Former Queensland Maroons star Carl Webb has been diagnosed with early-onset Motor Neurone Disease.

The Men of League Foundation is assisting the 38-year-old.

During a distinguished 187-game National Rugby League career with the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels, the Mount Isa-born forward played 15 State of Origin matches and one Test for Australia, against New Zealand in 2008.

Motor neurone disease is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system, which leads to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting.

It occurs when specialist nerve cells (motor neurones) in the brain and spinal cord progressively lose their function; the condition is irreversible and its causes are unknown.