Bennett calls for action on 'lethal' knees

[Super Freak]

WAYNE Bennett says the NRL needs to stamp out the increasing number of players kneeing rivals while they are on the ground.

The Broncos coach said the knee was a “lethal” part of an NRL player’s body and players were getting away with using it in games.

He said the league should look at a rule to put ownership on the player to avoid kneeing players on the ground, similar to their crackdown on tackling kickers who are in the air.

“It is a pretty lethal part of your body, your knee, and if it’s used in the wrong manner then it can have a huge impact,” Bennett said.

“They are getting away with it, they are not getting charged.”

Alex Glenn copped a nasty knee to his hip from Knights’ centre Sione Mata’utia during Brisbane’s demolition of Newcastle on Saturday night, leaving the field after 15 minutes with a hip flexor injury.

Two weeks earlier, James Roberts’ hip was smashed by a stray Titans knee while he was on the ground.

While both incidents could not be described as deliberate, the players did dive in knees first.

“Alex copped a pretty bad knee. That’s about the third one that’s happened to us this year,” Bennett said.

“I think the game will have to start looking at some of that stuff. I’m not saying it was deliberate, but I am saying it could have been avoided.

“Some liability needs to be put on the guy coming in to make sure he doesn’t do that ... we’ve done it with players putting unnecessary pressure on kickers.”

Knights coach Nathan Brown was also frustrated after Saturday night’s game, saying the concussion rule was being exploited by cynical teams.

Newcastle lost three players to concussion during their heavy loss at Suncorp Stadium. He said it was time clubs had 18th and 19th men available to replace concussed players.

“There’s a mockery being made of it at the minute,” Brown said.

“We are one club who is following it to the letter and for that, all we are getting is punished because there are people out there who are bending it. You watch some players who come back on, or stay on and are shielded.

“The NRL has to address this ... we go to the letter by ruling people out but we are getting punished, forced to leave young kids out on the field and it’s unfair for their development.”

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/f4d4c2a3681a816dcaba3284ba5ff1fd

 

[Foordy]

I agree with both coaches there...

Bennett is right a Knee (intentional or not) can do alot of damage. it should be a similar offence to a player sliding in feet first to stop a try.

and Brown is right. with the concussion laws a club should be able to name at least 1 extra player that can only come into the game in the event a player is ruled out for concussion

 

[Astro]

I agree with both coaches there...

Bennett is right a Knee (intentional or not) can do alot of damage. it should be a similar offence to a player sliding in feet first to stop a try.

and Brown is right. with the concussion laws a club should be able to name at least 1 extra player that can only come into the game in the event a player is ruled out for concussion

The only problem with the concussion rule is clubs using it to just get a fresh player on the field. You have one forward play his 60 mins then fake a headknock and boom you get a fresh one for the last 40.

I think it is something thats needed though teams are left short when they legitimately cant play on and its not fair. The other team may get a guy put on report but they are the one with the advantage.

Perhaps if the clubs needs to sit him out for the rest of the game he also misses thr next one? That would surely stop the fakes?

 

[Morkel]

The only problem with the concussion rule is clubs using it to just get a fresh player on the field. You have one forward play his 60 mins then fake a headknock and boom you get a fresh one for the last 40.

I think it is something thats needed though teams are left short when they legitimately cant play on and its not fair. The other team may get a guy put on report but they are the one with the advantage.

Perhaps if the clubs needs to sit him out for the rest of the game he also misses thr next one? That would surely stop the fakes?

I like that idea. I too have noticed the amount of players coming off for concussion tests. However it won't stop them faking a head knock, sitting on the sidelines for the 5-10 minute window (whatever it is) being "assessed", then coming back on, all with no interchanges being used.

 

[Mitch06]

Possibly only allowing an 18th man to come in when two players are ruled out of a game with concussion?

 

[Tunza's Chin]

Perhaps the 18th man has to be a 20's player who has played a half game beforehand, or something along those lines? Not as much of an advantage as getting a fresh forward or a super-sub style player so provides less incentives for the fakes but better then being a man or two down on your bench.

As for Bennett's comments re knees could be him trying to get the media to write stories about that rather than the focus being talking about the Broncos/how good we are going at the moment. It is not unlike him to influence the media/manage expectations... We don't want the boys thinking about September already

 

[Nashy]

Like Bennett said. He put four fowards on the bench, and it fucked them. Can't blame the rules for the coach being shit.

 

[tommy]

Perhaps the 18th man has to be a 20's player who has played a half game beforehand, or something along those lines? Not as much of an advantage as getting a fresh forward or a super-sub style player so provides less incentives for the fakes but better then being a man or two down on your bench.

As for Bennett's comments re knees could be him trying to get the media to write stories about that rather than the focus being talking about the Broncos/how good we are going at the moment. It is not unlike him to influence the media/manage expectations... We don't want the boys thinking about September already

I agree with this because if you go a few weeks without the concussion rule taking place then you have a bloke who has had no game time for those few weeks and it is unfair on him. Another option would be to always rotate who the 18th man is.