Name Brett Horsnell | ||
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Brett Horsnell (born April 11, 1970) is an Australian former rugby league player who played professionally in Australia.
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Early years
Horsnell attended Keebra Park State High School and captained the 1988 Australia Schoolboy team on a tour of New Zealand. He was a Junior Queensland representative in 1985 as an under-16 and in 1988 at under-18.
Playing career
Horsnell played for the Runaway Bay Seagulls and was part of their successful junior teams.
Horsnell made his first grade debut for the Gold Coast Giants in 1989 as a five-eighth/centre. However, Horsnell slowly moved into the forwards and by 1992 he played the whole season as a lock for the now Gold Coast Seagulls. After six seasons and 82 matches for the Gold Coast club, Horsnell left in 1995, joining the new South Queensland Crushers franchise. He was part of their inaugural match on 11 March 1995 and spent the next two seasons with the club.
In 1997 Horsnell joined the Parramatta Eels, where he was used in every position in the pack; even starting at hooker and at prop. Horsnell left the club at the end of the 1998 season.
Later years
Horsnell was misdiagnosed with a brain tumor in 2004. On 23 October 2004 a charity match was held for Horsnell that featured the South Queensland Crushers and the Gold Coast Seagulls, both now defunct, being resurrected for the day.
Legal Action
Horsnell is currently taking legal action against Parramatta District Rugby League Club for a head injury as a result of head knocks received during his career. [1] [2].
The Australian quotes details from an affidavit in the matter outlining that Horsnell is taking action as a result of a medical assessment by a Gold Coast neurologist confirming that he is "almost certainly suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy". [3]
The same article also contains a statement from Mr Horsnell "I gave a large part of my life to the game I love,” he said. “I did not want to take action or make anything public about myself, my injuries, or the game. Unfortunately I had no choice but to take legal action as my only remaining option. I would like to sincerely thank the medical specialists who have treated me, and given me the news I didn’t want to hear, but needed to hear." [4]
An Article in the Australian on 18 July 2017 confirms that Horsnell has also commenced proceedings in Queensland against the National Rugby League and the Australian Rugby League Commission for injuries received at the QLD Crushers and the Gold Coast Seagulls. The article contains a statement from his lawyers, Certus Legal Group, saying that Horsnell suffered more than 50 serious head knocks during his 156 game career.