'Real worry': Darren Lockyer's advice amid 'alarming' Victor Radley issue
League greats have called on the Roosters to force Victor Radley to take a break after his seventh failed HIA in the past four seasons.
Against the Knights on Saturday evening, Radley stayed down after a blow to the side of the head from Fletcher Hunt's thigh late in the first half.
Radley stayed on the ground for some time after the hit, before coming straight from the field. He was ruled a category two HIA, and failed over the half-time break.
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Victor Radley copping a blow to the head from Fletcher Hunt's thigh. FOX Sports
Speaking on Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Andrew Johns the Roosters needed to take the decision out of Radley's hands.
"First thing first is the health of the player, and you have to take it out of the player's hands, especially someone like Victor," Johns said.
"The Roosters are probably leading the competition in how they handle head knocks – they retired Boyd Cordner early, Jake Friend.
"You've got to take it out of his hands, but it's a real worry for Victor."
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Victor Radley failed a HIA after copping a blow to the head from Fletcher Hunt's thigh against the Knights. FOX Sports
Johns said a "flaw" in Radley's tackling technique and playing style, as well as the NRL's crackdown on any kind of high contact, leaves him susceptible to head-knocks.
"It's all that sort of worry about hitting players high, but the problem is if you're encouraging players to go low (around) knees, hips, elbows, that's where you're picking up all your concussions defensively.
"(Radley) has a flaw in his technique, because he just he's a million miles an hour. He tries to smash everyone. We love the way he plays, but this is a problem."
Darren Lockyer added the "alarming" part about this latest blow was how relatively minor the contact seemed.
"The concerning part is that it wasn't really a big bump, so when players are getting ... concussions when it's not a heavy knock, then that's alarming," he added.
"He needs a little spell I think ... you've got to take it out of Victor's hands because he'll want to play every week."
The Roosters host the Cowboys next weekend, and then get a week off in round 17.
