech said. “That’s how it worked.
“It was a hard game back in those days.
“The NRL has a duty of care to its players and are working hard to make it a fair game and to make sure there isn’t any dramas At the end of the day, I am just looking after my welfare.
“As I get older I want to make sure I am fine. Being healthy is important.”
Ex-Manly fullback Shannon Nevin has also spoken about being concussed 15 times during his career. He described concussed teammates as being “zombies”.
“Being a fullback I would be talking to them in defence and be telling them to go one way, and it’s like they were looking through you,” he told The Manly Daily.
Mark Geyer will also have brain scans to determine whether he has any damage.
