Sydney playmaker Luke Keary has opened up on his concussion issues after recently returning for the Roosters at NRL level.
Keary last suffered a head knock in Round 14 against the Storm, his most recent after suffering four in the space of 14 months in 2018 and ’19 with the last in that period forcing him to take an extended break from rugby league.
While he has a long history of concussions, Keary says he feels he’s nearing his best as he trusts the medical experts who have assured him that continuing playing isn’t dangerous.
“It’s not ideal,” Keary said on SEN 1170 Afternoons.
“I’ve had a couple now over the last few years.
“I won’t go into too much detail, there’s been a few different things, but I had a little knock on the back of the head and had some neck issues going on which caused some concussion issues.
“The doctors I’ve seen in the last few years, I trust them a lot, I know they won’t ever put me in dangerous situations or anything like that.
“I had a couple of weeks off to get everything right, I’m excited to be back and there’s been a really good feeling around the team.”
Since returning in Round 19, Keary, alongside halfback Sam Walker have led the Roosters to three consecutive wins including a dominant 34-16 victory over the Broncos on Thursday night.
As well as the play of the star halves, Keary heaped praise on newly signed prop Matt Lodge who has impressed the Bondi club after arriving from the Warriors mid-season.
“He’s been great mate,” Keary said.
“A lot of people have different opinions of him.
“I didn’t know ‘Lodgey’ before he came and didn’t really know what to expect, to be honest, but he’s been awesome.
“He’s been really respectful to everyone, he’s fit in really well around the joint, he’s training hard and I didn’t realise but his football IQ is very, very high.
“He knows the game on a deep level, he’s improved our team, he’s helped our middle.
“Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves) has taken him under his wing a bit and I think they set the game up for us last night.”
The Roosters sit in seventh position with five games remaining ahead of finals.
They next face the Cowboys next Saturday night at the SCG.