Strength and Love: Broncos unveil fitting Carl Webb tribute

Author: broncos.com.au
Timestamp: Wed 31 Jan 2024, 06:46 PM

The Broncos have unveiled a permanent and fitting tribute to former Bronco Carl Webb, a month after the much-loved footy warrior passed away, following a four-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Known for this strength, on and off the field, the club’s strength leader board in the Broncos gym has been renamed in his honour – The Carl Webb Strength Leaderboard – powerful, visual reminder of the passionate Queenslander’s impact on the game and those around him.

Webb’s children Hunter and Brooklyn joined Broncos Head Coach Kevin Walters inside the gym at Red Hill for the special moment, along with close friends and co-founders of the Carl Webb Foundation, Damon and Deanna Keating.

Bronco Corey Jensen, who also played for the North Queensland Cowboys like Webb, met Webb's children at the unveiling of the newly named leaderboard.

“It’s a great tribute to Carl and his family, that’ll be up there forever now and nice now that Carl can be remembered this way in the gym,” Walters said.

“He was obviously very strong, he showed that here in the gym but he transferred that out on the football field which is a key ingredient.

“You see a lot of guys really strong in here but can’t transfer, but Carl wasn’t one of those guys.

“I remember Carl making his debut, I was playing for the Broncos in that game, the look in their eyes when he was about to make a tackle, they’d quickly shift to poor old Kevvie and I’d have to do all the work for Carl, the opposition just ran sideways away from him.

“His personality, his character, it was great for any team, very selfless person, always gave to the team first, and character aside, he was a good player.

Webb, who still holds the Broncos record for bench press and back squat, set almost two decades ago, helped launch the strength leaderboard early last year.

“He saw his name up there and he was really choked about it all, the players were very welcoming of him and understood how strong he was in there and he actually spoken to them about transferring the strength onto the field.

We’ll continue to work with the (Carl Webb) Foundation to support everything in that space that we can because it’s such an important part for us now at the Broncos to keep Carl’s legacy alive.
Kevin Walters Broncos Head Coach

It comes as the Broncos officially launch their Charity Partner Program for 2024, with the Broncos Round 4 clash with the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on Good Friday to be dedicated to the Carl Webb Foundation through the 50-50 Charity Raffle and promotional activities.

Both Queensland XXXX derbies between the Broncos and Cowboys will in 2024 will honour his memory, the two clubs to work together with the Webb family on tributes.

The Broncos Charity Partner Program, now in its 17th year is sponsored by Loans.com.au. This year also marks 11 years in partnership with 50-50, who run the Charity Raffle at Broncos home games.

2023 saw a record amount raised, with almost $400,000 donated to Queensland charities.