By Wayne Heming

Carl Wilson Webb was as tough as they come.

Sadly, a brave and determined Webb lost the biggest battle of his life against a cruel invisible opponent – Motor neurone disease – passing away following a fall at his home overnight.

He was aged 42.

An aggressive, at times fiery forward, FOG #124 was a player who would run through a brick wall for his coach and teammates.

He proved that in many games for Queensland, none more so than in his debut for the Maroons in game one of the 2001 series.

Returning coach Wayne Bennett included Webb among 10 changes to a side embarrassed and humiliated after losing the 2000 series 3-0 to the Blues – the last game by a record margin of 56-16.

“I saw something special in Carl when he arrived at the Broncos and while some may have thought it was a gamble throwing him into Origin when he had just turned 20, I knew he had what was needed to be an Origin player,” said Bennett.

“He had a tough edge about him even at that age, but he was also a smart player too and he never shirked the hard stuff.”

Queensland greats, including Darren Lockyer, who was Webb’s captain that night at Suncorp Stadium, still talks about Webb’s solo try minutes before halftime as being one of the best individual efforts by a player alongside fullback Billy Slater’s famous chip-and-chase effort in the 2004 interstate series.

“He was a captain’s dream because he played for his teammates. He always led from the front,” said Lockyer, an ambassador for the Carl Webb Foundation set up to help those suffering from MND.

Another former FOGs great, Chris Close was the team manager when Webb came into camp for the first game of the 2001 series.

“I’ll remember Carl Webb for many things; his character, strength, power, courage, and humility,” said Close who developed a close bond with many of the Queensland players during his days as manager.

“He was a great Queensland player and a star for both the Broncos and Cowboys in the toughest arena in the world, the NRL.

“But I will remember him most for the enormous impact he had, and will continue to have, on other Australians who will be struck down by this insidious disease MND.

“It turned out to be the most important battle for his family and for people he never met.

“Carl Webb was a powerhouse person who should always be remembered for the bloke he was.

“He was a magnificent Queenslander with an enormous heart who remained humble until the end.

“Rest in peace, big fella.”

Webb said earlier this year playing for Queensland in the 2001 Origin series remained a highlight of his career which included 187 NRL games, 115 for North Queensland and 66 for Brisbane.

He scored 37 tries for those two clubs with a combination of sheer brute force, determination, and some good late footwork.

He made his debut for Brisbane in 2001 and was the club’s “rookie of the season” playing alongside the likes of Gorden Tallis, Petero Civoniceva, and the great Shane Webcke,

Webb developed a cult following among Queensland fans after his first Origin try at Suncorp Stadium.

Some say his eyes were rolling in his head, which had a “Q” cut into his hair, and you could almost see the steam coming out of his ears as he ripped into the Blue’s forward pack without any fear on debut.

Then he scored THAT try

“That series was a fairytale,” recalled Webb earlier this year when talking about his career and his ongoing health battle.

NRL boss Peter Vlandys paid tribute to Webb and also sent condolences to his family and friends.

“Anyone who has come across Carl’s battle will have been touched by his bravery,” said ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.

“He was a fearsome player and competitor and one of the toughest forwards to play in his era. He had a physical presence and aggression which was unmatched.

“He showed every bit of that toughness following his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease.

Born in Mount Isa, in far north Queensland in 1981, Webb played his junior football for the Dalby Diehards in the Toowoomba competition and was playing first grade at the young age of 15.

He was a talented boxer as a young man but gave up the gloves and mouthguard for footy boots and a Steeden ball to become a real enforcer for any team he played for.

MDN, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as it is also known, is a cruel disease, for which there is no known cure.

The father-of-four was first diagnosed with early-onset MDN in March of 2020.

His condition continued to deteriorate as the disease, attacked the nerve cells that control muscles, limiting his ability to move and speak.

The disease eventually restricts the person’s ability to breathe and swallow.

He is survived by his long-time partner Cassandra Jamieson and four children.