Brothers Jordan and Adam Walne have left Barrow Raiders after agreeing a mutually acceptable deal that has enabled their release.
Both are through injury-related issued which have put their 2022 seasons on hold.
Second row forward Jordan, 29, joined the club for the 2019 season from Hull KR and played a leading role during that campaign, proving to be a model of consistency. He got off to another good start in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed the season.
On the return to action in 2021, Jordan suffered a serious concussion in the Challenge Cup defeat to Oldham, and although he made a return later in the season he never really got over the effects.
He sought specialist advice and the conclusion was that there could be no return for the 2022 season and probably beyond.
Jordan started his career at Salford in 2013 and went on to play 58 times for the Red Devils, scoring four tries. He played for a number of clubs on dual registration from Salford, including Workington Town (eight games, three tries) in 2013.
Barrow will continue to help his through his rehabilitation, with the Raidfers’ medical staff available to provide support.
Meanwhile, elder brother Adam, 31, a prop forward joined the Raiders for the 2021 campaign and played a leading role in the club’s successful promotion push.
Similarly, Adam had some issues with an historic injury from his Huddersfield Giants days, which has resulted in some extended time away from the club. Again the prognosis from the specialist wasn’t good in terms of the 2022 season.
He also started at Salford (74 games, three tries) and had two loans spells with Workington (9 games, two tries) and a previous one game loan spell at Barrow in 2014.
He played 12 times for Huddersfield and a further eight on loan with Leigh before linking up with Barrow last year.
On their website Barrow said: “The Raiders would like to thank both brothers for their time at the club, and in particular to their contribution to the League One title-winning season.
“We wish them well in all their future endeavours and hope that in the short term their joint business venture Raw & Outdoor goes from strength to strength.”
Adam Walne said: “It’s not the way I imagined finishing my rugby career. I’m only 31, but with the health issues I’ve had ongoing following a head injury at the Giants, I went back to see the specialists again and I have been told not to continue playing rugby.
“For me to go against that is just a risk I’m not willing to take when there is far more to life than rugby.
“Myself and my younger brother Jordan have both had numerous head injuries throughout our careers that are having lasting effects in different ways, and it just really highlights how widespread the symptoms can be from player to player, and just how complex head injuries can be.
“It’s becoming increasingly apparent that head injuries are a major problem within the game, with the amount of players past and present suffering from issues surrounding head injuries. If I can help the game and future players in any way from my own experiences, I will.
“I would like to thank Barrow and my family for all trying their best to help me manage and overcome this situation, but ultimately that’s not going to be the case.
“It’s best that myself and the club mutually part ways at this stage so everyone can move forward.
“I wish the Barrow Raiders all the very best for the rest of the 2022 campaign, and I would love to see them go on and have the success that Steve Neale envisions for the club.”
