NRL rule change creates ‘strange’ the leaves everyone baffled

Roosters enforcer Victor Radley has made it just 25 minutes into his 2022 season before a bizarre scene put a new rule to the test.

Victor Radley was eventually forced to come off the field after some HIA confusion.

Roosters enforcer Victor Radley has taken just 25 minutes into his 2022 season to be at the centre of controversy - but this time he’s not at fault.

Radley copped a heavy head knock trying to tackle Knights player Jake Clifford, but he somehow passed his HIA and stayed on the field.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

However, moments later independent doctors in the bunker - which have only been introduced this season - removed Radley from the game for an HIA, which he has since failed.

“Nat Butcher’s been on the sideline holding the card, the medical card, the red cross card for Radley to go off, he’s been there for two minutes,” Andrew Voss said on the Fox League commentary.

“If he has to come off for concussion we had a scrum in the meantime and we still didn’t take Radley off at that period, it’s a strange one.”

“It’s pretty confusing for the people at home watching. If he’s got to come off you stop that second.

“We had a scrum packed down and we didn’t bring him off.”

Victor Radley was eventually forced to come off the field after some HIA confusion.

I thought the whole point of independent doctors in the bunker was to assess these concussion incidents immediately?

Valemei scored a try after his incident last night, then was taken off. Surely Radley has to go off for at least a check after that clash? #NRLRoostersKnights

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) March 12, 2022

Fox League sideline reporter Hannah Hollis then explained the situation to Voss.

“Vossy I’ve been seeking some clarity on the Victor Radley head knock, under the new rules brought in this year there is an independent doctor sitting at the bunker and the bunker can make a decision on whether a player needs to come from the field,” she said.

“They have direct communication with the refs so the bunker in this case has identified Victor Radley’s incident as a category 1 that’s the highest rating possible, he will not return to the field of play and as a result the Roosters lose an interchange for the rest of the game.”

Victor Radley’s HIA was the topic of discussion on the Super Saturday panel with the Cooper Cronk left confused.

“Victor Radley, head knock, heavy collision on the kick chase through on Clifford, he will not return.” Braith Anasta explained.

“This is a weird one for me, there’s no doubt that Radley comes in and has obviously a whack to the head and doesn’t feel great but the Roosters physio comes out and does a test, he stays on the field but has Hannah reported it was actually the medical expert in the bunker that said this was a category one and Radley needs to come from the field so I know that they’ve put in a medical expert in the bunker to rule out teams looking after their own players but it’s really hard to see how that can be sort of judged.” Cronk told the panel.

“Well it’s a new initiative, I do find it hard too for the bunker overrule anyone who’s at the ground, he’ll be a big loss but.” Anasta replied.

“Absolutely he’s the link through the middle, obviously ball plays a lot for him, options especially for the halves and take that away someone else is going to have to step up into that role probably Keary or the likes.” Marshall said.

Originally published as NRL rule change creates ‘strange’ the leaves everyone baffled