League great Mark Carroll responds to questions about his voice; CTE; Concussion; Wally Lewis; Mario Fenech; Steve Mortimer

Rugby league great Mark Carroll has responded to questions about his voice during broadcasts as one of the toughest men to lace a boot continues his fight against suspected CTE.

Carroll went public last year with his diagnosis after going to see a neurologist for a PET scan, which sparked calls for the NRL to fund brain tests for all former players who believe they may have symptoms of the "deadly disease", which can only be formally verified via autopsy.

The revelation sparked an outpouring of support for Carroll amid a wave of greats of the game coming forward and sharing their own battles with suspected CTE, which stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and is a form of dementia caused by repeated head blows.

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Carroll is just one of a list of legendary players like Wally Lewis, Steve Mortimer and Mario Fenech, who have revealed in recent years that they suspect they're suffering the effects of the condition.

Mark Carroll of the Sea Eagles in action during the ARL quarter final match between the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and the Manly Sea Eagles held at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images) Getty

The former Panthers, Souths and Sea Eagles prop works as a commentator on radio and TV and recorded a video on social media to explain to league fans why his voice sounds different during broadcasts.

Carroll revealed he's suffering from anxiety as a result of the CTE, which leaves his body feeling tight and inevitably impacts his delivery on air.

"I just wanted to explain why I sound like this," he said on a video posted to Instagram. "I wish it was from getting hit in the throat like my great mate Geoff Toovey or Gary Larson. Unfortunately it's the symptoms of CTE.

"I've got anxiety. Why? I've got no idea. But I'm so tight right through the body and that's why I've got this bloody throat (issue).

"To the people who have texted me after hearing me on radio and on Fox, I'm doing my best to be the best."

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Mark Carroll speaks to Nine's Today Extra (left) and (far right) making a tackle on Illawarra's Rod Wishart when he was playing for Manly. Getty

He also revealed in the caption: "Just like to take a minute to thank you all for your support and kindness towards my recent and continuing struggles with CTE. If you or someone that you know is struggling or has similar symptoms/concerns please don't hesitate to reach out. Stronger together."

Carroll said he's receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which is a form of treatment for concussion and urged for government funding to help others attain it, not just former athletes.

"These people are doing worse than me. They can't get TMS," he added.

The former NSW front-rower has been vocal about changes to the way the NRL and governments deal with head trauma.

Earlier in the year, Carroll called for the NRL to extend its 11-day stand down rule as part of revamped concussion protocols to three weeks at least.

"The stand down is 11 days. That's bullshit," he said.

"If you're a boxer, it's at least 30 days if not longer. It used to be seven days in the NRL, then they went to 11 days because some metrics, determined by a computer, recommended that time frame.

"Longer stand downs will hurt clubs and their rosters but it's in the best interests of the player.

"It should be at least three weeks, what's 11 days if a player has been diagnosed with a concussion? It's not long enough."

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