Wally Lewis lifts lid on Carl Webb sledge as NRL world pays tribute to Maroons hero

Wally Lewis has revealed Carl Webb's sledge for NSW when he visited the former Queensland enforcer during his battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Webb died on Thursday night after a fall at his home in Dalby - four years after he was diagnosed with MND.

Speaking on Nine News on Friday night, Queensland legend Lewis lifted the lid on his conversations with Webb before he died - including a typically fighting sledge for the Blues. "It's an extremely sad day for the Webb family and rugby league as well," Lewis said.

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"I had the opportunity to go in and visit Carl a couple of times. The thing was - exactly what we expected from him - he said 'I'm not going to give in, I'm just going to fight it all the way'. And he said 'if I pass away too soon, I'm going to see even less matches where Queensland beat NSW."

Webb was a Queenslander through and through and is most remembered for the try he scored on debut for the Maroons as a 21-year-old in 2001. He also features in an iconic State of Origin photo in which he is grabbing Luke Bailey around the throat with a 'Q' shaved into the side of his head.

Webb played 12 games for the Maroons and featured in the first three series of their eight-year dynasty from 2006 to 2013. Queensland Rugby League CEO Ben Ikin said on Friday: "I found truly remarkable that a guy who made a living out of being so powerful and explosive could handle, with such grace, the debilitating effects of MND."

ARL Commission Chairman Peter V'landys said: "Anyone who has come across Carl's battle will have been touched by his bravery. He was a fearsome player and competitor and one of the toughest forwards to play in his era.

"He had a physical presence and aggression which was unmatched. He showed every bit of that toughness following his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease. On behalf of the commission, I extend my condolences to Carl's family, friends and all those who played with and knew him."

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Webb made his NRL debut in 2000 with Brisbane and played 66 games at the Broncos. He moved to the North Queensland Cowboys in 2005 and played 115 games for the club, before finishing his career at Parramatta in 2011. He played one Test match for the Kangaroos and featured in the inaugural Indigenous All Stars match in 2010.

"Life is about more than footy, and Carl reminded us what's truly important – family and friends, and we are so grateful to have had him as part of the Broncos family for as long as we did," Broncos coach Kevin Walters said on Friday. "Every time he walked into our place, you felt the respect and admiration from so many. We're about building good people, and there's no better example of that than Carl Webb - he'll be dearly missed."

Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel: "He was a footballer's footballer, uncompromising and one of the toughest to wear our jersey. His unrelenting intensity in which he played the game was matched off the field by the respect and love for not just his teammates, but for everyone who came in contact with him. Even in recent times, when fighting this horrible disease, he found a way to put a smile on his face and those around him."

The 42-year-old Webb established the Carl Webb Foundation to raise funds and awareness of MND. The Cowboys and Broncos have announced that the Good Friday derby between the two clubs in 2024 will honour Webb's legacy.

with AAP

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