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Sam Burgess’ performance in the grand final was herculean, and nothing but admiration can be expressed for his courage and skill.
But in this age of liability, one wonders how much longer such brazen feats of determination will be tolerated.
The struggles of Greg Williams and Ian Roberts remind us of how vulnerable these young men are.
In the USA, a group of former players successfully sued the NFL for negligence towards treating head-related injuries.
The health community has clearly made us more aware of the dangers of contact sport and has sought greater accountability for the prevention and treatment of injures.
Burgess would clearly have left the field in a regular-season fixture. However this was the grand final and he was of vital importance to his team.
Burgess obviously gave his consent to continue, he is incredibly tough and didn’t want to let his teammates down. The team doctor gave his consent for Burgers to carry on, which we should trust given it’s a professional judgment by an expert.
But what penalties could the NRL have faced if Burgess had aggravated the injury seriously? What pressures were involved to keep him on the field given his status in the game?
To avoid the suspicion of negligence is it time for neutral doctors at each NRL game?
The doctors would be appointed independently by health authorities for the benefit of the NRL and have the power to withdraw players if they deem it necessary.
The NRL wants stars on the field. The team doctor wants his side to win, as does the player, but at what cost?
The last thing the game needs is an NFL scenario, and as honourable as Burgess was it’s actions like his that earn the ire of the health community.
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