Older rugby league fans were privy to the battles that built the foundation the NRL stands on and Mark Carroll and former Newcastle prop Paul Harragon were very much part of that.
Ex-Manly prop Carroll and Harragon were arch enemies on the field but were teammates for NSW and Australia.
READ MORE: Ricky fumes as ‘weak gutted dog’ fires back
READ MORE: Bennett reveals massive payday awaiting Wighton
READ MORE: NRL star faces $500k cut as shock suitor named
Yet every time they played for their respective clubs – it was on.
Perhaps their most infamous clash came in 1995, where a rampaging Harragon tried to take out Carroll from the kick-off in the second half, only to knock himself out.
Despite the raw dust ups on the field, both men had immense respect for one another off it.
So when Harragon heard about Carroll’s brave revelation earlier this month that he is suffering CTE symptoms and that he’s called on the NRL to help ex-players pay for a brain scan, Harragon came out in support.
Carroll has pleaded with the NRL to help cover the basic costs of $900 PET scans for retired players.
“A hundred percent, the game should support blokes like ‘Spudd’ and everyone else who is struggling,” Harragon told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I was there sharing the blows with him. We’ve got to say, as a rugby league family, that we have a really professional support base so anyone who feels they have symptoms will be looked after.
“All the testing that is available should be available if they feel that way. Right now, I see an old mate, an A1 sparring partner, who is struggling with this and the NRL should support him and others like him.”
In recent weeks, the NRL has amended it’s concussion protocols with players forced to miss a match if they fail an HIA. Harragon along with several other players from yesteryear would have played on despite having concussion symptoms.
Carroll’s symptoms forced the ex-Kangaroo to get checked, but Harragon denied he had such signs that come with CTE, like anxiety, depression and memory problems.
“Do I ask myself if anything is wrong with me? Of course you do,” Harragon said. “But I’m lucky — I have no symptoms, I feel great, that’s it for me.”
He said he has focused on healthy living post-career, advice given to him by Newcastle University Associate Professor Andrew Gardner and Professor Chris Levi, who runs the Sports Concussion Clinic at John Hunter Hospital.
“You’ve got to,” Harragon said. “Both those men told me that what you do post-career is as important as what you do during it. That changed my attitude towards everything.”
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
