Victor Radley attends registration day of his junior club, the Clovelly Crocodiles, less than 48 hours after suffering a concussion

In a miserable weekend for the Sydney Roosters, Victor Radley emerged from the gloom of the 50-point Broncos thrashing and a severe concussion to show his true colours as a club and community legend.

Victor Radley attends the registration day of his junior club, the Clovelly Crocodiles, less than 48 hours after suffering a concussion during the Sydney Roosters' 50-14 Round 1 NRL loss to Brisbane at Allianz Stadium.

In a miserable weekend for the Sydney Roosters, one man emerged from the gloom of the 50-point Broncos thrashing to show his true colours as a club legend.

Victor Radley was entitled to spend a quiet weekend in recovery mode after being knocked out and heavily concussed against Brisbane on Thursday night.

No chance.

On Saturday morning he climbed out of bed to honour a commitment to help out at an Easts’ junior registration day at Burrows Park, the home ground of his junior club the Clovelly Crocodiles.

He was there for two hours doing tackling, passing and kicking drills with the youngsters, signing autographs and doing selfies.

The chairman of Easts junior league, Bob Tate, was blown away.

Victor Radley attends the registration day of his junior club, the Clovelly Crocodiles, less than 48 hours after suffering a concussion.

Victor Radley helping out at the Roosters juniors registration day at Burrows Park on Saturday.

“We were told he was not well enough to attend,” Tate said, “and that another player would come instead. Then Victor just turned up.

“He was determined to fulfil his commitment. He’s a selfless guy who hasn’t forgotten where he came from.

“His interaction with the parents and kids was just outstanding.”

Radley suffered a category one concussion after a collision with skipper James Tedesco.

He is automatically stood down from the Roosters’ clash with four-time champions Penrith next weekend – the team they have such a shocking record against in recent years.

The Roosters are under enormous pressure just one week into the season.

Not only did Chooks fans have to watch the Broncos annihilate their team on Thursday night but then sit back as former players Terrell May and Sitili Tupouniua produced blinders in their first appearances for the Wests Tigers and Canterbury.

Victor Radley cops a nasty blow.

Even Roosters star Angus Crichton took to social media on Saturday, posting a TV still of Tupouniua with the caption: “Tough seeing my guy in another jersey.”

Could this be seen as a discreet shot at the club’s recruitment methods?

They sure could have done with May and Tupouniua against the Broncos and rampaging middle forwards Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan.

The kids tried hard but were outclassed and overpowered.

The halves Chad Townsend and Sandon Smith just didn’t aim up.

The blowtorch is now on coach Trent Robinson, despite the fact he has won three premierships for the club. People forget that.

Sydney Roosters star Angus Crichton's post.

They forget that even the likes of Wayne Bennett experienced low periods, like when he left the Newcastle Knights on the scrap heap.

We can’t all have Craig Bellamy’s sensational strike rate.

Where the Roosters go from here is most intriguing.

They were never going to replace Luke Keary, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joey Manu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and May overnight.

They are backing the young players emerging from their academy.

They also have spare salary cap cash this year now that champion centre Manu has signed with French rugby union and won’t be returning home.

It’s all well and good to be backing junior academy players to come through but this side needs to add a strong middle forward.

They could do worse than bring old warhorse Waerea-Hargreaves back from the UK Super League where his unbeaten Hull KR side sits top of the table after four rounds.

Couldn’t they have done with him against Haas and Carrigan on Thursday night.

Originally published as Victor Radley attends registration day of his junior club, the Clovelly Crocodiles, less than 48 hours after suffering a concussion