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The league needs to take a long, hard look at its new concussion rules. They were designed with the very best intentions but they are not practical.
In the last two weeks, three clubs that I can think of lost players after suffering head knocks in games.
I refer to Greg Inglis (Souths), Glenn Stewart (Manly) and James Tedesco (Wests Tigers), all of whom left the field and did not return after assessments were made by medical staff.
I don’t feel it is fair that teams have to play a man down on the bench because of this new (though very sensible) edict. I would like to see clubs allowed an 18th man, an extra reserve, who can be called on when the concussion rules come into play.
Look at the case of Manly’s Stewart.
He was knocked out by a shoulder charge-style tackle by the Roosters’ Jared Waera-Hargreaves early in Friday night’s game. Waera-Hargreaves was placed on report and stayed on the field, yet Stewart could not return for the rest of the game, leaving the Sea Eagles’ player reserve way down.
That was an unfair advantage in an extremely tight contest and common sense should prevail by allowing for an extra man.
Of course if such a rule (18th man for head injuries) was introduced, some clubs might try to exploit or rort the system and rule out a player in order to bring their fresh man into action.
To counter that, I’d suggest that the 18th man could only be used in the second half if a teammate copped a heavy knock and could not continue.
This concussion issue is extremely important in our game and I would also like to see independent doctors on duty at grounds. Club doctors are great, in the main they do an exceptional job, but I can see where they could get a bit too close to the players and allow them to continue playing believing they will come good with a few more minutes.
The NRL’s spotlight on head knocks is to be applauded but some of the game’s new rules are leaving me cold.
Having time off in the last five minutes in games is pretty much pointless. No one benefits from this rule and I’d like to see it on the scrap heap.
And what about the quick taps from penalties? We’ve seen just a handful allowed in four completed rounds. There seems to be mass uncertainty from the players and officials when taps are taken.
I don’t buy that there are teething problems. There look to be too many grey areas, too many interpretations.
Two other comments before I close off this week’s column. I was astounded when James Roberts was allowed to join the Gold Coast Titans after getting cut at both Souths and Penrith.
It is clear this young man has some major problems with discipline but will he learn anything by being allowed to join a third NRL club in just a few years? I am not so sure.
And finally, last night’s tragic news on Alex McKinnon has hit rugby league folk incredibly hard.
I can only hope this immensely popular and talented young Newcastle forward responds to the many thousands of good wishes and prayers coming his way from the rugby league community.
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