Researchers and clinicians from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,NSW Health Pathology and the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre found evidence of CTE in two brains that were referred to them for diagnostic purposes.
Given confidentiality agreements and the sensitivities involved,the identities of the deceased players were not made public. The only information previously available was that they were middle-aged professionals who had played more than 150 first-grade games.
However,with the blessing of his family,The Sun-Herald can reveal that legendary former Canterbury,NSW and Australian forward Folkes was one of the players to present with CTE after it was diagnosed following a standard autopsy.
The premiership-winning player and coach died of a heart irregularity last year at the age of 59.
"It’s been a tough 18 months without him and hopefully something positive can come from it,"Folkes’ daughter,Hayley Shaw,said.
"That’s important to us and we’re pretty passionate about making something from it.