Sydney Roosters enforcer Victor Radley has started playing memory games twice a day with the intention of “working” his brain to better equip him to cope with any future concussions.
Radley’s playing future has been a topic of discussion due to a run of seven concussions or failed head injury assessments in the NRL the past four seasons.
But after meeting with several specialists, including top neurologist Chris Levi, and speaking with former teammates who have dealt with their own head knocks, Radley declared: “The end is not even close.”
Radley will miss Thursday night’s clash against the Melbourne Storm with a shoulder injury, but insisted there was nothing to fear when it came to his brain and revealed several cognitive exercises he had been asked to complete each day had proven a huge help.
Radley has also been introduced to Vestibular Oculomotor Motor Screening, or VOMS, training, which focuses on movement and balance and allows medical experts to monitor his cognitive progress.
“I’ve got no worries whatsoever with my head,” said Radley, as he helped launch Saturday’s Beer, Footy, Food Festival at Henson Park.
Victor Radley helps promote Saturday’s Beer Food and Footy Festival at Henson Park.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone/SMH
“I know what work I’m doing at the moment, and it will put me in the best position to play for years to come.
“I spoke with ‘Nug’ [Jake Friend, the former Roosters co-captain forced to retire in 2021 due to repeated head knocks] about it. He had some really good advice for me. What he did was give me a lot of confidence that the end is not even close.
“The specialists I’ve seen, 100 per cent, I’m not even near retiring. Chris Levi has been really good and really positive.
“Your brain is like a muscle, and you need to make sure you’re working it and building that tolerance, so I don’t get a little knock and it gives me a daze.
Victor Radley comes from the field against the Brisbane BroncosCredit: Getty Images
“There are games you play where you follow a ball, and you have to remember where they move. There is also VOMS training, which I do around training.
“I’ve been advised to do [the exercises] morning and night. The biggest thing I’ve learned after seeing all the specialists is to keep working your brain.”
Radley has started wearing headgear in recent weeks, which does little to prevent concussions but “at this point, any little thing that might help, I’ll do it”.
The 27-year-old wants to help the Roosters make a charge for the finals before getting the call-up to play for England in the Ashes.
Radley has begun wearing headgear during matches.Credit: Getty Images
“I’d love to go over there and play against Australia – it’s something I’ve earmarked since [the Ashes] was announced,” Radley said.
“For now, I’m just thinking about the Roosters, being fit, playing my best footy, and hopefully that takes care of itself and [England coach] Shaun [Wane] picks me.”
The shoulder injury he aggravated against Cronulla last weekend has been an ongoing issue, but there will be no need for surgery, nor painkillers. He took no part in Monday’s main training session and will benefit from the extra time off against the Storm at Allianz Stadium.
Melbourne will be without Nelson Asofa-Solomona due to suspension, while Cameron Munster will skip the game to attend his father’s funeral in Rockhampton on Friday.
“It’s been an ongoing issue I’ve had for years, but I copped a knock the other night when I was running the ball. I got hit hard, and re-aggravated it,” Radley said.
“I normally strap my shoulders tightly, I’ve been really conscious of my right one this year. This [injury] is my left. I’ll run the same strapping program on the left.”
The Beer Footy Food Festival will be held at Henson Park on Saturday. For the record, Victor Radley’s beer of choice is Carlton Dry.