Broncos boss vows to beat brain tumour

Brisbane CEO Paul White says he’s determined to make a full recovery after taking immediate leave from the NRL club to undergo treatment for a brain tumour.

Father of four White says he faces months of treatment starting on Wednesday after a “primary brain tumour” was discovered a fortnight ago.

White – the Broncos’ CEO since 2011 – said he would draw strength during his treatment by still having an ongoing involvement with the club.

“It is treatable but I will have to undergo several months of treatment with some intensive treatment over the next six weeks,” said White on Thursday.

“I do have a strong hope that I can beat this and make a full and complete recovery and there are many people worse off than myself.

“I’ve always taken on challenges. I’ve got a very good medical team to support me along with my family and my friends and also my other family which is here at the football club.”

White said he’d been overwhelmed the messages of support from the public, including one from a person he sent to jail during his 17-year stint as a Queensland police officer.

“We’ve got the biggest supporter base in the country and believe you me I’ve heard from a lot of them the last couple of weeks and I sincerely appreciate their support,” he said.

“I hope that through my own journey I can help others and reinforce that I’m up for the fight and that it’s a fight I intend to win.”

White said “it would be a game man” who would try to prevent him from attending October’s NRL grand final if the ladder-leading Broncos are involved.

“Part of the fight that I’ve got to go through, I’ll draw strength from having an ongoing involvement with the club,” said White.

“Rugby league has been a game that has been a part of who I am since I was six-years-old so I probably need it more than it needs me at the moment.

“I will continue to stay across the business and all key business activities and decisions.

“I know what’s ahead of me. I will confront the brutal facts and I’ll work hard to make a full recovery and I want everyone to be relentless to maximise the opportunity we’ve got as a footy club this year.”

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