Retired NRL star Luke Keary says the game’s concussion protocols have come a long way since the start of his playing career.
However the 33-year-old, who suffered several serious head knocks during his NRL career, believes there’s still work to be done to ensure players are adequately protected—often from themselves.
Speaking on SEN radio, the former Rabbitohs and Roosters playmaker revealed some players have figured out how to pass the current concussion tests even when they’re suffering from symptoms.
“We’ve come a long way,” Keary said.
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“But I think we’re nearly at the point where we need to change (the protocols) because I know as a player, the testing’s the same every year… you’ve basically done it so many times, you know what you’re in for, you can kind of get through it,” he added.
“I know players that can do it when they’re in a bad way.”
Recalling his own experiences with concussions during his playing career, Keary explained he’s spoken to a lot of doctors and specialists and the answers are far from back and white.
“It’s very hard to test for it (concussion), a lot of it’s subjective, a lot of the symptoms are different in different people,” he said.
“I do think we need to move the needle on testing in-game to make it a little bit tougher and more stringent.”
While Keary explained his own concussion history wasn’t the main reason behind his move to the Super League in 2025, he admitted it’s certainly something that has weighed on his mind over the years.
“I went through a really bad run (with head knocks) in 2019,” Keary said.
“There’s a lot of things you have to weigh up, there’s financial, there’s love of the game, there’s your long-term health, your family—is the risk worth the reward? Am I putting myself in danger?
“It is a very difficult topic and we’re starting to see more and more players retire from it now.”