The news of Craig Bellamy’s medical diagnosis hit me hard.

While no one knows the exact nature of his neurodegenerative disorder, it’s clear it’s serious and life changing.

I know all about that.

A couple of years ago I went public with my battle with a degenerative brain disease linked to CTE.

What some of you may not know is I am also suffering from spasmodic dysphonia.

It’s a rare disorder that makes your voice sound shaky and strained as the vocal cords spasm uncontrollably.

It’s related to CTE and impacts on my life every minute of every day.

Throw in recurring bouts of anxiety also linked to the CTE and life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses of late.

As a result, I find speech hard but funnily enough sound okay when I sing.

Just a couple a night ago I managed to belt out a few tunes in Eric Grothe’s covers band.

I’m also in a duo called the Hit-Ups and, after nearly s*****g myself with nerves, performed my first three-set solo recently.

I just wish I’d found music earlier than 20 years ago.

Maybe I should sing to people instead of talking to them!

My old man always said your health is your wealth and he was spot on as usual.

But this is the hand life has dealt me and I’ve had to adjust to the changes and put one foot in front of the other.

I didn’t go in search of sympathy and know Craig Bellamy will be the same.

So, if I can offer him one piece of advice as he enters this most challenging chapter of his life, do what makes you happy, not what makes others outside your circle happy.

If there’s another passion outside rugby league you want to chase, then now is the time to pursue it.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to visit Europe in summer but never had the chance because the footy season has always been the priority.

If so, book that ticket now.

Perhaps you fancy hitting the road in a camper van and doing a lap of Australia or tackling a half-marathon or ocean swim.

And, mate, if you are into jet skis then I’m your man.

For the master coach, it could be as simple as wanting to spend more time with the grandkids, watching them grow into young men and women.

As Ricky Stuart quite rightly said: “It’s now time for Craig to really care about Craig and put himself first.”

But here’s the thing… walking away from coaching might not be the obvious answer.

Outside of his family, the game is Bellamy’s passion and obsession.

And while he must hate what the Storm is enduring at the moment, the fighter in him would be wanting to stick around and lift the club he built out of the doldrums.

I’m a lot like Craig in that I’d be lost without work. It’s been my saviour.

For the past 21 years I have risen at 4.30am to drive into the city to open the door to Spudd’s Gym.

No sick days, no mental health days and very few holidays.

I do it because I love it but also because it gives me a reason to get out of bed every day.

Imagine if Bellamy – on the back of this devastating diagnosis - spearheaded a revival and led Melbourne back to the top eight after seven losses in the first nine rounds.

It would be one of rugby league’s great stories.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

This time last year the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs were the talk of the NRL world.

After years of rebuilding on the back of clever recruitment, the Dogs were headed for the top four and within touching distance of a first premiership in two decades.

They crashed and burned in the finals but the future still looked bright.

Instead, they have gone backwards.

They currently sit 12th after a 3-5 start to the season and don’t seem to know what their best team looks like.

Moving Lachlan Galvin from five-eighth to halfback hasn’t worked but coach Cameron Ciraldo stubbornly refuses to concede he got it wrong.

The Dogs simply don’t scare you when in possession.

Only the poor old Dragons have scored fewer points than Canterbury’s paltry 145 after nine rounds.

Once known as the Dogs of War, they are now the Dogs of Bore.

To unlock his team’s attack, Ciraldo needs to shift Galvin back to 6, move Matt Burton to the centres and play Stephen Crichton at fullback.

Watch things change if all that happens.

A WORD OF THANKS

Finally, a big thank-you to all of you who got behind my daughter Indianna’s push to make it as an NFL cheerleader.

As you may have read, Indi’s lifetime dream came true last week when she was added to the Las Vegas Raiders’ cheerleader squad for the 2026/27 season.

She survived several gruelling rounds of auditions against strong competition to become just the fourth Australian cheerleader chosen to perform in the NFL.

A fan vote backed by strong Australian support helped get her across the line and I thank all of you who entered the poll and gave her a tick of approval.

Indi has overcome a lot in her life, battling crippling endometriosis and a highly competitive industry to get to where she is.

It’s a proud moment for her, me, my amazing wife and son Josh.

You go girl!