NRL world left saddened after awful news about Ian Roberts comes to light
NRL fans are sending messages of support to Ian Roberts after the rugby league icon revealed this week he was recently diagnosed with epilepsy. Roberts played 213 first-grade games in the 80s and 90s across stints with South Sydney, Manly and North Queensland.
The forward also played 11 State of Origin games for NSW and 13 Test matches for Australia. In 1995 he famously became the first player in rugby league history to come out as gay, winning widespread support around the sporting and wider communities.
The 59-year-old was a hard-as-nails forward, and played during an era before concussion protocols and high-tackle crackdowns. And it's had brutal consequences, with Roberts revealing publicly this week that he's been diagnosed with epilepsy.
'There are consequences long-term,' he said on Channel 9. 'In the last 12 months I've had a bit of an issue myself. I was just recently diagnosed with epilepsy. I reckon the damage I did to myself was not taking the shots (tackles), it was making the shots." He added: I'm good, I just started a new process with medication which has really helped.'
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Considering the consequences he's now suffering, Roberts said he would definitely change a few things about the way he played. 'When you're 19 and 20, you're never going to be 50, you are never going to be 60, (because) that is too far away," he said.
'But the fact is I'm 60 this year and knowing what I know now, and my own personal situation, there are things I would have changed about my playing style. In 1990 when I made that conscious effort to pull off more big hits, or to toughen my image up, I definitely wouldn't be doing that.'
Roberts is the latest high-profile former player to reveal health issues suffered as a result of their playing days. Wally Lewis, Mario Fenech and Steve Mortimer are among the many who have suffered brain damage and are now dealing with different levels of dementia.
Roberts also issued a passionate plea to end the controversial 'run it straight' trend that has emerged in recent months. The trend involves average people running at full-speed into an opponent, who tries to hit them as hard as they can. Former NRL player George Burgess was involved in an organised version of the trend at one stage, while a teenager died in New Zealand last month while participating.
Run it straight challenge at the Manly Stadium 😂 pic.twitter.com/WBGSCFXr73
— Skyrugby (@sky_rugby) June 2, 2025
The Manly Sea Eagles have also launched an investigation after vision emerged on social media of fans participating in the trend at their home game against Brisbane last Saturday night. 'These type of collisions have long-term, potentially catastrophic effects," Roberts said.
'I'd like to send a shout-out to Mario Fenech and Rebecca Fenech. Mario has stood up in the last couple of years about his situation, and this is what we're facing. (Run it straight) is based on outrage, and shares and likes, so all this stuff gets air-time, but it is really dangerous stuff.
'It takes sporting bodies, codes, or the government to get behind this (banning it). Parents need to know what their children are watching and what they're doing. You've got to keep poking the bear. This is long-term, potentially catastrophic consequences for young people. We can't keep ignoring it.'
Fans took to social media with messages of support after learning of Roberts' battle with epilepsy. Many joined him in calling for 'run it straight' events to be banned.
Ian Roberts, another icon of the game. When will people take this seriously
— HA'LE (@Riggs3660) June 3, 2025
I can't believe Ian Roberts is 60 this year!It doesn't seem like it was 30 years ago that he was running riot for Manly, Souths and the Cowboys.
— Chris Symon (@ChrisSymon1) June 2, 2025
Epilepsy & what these dipshits are doing for fun are so far apart except the one thing they both have in common is with both you could lose your life
— Matt Allen (@mattman1469) June 3, 2025
FAFOJust dumb people doing dumb shxt.
— Yappy71 (@Cruisin1971) June 3, 2025
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