Rugby league legend Wally Lewis has opened up about the deeply personal reason behind his decision to marry longtime partner Lynda Adams, revealing that his ongoing memory challenges played an important part in the timing of their wedding.

The 65-year-old married Lynda in May after several years together, with the couple now speaking jointly about their relationship, his health and the way they are approaching the future.

A wedding with an especially personal meaning

In their first official interview together with The Australian, Wally revealed that he wanted to marry Lynda at a time when he could still hold onto the memory of their special day.

“I want to marry you and I want to be able to remember it for as long as I can,” he told her.

Wally has experienced short-term memory difficulties after years of head knocks during his rugby league career, which stretched from the 1970s into the 1990s.

He was diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, in 2023 and has since become increasingly open about the impact his playing career has had on his health.

Rather than allowing the diagnosis to define the years ahead, however, Wally said he is determined to make the most of his life, including spending time with his grandchildren.

Lynda’s quiet role behind the scenes

Wally credited Lynda, whom he has been with since 2021, with helping him navigate everyday life as his memory issues continue.

She helps him stay on top of appointments, speaking engagements and public appearances, while also handling moments when he may unknowingly repeat a question.

Wally recalled sometimes noticing Lynda’s expression and asking whether he has already said the same thing. Her response, he said, is simply: “It doesn’t matter.”

For Wally, those small exchanges demonstrate the patience and understanding that have developed between them.

He also credits Lynda with encouraging him to speak publicly about his condition after initially finding it difficult to acknowledge what was happening.

Why Wally chose to speak publicly

Wally admitted he resisted confronting the issue for some time and initially believed he might be able to conceal some of the changes he was experiencing.

Eventually, however, speaking openly became an important part of how he approached his diagnosis.

He told The Australian that conversations with former players often reveal a similar reluctance to discuss health concerns, particularly among men who spent much of their careers priding themselves on toughness.

His willingness to speak about his own experience has also encouraged other former footballers and their families to seek information and support.

Lynda, meanwhile, has reportedly heard from partners of other ex-players who want advice on how to begin similar conversations within their own families. The couple have also shared details of medical specialists with people seeking professional guidance.

An intimate Brisbane wedding

Wally and Lynda married in front of around 40 guests at Saint Mary’s Anglican Church at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane.

Their celebrations later continued at Old Government House, with an onlooker telling Woman’s Day at the time that Wally appeared particularly happy throughout the occasion.

His three adult children from his previous marriage — Mitchell, Lincoln and Jamie-Lee — were not present.

Woman’s Day reported, citing an unnamed insider, that Wally had invited his children and grandchildren but that they declined. That account has not been publicly confirmed by the family members involved.

For Wally and Lynda, however, their latest interview places the focus firmly on the life they are building together — and on making the most of the memories and experiences still ahead.