Former league ‘hard man’ dead after ‘sad’ decline

Former Balmain, Wests Magpies and South Sydney forward John Bilbija has died – yet another victim of early onset dementia.
Wide World of Sports revealed recently that Bilbija, aged 65, had only months to live.
The ex hard man, who had lost much of his cognitive ability and was just a shell of the man who graced Sydney football field in the 1980s and ’90s, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Penrith home on Sunday.
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“It’s very sad but may have been a blessing in disguise because John was not the same guy we knew and loved,” former team-mate Wayne Innes told WWOS.
“He personified toughness on the paddock but it doesn’t matter how tough you are – once you contract this illness, it gets you all.
“A lot of former players are suffering from it and it’s sad to see.”
John Bilbija. Twitter
Bilbija’s wife of 43 years, Michelle, explained the situation to WWOS recently.
“We knew as he grew older he’d have arthritis and knee replacements – but we never expected this,” Michelle said.
“It’s got to the stage where he can’t feed himself, can’t talk, can’t dress himself… he needs fulltime care.
“I met with a lawyer and explained to him what the doctors said – that the head knocks have left him like this.
“I said to him that John, Ian Roberts and Mario Fenech packed into the same scrums… now they all have brain problems… do they think it’s just co-incidence?”