‘He was simply a warrior’: Tragedy as a footy star, 47, dies from motor neurone disease leaving behind his heartbroken wife and five children
- Former rugby league star Adam Maher lost battle with motor neurone disease
- Maher died on Tuesday after being diagnosed with the disease in late 2018
- The tough back rower leaves behind his wife Trudy and their five children
A rugby league star has died after suffering from motor neurone disease, leaving behind a young family and a mourning community.
Former NRL and Super League backrower Adam Maher, 47, died on Tuesday after being diagnosed with the disease in late 2018.
His widow Trudy Maher described her late husband as an ‘amazing’, ‘loyal’ and ‘funny’ man who was widely loved by all those who knew him or met him.
‘Even though we knew this was the inevitable, it still is the hardest thing to deal with,’ Mrs Maher told the Sunshine Coast Daily.
‘We are heartbroken and he’s going to be so missed.’
Former NRL and Super League back rower Adam Maher has died from motor neurone disease
Maher played for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL and Hull FC in the English Super League.
Shortly after his retirement from professional football in 2003 he moved to the Sunshine Coast, and he married Mrs Maher in 2018.
He stayed coaching and playing for the Kawana Dolphins on the Sunshine Coast.
The Kawana Dolphins club posted a tribute to Maher on its Facebook page.
‘Sadly we have lost a much loved dolphin member. We offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends,’ the tribute read.
‘He played virtually his entire career with his heart on his sleeve and he was a great example of what a great rugby league player should be on the field.
‘He was simply a warrior.’
Former rugby league player and teammate of Maher, Martin Lang, also paid tribute to his friend.
‘I moved to Sydney with Adam Maher when I was a teenager to begin our NRL careers,’ he wrote.
‘I idolised Adam. He was tough and kind…everything I wanted to be.
‘He lost his brave battle with motor neurone disease yesterday. My deepest condolences to Adam’s family.’
Maher played 43 games for the Cronulla Sharks between 1994 and 1996 before moving to the English Super League.
He went on to score 25 tries in more than 100 games for Hull.
Maher played for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL and Hull FC in the English Super League, where he scored 25 tries