NRL legend Paul Green had advanced brain disease CTE when he died

NRL legend Paul Green had advanced brain disease at the time of his death, doctors have revealed, as his heartbroken family says the diagnosis has given them some “peace.”

Green, who was found dead at his Brisbane home on August 11 after committing suicide, was suffering from an advanced form of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that can affect athletes who suffer repeated concussions and blows to the head during their careers in contact sports such as rugby league, martial arts and American football.

The shocking diagnosis came only after his widow Amanda agreed to donate her 49-year-old husband’s brain.

She gave permission to Professor Michael Buckland of the Australian Sports Brain Bank to study Green’s brain and received a call last week with the results, the Australian reports.

Professor Buckland said he had discovered one of the most ‘severe forms of pure CTE’ he had seen in Green’s brain – a condition that can only be confirmed post-mortem.

Experts believe that CTE, a term used to describe brain degeneration, can cause impulsive behavior, difficulty thinking and severe mood problems.

The first symptoms may include confusion, disorientation and headaches with more progressive side effects such as dementia, dizziness and tremors.

Ms Green said the diagnosis has given her daughter Emerson, 13, and son Jed, 10, some “peace” and “relief.”

“I could sit down and explain to Jed, ‘Daddy’s brain was sick, that’s why he did what he did,’ said Mrs. Green.

She was able to give Emerson an explanation that makes more sense than what was repeated – that he took his life because of depression.

“She understands now that he wasn’t in that room and we couldn’t have done anything because he was sick.”

Green had a brilliant career in rugby league, but suffered personally from mental health issues. He is pictured here playing for the Sydney Roosters in February 2001

CTE is a progressive brain disorder in athletes who have suffered repeated concussions and headbutts during their careers in sports such as competition, martial arts and American football (photo, Paul Green in 2015 while coaching the North Queensland Cowboys)

AFL legend Danny Frawley was found to suffer from stage two CTE before committing suicide in 2019.

After Green died, it was revealed that he had struggled privately with mental health issues for nearly two decades.

But at the time, his shattered parents Patricia, 82, and Ned, 94, struggled to understand that their son committed suicide.

Patricia said he looked fine the day before he died.

‘Paul was a man of faith. He wasn’t loud about it, but I knew he had faith and I couldn’t believe he would do it (take his own life)… it’s against his beliefs. It’s so hard to accept,” Patricia told the courier post.

“We hadn’t seen Paul at his house until the night before (at his son Jed’s ninth birthday party)… there was nothing unpleasant. Paul was the same Paul he’s always been.

“We cried out. There are no more tears.’

Green’s sudden death shocked the rugby league, as players and coaches begged others to voice their opinion on mental health.

His former Sharks and Queensland team-mate Craig Greenhill said his good buddy first revealed details about his battles with mental health 18 years ago – that was around the time Green stopped playing rugby league.

However, he believes that Green did not get the help he needed.

“I don’t think he was treated well. It scares me to think about what was going through his mind,” Greenhill told the Courier Mail.

Craig Greenhill (second from left) said his closest mate Paul Green (third from left) had shown signs of struggle in a recent catch up

Paul Green hugs half of Queensland’s Daly Cherry-Evans after the Maroons win game three of the 2021 State of Origin series

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