Phil Gould reveals how his father’s death from dementia took a toll on his family

Phil Gould hailed Mario Fenech as a ‘champion bloke and a loyal friend’, as he revealed his former teammate’s battle with dementia was a painful reminder of his late father’s struggle with the disease. 

Fenech, a veteran of 274 rugby league games for South Sydney, North Sydney and the South Queensland Crushers was diagnosed with early onset dementia seven years at the age of 53.

In a wide-ranging interview with Channel 7 over the weekend, his wife Rebecca his condition has deteriorated to the point where he has nearly no memory left at all.

The former Rabbitohs captain has advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressively debilitating brain condition caused by repeated blows to the head and consistent episodes of concussion.

His wife told Channel 7 he did not remember attending his own son’s wedding in April, nor giving a speech at the reception. 

And Gould, who played with Fenech for Souths in 1986 revealed seeing his former teammate’s condition brought up memories of his late father.

‘My father died of dementia seven years ago,’ the Canterbury supremo wrote on Twitter, in response to a Rabbitohs fan who felt ‘sad’ watching Fenech’s interview with Channel 7. 

Mario Fenech (pictured with Souths co-owner Russell Crowe) played 274 first-grade games, but sadly can hardly remember any of his incredible career because of his deadly condition

Gould, who played with Fenech for Souths in 1986 revealed seeing his former teammate’s condition brought up memories of his late father

He described his former teammate as a ‘champion bloke, tough competitor [and] loyal friend’

‘From first diagnosis to his passing, it took about eight years. A terrible time. Plus the toll it took on my mother and family, both then and since. It’s a terrible disease. I feel for his family as much as Mario.’

In a separate tweet, Gould described his former teammate as a ‘champion bloke,  tough competitor [and] loyal friend.’ 

Fenech can hardly remember any of his career because of the irreversible condition and doctors say that despite being 60, the former rugby league hard man has the brain of an ’80-year-old patient’.

Fenech’s wife says the condition means his life is a constant struggle. 

Fenech had a lengthy career in rugby league in the 1980s and 1990s – captaining the South Sydney Rabbitohs for five season. He also played 82 games for the North Sydney Bears (above) and 11 games for the South Qld Crushers

Doctors have described Fenech as having ‘the brain of an 80-year-old’ despite being only 60

‘Every day he wakes up now and says, “I’m confused. I don’t know why. I don’t feel great”,’ she told Seven. 

‘He can’t really do or think for himself.’

Fenech still regularly plays golf, goes to the gym and remains involved at his beloved Rabbitohs.

He still attends games and was pictured at Souths training last week ahead of their big elimination win against Cronulla on Saturday night.

Fenech said getting ‘smashed around the head all the time’ during his career had a devastating impact on his health later in his life 

He opened up about the harrowing effect his declining health has had on him.

‘I remember when I was playing football, I got smashed around the head all the time and it had a real bad effect on me,’ he told Channel 7.

‘You feel like you’re going pop, and it affects your brain. It affects your brain.

‘There are times I get really bad, just anxiety stuff. It’s not much fun to have a brain damage, mate, because I literally forget things like that.’