BY CURTIS WOODWARD

On the same day that news breaks that retired Newcastle Knights winger James McManus is set to sue his former club over concussion concerns – Kyle Turner has praised the NRL for their efforts in fighting the biggest concern for current players.

McManus was forced to retire from the game in 2016 with his last game in round 20 of 2015 due to a string of concussions and is currently employed by the Knights.

Knights chairman Brian McGuigan respected McManus’ decision but said the club would defend themselves.

“We would never contemplate forcing anyone to go back onto the field,” McGuigan told Fairfax.

I really hope Knights fans don't turn on James McManus! We don't know the problems he now faces as a result of his concussions!

— Dylan Jai (@Dylan_Jai) February 25, 2017

. James #McManus suing @NRLKnights reportedly for previous concussions. In court Mar 17 @1233newcastle pic.twitter.com/ZVl2qdYLlA

— Giselle Wakatama (@GiselleWak) February 25, 2017

“We are doing everything in step with what we should do in a legal sense to make sure we protect the club and the NRL against such action because we believe we have no case to answer.”

Speaking to Fairfax, McManus said he knew of other retired players battling the same issues.

“I’d like to think with the information that is available and things like this [claim], the right action will be taken in the future and it will protect players against things like brain damage.”

Meanwhile current Rabbitohs forward Turner, who has had several concussions, says the NRL’s strict laws saved his career.

In his first game back from a neck injury, Turner was heavily concussion by Penrith Panthers prop Jeremy Latimore and didn’t return to the field.

“You are only going to play football for a small part of your life and you’ve got to weigh up the serious issues,” Turner told The Sunday Telegraph.

“But in the last couple of years especially, the NRL have really taken leaps and bounds ahead of where they were with concussion.

“You can never be too careful with head injuries, because it can affect you in years to come.

“The safer we are the better we’ll be, so I think the NRL are doing a great job.”

McManus’ case against the Knights will be watched with eagle eyes by everyone in rugby league and every other code in Australia because the ramifications could change the sporting landscape forever.

@woodward_curtis