Sad detail in Wally Lewis book exposes NRL legend after marriage split

Wally Lewis and estranged wife Jacqui seemed invincible just eight weeks ago — if you read the heartbreaking affection the rugby league icon shows to his former partner in his autobiography.

Eight weeks after the popular book was launched in December, the couple are no more.

The Queensland State of Origin cult hero reveals how his marriage went to hell and back in recent years, but emerged through every hurdle stronger, together.

The 61-year-old is now reported to be in a relationship with Lynda Adams after separating from wife Jacqui last year, ending their marriage of 36 years.

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Lewis has acknowledged the “pain and upset” his family has endured as a result of the relationship breakdown.

It seems unthinkable that the couple that has created headlines around the country in recent weeks following confirmation of their separation is the same as the perfect pair mentioned in Lewis’ book, My Life: Wally Lewis, co-written with Steve Haddan.

The bond between the two leaps out at readers in the extraordinary book which detailed the dark details of Lewis’ depression battle — and the epilepsy diagnosis that saved his life.

Lewis famously had an epileptic seizure live on air while reading the sport for Channel 9 news in Brisbane in 2009.

Wally Lewis poses with former wife Jacqueline during the Sport Australia Hall of Fame awards.Source:AAP

After hiding his condition for 21 years, Lewis’ on-air episode was just the start of his long battle with the illness and the depression that went hand in hand with it.

“I had suicidal thoughts and found myself crying uncontrollably, for no reason,” he says in the book. “I needed someone with me at all times.”

That person was always Jacqui.

In the book he reveals his darkest moment.

He admits to walking out onto the private pontoon out the back of his Brisbane home and wanting to end his life.

“Another time I walked down to the pontoon on the canal at the back of the house and considered jumping in,” he says.

“The thought was actually there – that day. If I was going to suicide that’s when I would have done it. (Jacqui) never left me alone after that.”

It is just one of the many stories Lewis reveals in the book about his former partner.

At the time his diagnosis was revealed to the public, Jacqui spoke proudly about the support she has given her former husband — and her terror at how serious his battle with the disease has been.

“When I realised Wally was suffering depression, I’d say, ‘Why wouldn’t you tell me you were in so much pain’,” she told The Sydney Morning Herald at the time.

“But he wanted to get over it himself. Depression is a very hard thing. Wally didn’t understand it.”

The saddest comment Lewis makes in the book — in retrospect — is again about his wife following his fight with depression following brain surgery.

“Jacqui had somehow reached the conclusion my depression was because she wasn’t looking after me well enough,” Lewis wrote.

“Jacqui thought love would fix it – love fixed everything”.

Somehow, that has all changed abruptly.

Wally Lewis and family. Picture: Channel 9Source:Supplied

Lewis, who shares three children — Mitchell, Lincoln and Jamie-Lee — with Jacqui, admitted the separation had taken a heavy toll on his family when releasing a statement earlier this week.

“This is a deeply personal matter that we do not want to discuss publicly, but I want to acknowledge the pain and upset my family has gone through since Jacqui and I separated last year. I hope over time we can rebuild our ties and move on with life,” Lewis said.

“I will confirm I am now in another relationship and only ask for the media to respect our privacy.”

Neither Lewis or Adams have spoken publicly about their relationship since.

Adams, who is well known in Townsville for her volunteer work, recently split with property developer husband Mark Adams.

Adams and her former husband have a teenage daughter together, and she reportedly works as a freelance writer.

She is also a long-time volunteer at the Still Birth and Neonatal Death Support (SANDS) group, having suffered six miscarriages in four years before undergoing successful IVF treatment.

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