EXCLUSIVE: Concussion Specialist Calls on Victor Radley and Roosters to ‘Apologise’ and ‘Take Responsibility’ for Instagram Post

A concussion specialist has called on Victor Radley and the Sydney Roosters to “apologise” and “take responsibility” following the club’s Instagram post featuring the lock forward holding a controversial t-shirt.

Radley celebrated his 150th NRL game during Saturday night’s match against the Sharks in Gosford, which the Roosters won decisively, 42-16.

To commemorate the victory and Radley’s milestone, the Roosters shared a now-deleted photo on Instagram showing Radley with a t-shirt emblazoned with: “150 games, 38 concussions, 26 send-offs, 6852 beers”.

While some regarded it as harmless fun from one of the game’s notorious characters, others found it deeply insensitive, especially considering rugby league’s ongoing battle against head injuries and the serious challenges faced by a growing number of former players and their families, including Wally Lewis, Mario Fenech, Trevor Crow, and Steve Mortimer.

Conditions such as dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) are known to be associated with repeated head trauma.

Dr Alan Pearce, a neurophysiologist from Melbourne who focuses on concussion and CTE, previously published research in 2018 examining the long-term impacts of concussion among rugby league players.

Radley’s and the Roosters’ promotion of the t-shirt alarmed Dr Pearce.

“Firstly, I was disappointed to see this sort of glorification of brain injuries in relation to the number of concussions he claims to have had,” Pearce remarked to Wide World of Sports on Monday.

“Secondly, it indicates that there needs to be more education and awareness across these sports because it shows to me that they have — and I’ll be blunt — no understanding of the short- and long-term risks associated with repeated concussions.”

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“Simply deleting a post doesn’t excuse them. It also creates more confusion regarding head trauma, as many won’t understand why it was removed. The majority of people won’t know the reasoning behind it.

“Their response suggests they realised, ‘Oh dear, we’ve made a mistake’.”

“So, let’s see them apologise, take ownership of the situation, and actually turn it into a teaching moment to communicate that ‘We removed the post because we do not endorse concussions or the glorification of such; athlete health and well-being is our utmost priority’.”

Wide World of Sports reached out to the Roosters for a statement, but the club opted not to respond officially.

Radley, now 27, has endured multiple concussions during his career of 150 games.

In a 2022 clash between the Roosters and Storm, he was involved in a shocking collision that left him convulsing on the field, necessitating his removal via medicab.

This Instagram debacle comes shortly after Broncos fullback Reece Walsh faced backlash for posting a now-deleted TikTok video of him throwing a punch at another man.

“It was just a joke with my best mate,” Walsh commented.

The Broncos later issued a statement noting, “Walsh met with club management today regarding this matter and expressed regret for his lapse in judgement”.

Pearce condemned the Broncos’ response and asserted that the NRL must amplify its efforts to highlight the dangers of head injuries, criticising the league for its lack of action.

Wide World of Sports reached out to both the Broncos and the NRL for comments last Thursday, but neither provided a reply.

Pearce elaborated on the severe consequences of repeated head trauma.

“We know having three or more concussions significantly increases the risk of cognitive impairment, affecting decision-making and short-term memory,” he explained.

“There is evidence suggesting behavioural changes too, such as increased aggression, irritability, and a greater propensity to lose one’s temper than usual.”

“We also observe some movement disorders, including issues with fine motor control and slower reaction times.”

“There’s a potential increased risk of dementia associated with this,” he warned.

“One of the often overlooked victims in these cases are the player’s partners and families, who must shoulder the burden of caring for the player,” Pearce added.

“Frequently, players are asked if they would choose to endure this again, and many say, ‘Absolutely’, but when you talk to their partners or wives, it’s a stark ‘No, I wouldn’t put myself through this again’,” Pearce explained.

“They’re the ones left to pick up the pieces every single day.”