Why Las Vegas holds precious memories for Matt Nable as he's struck by awful family tragedy during NRL's games in the gambling mecca

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Footy star turned Hollywood actor Matt Nable suffered a shocking family tragedy on the day of the NRL Vegas double header, with his brother Aaron passing away.

Aaron, 46, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in July 2022, in heartbreaking news for the man whose voice is synonymous with rugby league in Australia.

Aaron leaves three sons, aged 10, two and one, and was a former national amateur boxing champion, training under legendary coach Johnny Lewis. He also sparred regularly with Aussie boxing great Kostya Tszyu.

His death was confirmed by footy star turned TV star Matthew Johns during his show in Las Vegas on Sunday, with Matt Nable part of Fox Sports' coverage of the double header thanks to the promotional videos he recorded in the American city.

Matt Nable has suffered a family tragedy following the death of his brother, Aaron (pictured together)

'I just want to send my condolences to Fox Sports' Matty Nable and the entire Nable family over the passing of Matty's brother Aaron, who was just a terrific, really charismatic guy,' Johns said. 

'He passed away today. We send our best to Matty [Nable] and the family.'   

Nable shares a very close bond with his three brothers and sister, who all travelled a lot growing up due to the fact their dad was in the army.

'It's hard not to be emotional,' Nable said of his brother's diagnosis in a teary interview with The Sydney Morning Herald in 2023. 

Nable shared a very close bond with his brother, whose diagnosis hit him very hard

The former Manly and Souths player was recently in Las Vegas to record a promotional video for the NRL's double header

'It made us really close, because we just had each other.

'There were times when it was just us, five kids in one bedroom.

'Aaron slept with me until he was nine or 10. He and I were scared of everything; certain we were always dying of something. And he was so scared of something happening to our mum.'

Not long after Aaron was diagnosed, the four brothers and their friends booked a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Vegas.

They watched a world title boxing fight and NFL match and partied during their vacation, which Nable called a 'once-in-a-lifetime trip'.

The 51-year-old - who played first-grade football for Manly and South Sydney - was back in Vegas to film a promotional video for the NRL's season-opening double header last year.  

The life expectancy for those with MND is typically between six months and three years.

'One in 200 people gets MND,' Nable told the publication.

When Aaron was diagnosed with MND in 2022, the brothers and friends all booked a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Las Vegas (stock image)

Nable has raised over $100,000 towards MND research since his brother (pictured) received his heartbreaking diagnosis

'In 1985, it was one in 500, so there's something environmental that's causing that spike. And it's important they find a cure, because what it does to a human being is catastrophic.

'It's the definition of sadness.'

Nable has raised over $100,000 towards MND research since his brother's heartbreaking diagnosis.

The former footy star has forged a successful career in movies and television, and has become one of the voices of rugby league through his work with Fox Sports.

He has appeared in 40 movies and TV shows, including Aussie hit The Dry, the science fiction blockbuster Riddick, Hacksaw Ridge, Killer Elite and Jasper Jones.

His television work includes roles in Arrow, Blue Murder, Mr Inbetween and Gallipoli.