Cocky, cheeky and fearless – that's how team-mates remembered former Queensland State of Origin hardman Carl Webb, who died on Thursday night after fighting a brave four-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Aged just 42, Webb had a fine career with the Broncos, Cowboys and Eels and played 12 State of Origin matches for Queensland and one Test for Australia in the 2000s.
Webb was diagnosed with the disease four years ago and battled the disease with the same courage he showed on the football field.
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From his teenage years, Webb was a man who showed no fear – even when confronted by Wayne Bennett.
"We came through the juniors together and I remember one day at the Broncos when he was just 17 or 18, Carl was approached by Wayne at training," former team-mate Brent Tate told Wide World of Sports.
"Carl just casually said to him, 'You have to talk to me through my manager' and walked off.
"All our jaws dropped – no one spoke to Wayne like that. But that was the kind of guy Carl was – he didn't care about reputations on or off the field and was the player you wanted with you in the trenches as a result.
"We had some tough players in the Queensland team in that era and you needed them because it was like warfare – and Carl was as tough as any of them.
"When I was in the sheds before a big game, looking at him with that confident look in his eye always made me feel better about what was to come – he was a great team-mate."
Former television commentator Jason Costigan had a lot to do with Webb throughout his career.
"Queenslanders from far and wide especially loved Big Charlie," well-known commentator Costigan told Wide World of Sports.
"He just had that aura to him."
The disease slowly but surely wore down the big prop's body to the stage where he couldn't even button up his shirt in recent months.
He had a heavy fall at his Dalby home on Thursday night and died soon afterwards.
"Everything you do is just a battle," Webb told News Corp in one of his last interviews in 2021.
"Day by day, I'm on a slow decline."
He is certain to be farewelled by a massive group of former team-mates and fans next week, with funeral details yet to be announced.
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