Footy world on notice as another NRL star is diagnosed with CTE at just 59 - 'barely remembers anything about our two daughters growing up'

Another NRL star has been diagnosed with CTE in retirement, with symptoms so bad he can barely remember his own children growing up. 

Brendan Hall played for the Sydney Roosters (then Eastern Suburbs) between 1986 and 1995.

He made 157 first-grade appearances, scoring 30 tries and booting 44 goals for a total of 208 points.

Originally known for his strong defence, he later transitioned into a reliable five-eighth and playmaker.

Hall spent his entire career with the Tricolours, becoming one of their most consistent performers through the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Now, Hall's family has revealed he is suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain condition caused by repeated head impacts or concussions.

It leads to a build-up of abnormal tau protein, which damages brain cells over time.

Symptoms can include memory loss, mood swings, depression, aggression and cognitive decline, often appearing years after the injuries occurred.

While CTE cannot be formally diagnosed until after death, the tell-tale symptoms that Hall is displaying have left his family and medical experts with no doubt.

'We've been to see leading brain experts and they have diagnosed his condition as frontal lobe dementia and CTE,' Hall's wife Sue told Wide World of Sports.

'They have told us there is simply no way to cure it and that it will only get worse.

'The (Roosters) club are aware of his condition but we're not after handouts and don't want fundraisers or anything like that.

'But we do want other players to be aware of the dangers and to get themselves checked out.'

Sue described the shocking symptoms Brendan was displaying and the heartbreaking impact it was having on the family.  

'It's just a horrible illness without a cure and watching him go downhill a little more each day is heartbreaking,' she said.

'We had to sell our house in Sydney soon after he was diagnosed two years ago because he had to stop working.

'Luckily we were able to move in with his parents down in Canberra - Brendan's home town - and that has saved us financially.  

'He forgets things, especially the recent past - he does remember some of his footy days and old Roosters team-mates like Trevor Gillmeister and Craig Salvatori are always checking on him.

'He barely remembers anything about our two daughters growing up.'

Several former NRL players have been diagnosed with CTE after their deaths, with post-mortem examinations confirming the condition. 

Rugby league greats such as Steve Folkes, Paul Green and Mario Fenech have been linked to or diagnosed with the disease, sparking greater awareness of concussion-related damage in the sport. 

Folkes was the first confirmed Australian rugby league player to have CTE after his death in 2018, while Paul Green’s family revealed a similar diagnosis following his passing in 2022. 

Others, including Ian Roberts and Mark Carroll, have spoken about ongoing neurological symptoms and memory issues consistent with repeated head trauma, although they have not been formally diagnosed. 

The growing list of players affected has intensified calls for stronger concussion protocols and long-term brain health research within rugby league.