Peter Sterling to donate brain in aid of CTE studies

Paramatta legend Peter Sterling has revealed he will donate his brain to medical science, while another NRL great has backed former league players to hold discussions with families as the league looks to act on recent developments revolving around Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Following the shocking news surrounding a pair of former top-grade footballers, who revealed to have been suffering from CTE, the league is looking to crack down on the treatment on concussions in rugby.

CTE is a degenerative brain disorder linked with repeated knocks to the head that can only be diagnosed with an autopsy and has been a growing focus for concern within the United States' NFL. The NFL has already paid over US$500 million to thousands of former players following a concussion settlement.

Sterling's decision to donate his brain for future studies after his death will be in hope of aiding research on CTE, which has been related to depression, mood swings, short-term memory loss and dementia and potential elevated risk of suicide.

"This has been an ongoing concern as we learn more in the future. I've said yes to donating my brain to science in the future and I believe it is going to help players in the years to come," Sterling told Macquarie Sports Radio.

"I'm not scared but I am concerned. The decision to donate my brain was a decision not taken lightly but I think it's important that something like that can help so that we know more and we can take the appropriate steps as that knowledge becomes readily available."

Ex-Broncos and Panthers prop Petero Civoniceva added to the concerning developments of CTE by insisting both current and past players to hold discussions with their families regarding brain donation.

The recent increase and involvement within the relationship between rugby league and CTE has led to Civoniceva revealing his stance on the ongoing issues in contact sport and will likely donate to assist the study.

"I think it's a good thing. It's a personal thing, not everyone is going to be for that. But the more evidence that is found and the more study we can do, I'm all for that," Civoniceva said.

"It's important. We love the game and the physical nature of our game. We have to do everything right by the players."

Former players have commended the NRL for the measures the league has taken to reduce head knocks, fighting, shoulder charges and tighter rules after findings published in the neuropathology journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications led to the league to take a stronger position on the issue.

But ex-league players have also reflected on their time within the league where they would look to return to the field earlier than necessary following concussions.

"There wasn't a lot of education around it. I came through at a time when the expectation was that if you got a knock, you pushed through and played on. It was always embedded in us that you have to do the right thing by the team and try to play on," Civoniceva said.

"It is a concern for sure. You think back to the times when you did plough through a concussion and things like that. I hate to think of the amount of times I did that ... but that was just the expectation.

"You go through all players of those past eras. That was the game. All I can say right now is the modern game, I'm so grateful and the game has done a great thing with the measures they have put in place."

Former Titan Nathan Friend was on the fringe of retirement following a catalogue of concussions in 2016 before eventually going on to play out the season before retiring.

Friend revealed he was pleased to see the NRL crackdown on the ongoing issues with concussions, after the league was initially criticized for looking to strip back the games inherent toughness.

"We played a contact sport, the same as the NFL ... obviously having lived the sport and been at the coalface, I've felt the effects. I'm completely different to someone that's just walking the street," Friend said.

"We had GPS tracking and they used to pick up g-forces; sometimes there were 20 contacts a game that felt like a car crash. It's a great sport and was great for me. But it's good that the NRL have more rules and safety and give guys time off.

"That's [the brain] our computer system. You don't want to mess with it. If people's opinions change because of that, so be it. The health of the players is paramount."