NRL world saddened over 'horrible' revelation about Bulldogs hero Steve Mortimer
The 68-year-old played 272 games for the Bulldogs across a legendary career, winning four premierships with the club and captaining them in the 1984 and 1985 title victories. He also played 16 State of Origin games for NSW and nine Test matches for Australia.
The legendary halfback led the Blues to their first Origin series victory in 1985. However the Bulldogs and Blues legend was been battling the effects of dementia for nearly a decade, and this weekend his family shone a heartbreaking new light on his condition - four years after it become public knowledge.
Mortimer's beloved Bulldogs are first on the NRL ladder after 12 rounds in 2025, but son Andrew isn't sure his father is aware. "It's is a shame because they are absolutely killing it," Andrew told the .
Andrew revealed his father struggles to complete full sentences, and is slowly declining. "I don't know whether dad is thinking of something but can't articulate it, or he's not thinking it, but there's not much verbally, unfortunately," he said.
'I would say he's on a slow decline. I'm sure people who see him a few months apart, or a year, would see significant change. He is seemingly calm, somewhat at peace with the situation and probably somewhat oblivious.
'I would suggest that he's probably at the stage where he's observing life around him, rather than fully participating. We know that you don't get cured from dementia. You don't improve so, for us, it's quality of life. We try to take the approach: 'what he can do', not 'what he can't do'."
Mortimer was moved into a dementia ward in 2022, and his extended family visit him multiple times per week. They take him on regular outings, which often includes watching footy. The devastating new details come on the 40th anniversary of Mortimer's famous triumph in the 1985 Origin series.
Fans and pundits have flooded social media with messages of support for Mortimer after learning the new details of his plight. Commentator Arthur Stanley wrote: "I worked with Steve in his role as Ambassador at Stadium Australia for many years. Never met a more decent family."
One Bulldogs fan wrote: "Turvey is why I'm a Bulldog, heartened to know he has wonderful love and support." Another wrote: "Beautiful man. I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times. It's so sad to see this at his age. My mother in law is going though the same thing, it's a horrible disease."
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Another commented: "What a horrible disease. Turvey is a Bulldogs legend and is handling this like one." While another message read: "As an opposition fan I couldn't help but admire Steve Mortimer. His battles with Slippery Morris were always incredible. It's so sad to read about his dementia battle but his family are clearly wonderful and caring; it must be so tough to witness the deterioration though."
Absolute legend 👏🏾 he'd even come and shake my hand and say G'day to me when I was working in the tunnel on game day cc @AndrewMortimer
— Mo Ali (@Makbulldog) May 25, 2025
As an opposition fan I couldn't help but admire Steve Mortimer. His battles with Slippery Morris were always incredible. It's so sad to read about his dementia battle but his family are clearly wonderful and caring; it must be so tough to witness the deterioration though.
— Martin (@hammersaint) May 24, 2025
I knew his father Ian as the leader of the Wagga Police Boys Club, played against Chris Mortimer as kids, and then worked with Steve in his role as Ambassador at Stadium Australia for many years. Never met a more decent family.
— Arthur Stanley (@Art_Stanley_) May 25, 2025
What a horrible disease. Turvey is a Bulldogs legend and is handling this like one 🙏🏻❤️
— Alice (@Aliceh_1936) May 24, 2025
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