Rugby League: Kiwi legend Mark Broadhurst reveals Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Kiwi legend Mark Broadhurst has revealed his battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

In an interview with the Sydney Daily Telegraph, the 65-year-old former mainstay said he “has trouble remembering things” and believes his condition may be related to his days playing in the league and his time as a professional boxer.

“Now I have dementia. In fact, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I had five brain scans over the past five, six weeks, and then they said I had Alzheimer’s, which falls under the category of dementia,” Broadhurst said.

“I went to see my neurologist 10 days ago and he said I have Alzheimer’s. I feel pretty good, but I forget what I’m doing half the damn time.

“There is nothing you can do about it. There are a lot of people at a much younger age who are much worse off.”

Broadhurst, who played 17 tryouts for the Kiwis between 1979 and 1983, said he was “knocked out and with a late concussion” for the first time when he was just 15 years old during a college game.

The retired Christchurch freeze worker played for the Manly Sea Eagles during his 25-year league career and also fought four professional boxing fights as a heavyweight.

“Possibly it has something to do with it because that’s the way it was in those days. I think I was completely knocked out four times and boxing didn’t help,” Broadhurst told the Daily Telegraph.

“Sparring was like fighting. We were hitting each other’s heads, a lot of headshots and seeing stars. But I wouldn’t change a thing.”

During the 1981 New South Wales first-grade semifinal, Broadhurst fractured his eye socket and cheekbone during an infamous fight with Newton Jets player Steve Bowden.

Braodhurst said he kept playing with two puffy eyes, almost completely closed, and even returned to the Manly Leagues Club for a few beers after the game.

“I think I ended up going to Manly Hospital later that night or early the next morning for the cheekbone and the eye socket.”

He added that the incident, which sparked an all-inclusive brawl, “happened at the end of an era before they cleaned up the game with all angles of television.”

“I loved it. I miss that side of the game when it cleaned up. The props would try to fix each other.

“When you play props in those games and match tests, you walk in expecting a hit. It’s about give and take.”

Broadhurst remains a respected figure in Manly and in New Zealand, and was listed as a New Zealand League Legend in 2013.

The Sea Eagles and Warriors have played for the Broadhurst-Shelford trophy in recent years, the name of Broadhurst and the late Kiwi mainstay Adrian Shelford.