Footy legend Mark Carroll reveals horrific new symptom as he battles killer brain disease

Rugby league legend Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll has spoken about the alarming new symptom of his suspected brain disorder after being told he was suffering from a deadly disease that has been tied to concussions.

Carroll, 57, booked himself in for tests on his brain last year after watching a devastating program on Souths great Mario Fenech’s tragic dementia battle – and said he was later told by his neurologist that he has the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. 

CTE – which is associated with exposure to repeated head trauma – causes memory loss, confusion, depression and progressive dementia, and can only be properly diagnosed after death.

Carroll took to social media on Wednesday to explain how the condition is now impacting his voice.

‘I just wanted to explain why I sound like this,’ he said in a video clip posted to Instagram.

‘I wish it was from getting hit in the throat like my great mate Geoff Toovey or Gary Larson. Unfortunately, it’s the symptoms of CTE.

‘I’ve got anxiety. Why? I’ve got no idea. But I’m so tight right through the body and that’s why I’ve got this bloody throat [issue]. 

‘To the people who have texted me after hearing me on radio and on Fox, I’m doing my best to be the best.’

Carroll, one of the toughest players to ever take the field, revealed that he asked his doctor if he was going to die after getting devastating news from a brain scan in 2023

Carroll captioned the post: ‘Just like to take a minute to thank you all for your support and kindness towards my recent and continuing struggles with CTE. If you or someone that you know is struggling or has similar symptoms/concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out. Stronger together.’

Carroll was distraught after the getting the news from his neurologist last year. 

‘Mate, I just broke up in tears,’ he said.

‘I said to her, “Am I going to die?” It was a week after [former star player and coach] Paul Green took his life.

‘It’s bloody horrible, you dish it out but you don’t want to hear the consequences.’

Carroll admits that he contemplated suicide after hearing the news, but now wants to do whatever he can to help other players who are suffering.

‘It’s not a good spot, knowing you want to try and get rid of yourself,’ he said.

Carroll (pictured with wife Monique and daughter Indi) has been open about the horrible health battle he is about to face

‘I just want them to step forward and come out from the silence which I was in, too.’

The former Souths and Manly hard man says he now has ‘good days and bad days’, but he’d like the NRL to cover the costs for players who need to get brain scans.

‘There is a duty of care, I really believe that,’ he said.

‘Look after players in my era and also my heroes in the era before that and the eras before that.

‘[It’s] $900 for a PET scan. We’re not covered with Medicare or any health fund but any player who’s living in silence where I’ve been … come out and get tested, and the league pick up the bill.’