Concussion Laws

[gordjw]

Jarryd Hayne has been faking getting knocked out cold for years. The rule should be if you go down like that you get a free interchange but don't get to return.

Exactly. The NRL's got it backwards.

Currently, go off and:
- no concussion, come back for free
- actually concussed, costs an interchange and cannot return

The interchange cost should be the other way around, so that there won't be anyone faking it to get a short break. And anyone who's actually concussed (or very committed to the act) doesn't get the team penalised an interchange, but can't come back, which is a greater penalty.

 

[Ari Gold]

Not related to the laws as such but Ian Roberts has said he's suffered brain damage as a result of playing. Will be interesting to see where this goes as it's likely to only becoming more of an issue in all contact sports as more is known.

Ian Roberts says he has brain damage

 

[Super Freak]

Concussion guidelines explained - NRL.com

 

[Mr Fourex]

NRL legend Mark Geyer set to have a brain examination and wants to other players who suffered concussion to be tested for potential trauma | News.com.au

NRL legend Mark Geyer set to have a brain examination and wants to other players who suffered concussion to be tested for potential trauma

Former rugby league player Mark Geyer pictured at park in Penrith. Source: News Limited

LEAGUE legend Mark Geyer is booked in for a brain examination in Melbourne this week and wants to encourage ex-NRL players who suffered concussion to be tested for potential head trauma.

The NRL has this week confronted one of the most serious issues in professional sport after ex-Australian forward Ian Roberts detailed his fears of brain damage on Channel Seven last Sunday.
Roberts, one of the toughest players of his generation, claims concussions suffered during his 194-NRL match career have left him suffering black outs and memory lapses.
The serious health-issue comes at the same time as a class action from ex-NFL players in the US has led to a lawsuit claiming damages in excess of $760 million.
Geyer, who famously stood toe-to-toe with Queensland captain Wally Lewis in State of Origin, wants to use his profile as a member of Triple M’s Grill Team to raise awareness about concussion.
While he does not believe has suffered any negative health affects from his multiple concussions, he still believes he should could get checked out.
“It’s one of those things where what was once a badge of honour to go back on the field after a concussion and gloat about it at the club afterwards, it’s now become a case of the total opposite,” Geyer said.
“It can affect people’s lives. We used to laugh at boxers who would take six months off after getting knocked out. It’s a bit like cigarettes. It took us a while for the penny to drop on how bad smoking was for you.

I don’t want money or compensation or anything like that, I just want to help raise awareness if I can. There’s nothing worse than seeing someone who looks like they’re punch drunk. Mark Geyer ​ ​

Mark Geyer set to have a brain examination

Shouldn't take too long .......

 

[Super Freak]

Mark Geyer's brain was fucked before he even started playing footy..

 

[Morkel]

I love Webcke's take on the issue:

"... Retired Broncos front-rower Shane Webcke said he had no plans to get tested.
“I’m not getting scans, I’m not concerned one iota,” he said.
“Our game has been around 100 years, how many victims do we really have with brain damage?
“There is some risk, it is a difficult contact sport but there is risk in so many undertakings in life. You weigh up whether it’s something you want to do and in my case, if I could have another career, I wouldn’t blink playing NRL again.
“The league is already taking seriously the issue of head knocks, nothing against the code but we aren’t rocket scientists in the first place.’’

NRL top doctor Sam Sorrenti says no proof rugby league caused Ian Roberts? brain damage | News.com.au

 

[Dexter]

What about the other side of the coin where a team can put on a decent head shot and concuss a player who doesn't return because of the concussion rule. If you take someone out of a semi or GF, when the refs won't send you unless it's blatant and malicious, with an illegal tackle and that player can't return how is that fair.

 

[Big Pete]

How much longer do you think it will be until the players start playing with really padded head gear?

It was laughed at when Hasler suggested it last year, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen down the track.

 

[Super Freak]

Bulldogs fined $20,000 for breach of the rules. However, $10,000 is suspended due to it being the first breach.

Update on concussion rules - NRL.com

 

[ivanhungryjak]

After just watching Paul Kent on NRL on Fox, I'm not game to go over to The Kennel ...
Bulldogs caught out badly lying to try and save face.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

What about the other side of the coin where a team can put on a decent head shot and concuss a player who doesn't return because of the concussion rule. If you take someone out of a semi or GF, when the refs won't send you unless it's blatant and malicious, with an illegal tackle and that player can't return how is that fair.

This is my big concern. What will stop someone like Bird or Gallen hitting Thurston and knocking him out in the 1st minute of the origin, happy to give away a penalty if it means thurston is done for the game.

 

[Dexter]

Yep, it will happen at some point. A big boppa will run straight at a defending playmaker and legally shoulder charge knocking him senseless. Playmaker gets taken off assessed as concussed and 1 team plays with 16.

Hiding defending playmakers will become more important than ever.

 

[Porthoz]

Can somebody concuss this arsehole please!

MANLY coach Geoff Toovey has launched a scathing attack on the NRL’s tough concussion guidelines following tonight’s 12-4 loss to St George Illawarra.Toovey clearly wasn’t happy with the decision to haul star halfback Daly Cherry-Evans from the field late in the game, after the Manly doctor feared he may have sustained a concussion following a slight knock.
Toovey said the NRL’s edict that players suspected of concussion must automatically be taken off the field is ridiculous, asserting that it places immense pressure on club medicos to take players from the field, even when it may not be necessary.
“I’m sorry, the whole thing’s ridiculous,” Toovey said.

“We have doctors now panicking on the sideline because they don’t want to get in trouble.
“He (Cherry-Evans) copped a knock and because of the protocols that have come out in the past couple of weeks, there’s intense pressure on them (the doctors).
“The (Manly) doctor thought he may have been concussed, so he told the trainer to get him off.
“They knew that the chief medical officer from the NRL (Paul Bloomfield) was on the sideline, and they were all panicking.

“They don’t want to get the club sued and they don’t want to be liable for anything. It’s crazy.”
Toovey said he doesn’t have a solution to the problem, but has implored the NRL to come up with a viable alternative.
“It has to be sorted out one way or another because to me it’s just people worrying about getting sued, and that’s what’s going to happen,” he said.
“It’s not up to me to have a solution, the game as a whole needs to come up with a solution.”

From: TOOVEY FUMES OVER CONSUSSION DEBATE | Rugby League Week

 

[Morkel]

Safety first Tooves. It's (supposed to be anyway) the same for every club, let's just hope the NRL sends some fines the way of those who seem to be skirting with it.

His argument that unless the player is definitely concussed, they should be allowed to stay on the field is totally at odds with good medical practice, and it opens the door to potential litigation which is what this whole concussion thing is about anyway.

Would Toovey feel the same way if the NRL said "Tooves, your call, but if that player develops symptoms later in life that could be attributed to concussion, any legal action they take will be against you and you alone"? Then of course the bitch will be "the NRL should be protecting us from legal action, we're just coaches, we don't know medical stuff". It's always someone else's responsibility...

 

[Porthoz]

Toovey is exactly the type of person that players need to be protected from!

What a fucking cockhead! :mad2:

 

[gordjw]

Well the NRL conveniently ignored the concussion rule for Souths in the GF. Twice. Once for Burgess and once for the other guy who had a head clash with James Graham.

 

[Kimlo]

Toovey is exactly the type of person that players need to be protected from!

What a fucking cockhead! :mad2:

Really what this proves is that a lot of coaches are going to pressure club doctors to keep their stars on the field.

There needs to be an independent doctor to make these calls.

 

[Foordy]

He is even quoted as saying the doctor thought he may be concused FFS.

But i suppose without being allowed to complain about referees after a loss he needed to find something else to complain whinge about