On the same day as the NRL’s much-anticipated Vegas event, actor and Fox League’s Matt Nable experienced a personal loss with the death of his younger brother, Aaron.

Confirming the news, Matt’s colleague Matty Johns announced the passing on air during coverage of the double-header on Sunday, March 3.

The 46-year-old was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in July 2022 and at the time, a GoFundMe was set up by Matt and his siblings.

At the time of publication, it has raised $103,680 with the “hope to provide awareness around the disease and support those suffering and their families while raising money for research to find a cure.”

There’s no cure for MND and the average life expectancy for what Aaron was diagnosed with, Bulbar onset MND, gave him only six months to three years to live.

In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald in May 2023, Matt — who played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs before becoming an actor — revealed how close he was with his three brothers and sister, Damien, Rebecca, Adam and Aaron. So, watching his brother’s illness had been difficult.

“This disease, what it does is just the hardest thing to watch,” he told the outlet.

After the initial diagnosis in 2022, and in a coincidental turn of events given the day of his death, the four brothers and their friends booked a trip to Las Vegas for what Matt called “a once-in-a-lifetime trip”.

Aaron was a former national amateur boxing champion who trained under Johnny Lewis and sparred with Kostya Tszyu.

He leaves behind three children aged 11, five and three and his wife, Aline and the fund has also been used to “raise money for his family to ensure their financial stability through education and well-being.”

You can donate to the ‘Aaron Nable, his young family and MND Research’ GoFundMe here.

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