NRL 2022: Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins will take a break after repeat concussions

Repeat concussions are a worry for all clubs, so the Roosters are being ultra cautious with a star big man.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson says the science is not good enough yet to mandate a specific break for players who have been concussed and so has given forward Lindsay Collins time off after repeated head knocks

Collins suffered the first of back-to-back concussions playing for Queensland in the third State of Origin clash before being knocked out in last week’s NRL clash with Manly.

Robinson has seen close up how symptoms can linger, with star playmaker Luke Keary having endured a long battle and premiership-winning Roosters captain Boyd Cordner forced into retirement after repeated concussions.

Collins is “great” according to Robinson and back training but will still spend at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines for the eighth-placed Roosters, who are fighting for a finals berth in Thursday’s showdown with the Broncos at the SCG.

“It will be a couple of weeks. It’s hard because science doesn’t know what the answer is,” Robinson said on Wednesday.

“We’ve seen when we’ve given a few weeks off to guys they’ve come back better. There’s no exact science on how long it should be.

“We’ve been around it a bit and there’s no definitive answer. There’s no clear picture why someone can have a concussion and not get one again and why some guys get multiple.

“Guys have different recovery rates. The way that Lindsay plays is a bit that goes into it as well.

“We’ve got to protect guys with rules and protocols, but the science is not good enough on return to play yet.”

Lindsay Collins is attended to by trainers after a head clash against Manly. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Keary told the Fox League podcast that Collins wanted to trained with his teammates this week and was “in good spirits” but was well aware of the benefits of the long break.

“Obviously, the Origin one and then first game back, that wasn’t a pretty sight, but he was in really good spirits,” Keary said.

“It’s funny, everyone’s different and some knocks you’re rattled by, they make you sick and then others you’re fine five minutes later.

“Linds was in real good spirits after the game, he’s been at training every day – he wanted to train with us yesterday, but the doctors wouldn’t let him.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins will take a break after repeat concussions