Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway has revealed his concern for close friend Liam Fulton after the forward sustained his fourth concussion of the season earlier this month.
Fulton was knocked out against Newcastle in round 12 following a tackle by David Fa’alogo and the club have ordered him to spend time on the sidelines until tests determine if there is a problem.
Last week the back-rower underwent brain scans and the results – which are due within the next few days – could determine whether he is able to continue his career.
Galloway said on Monday he’d urged Fulton to think about life away from the NRL after the latest incident and told him his long-term health outweighs anything that happens on the field.
“Health comes before footy and he’s got a young family and hopefully everything is good and he can play footy again,” Galloway said.
“He’s been here just walking around watching everyone and he’s still making jokes.
“Hopefully he gets the good news tomorrow or whenever the results come out.”
Fulton is renowned as the joker in the pack at the Tigers and earlier this season was spoken to by chief executive Grant Mayer after casually dismissing the long-term affects of dementia following the head injuries he’s sustained.
Galloway believes Fulton is aware of how serious his situation could be but said the 2005 premiership-winning forward doesn’t appear to be too concerned by the prospect of having to potentially end his 11-year career early.
“He’s a joker at the worst of times and if he does know the seriousness of it all he’s not letting it on,” Galloway said.
“He’s got a young daughter and a wife and people to look after so he knows his health has to be good.
“He’s one of my best mates at the club and I spoke to him after his fourth concussion and said ‘mate, just take a rest and see what’s going on’.
“Footy is important but your future is more important than keep getting head knocks.”
Galloway also backed the decision of club officials to stand Fulton down until they get the results of the scans.
“The club is putting his welfare first,” he said.
“If they didn’t then they’d be throwing him out there and not worrying about what he’d be like in the future.
“They’ve been good in that respect.”
Young Tigers star Curtis Sironen, who left the field following a knock to the head in the same game as Fulton at Hunter Stadium, said he understood how difficult it would be if the 29-year-old had to miss more of the season.
“It would be tough because he feels probably the same as he did last year and OK,” Sironen said.
“But the knock he copped against the Knights wasn’t very heavy.
“To be concussed from that is a bit scary. But he’s a veteran and knows his body better than anyone so I am sure he’ll know if there’s a problem.”