The concussion rule, or the head bin, whatever we want to call it, causes a lot of controversy.
The NRL are in a difficult position, they want our game to remain gladiatorial, but they have to look after players’ welfare.
They also have a duty of care, as with any organisation, and of course, they have to cover themselves against future legal action by players who have suffered brain damage of some sort.
At the moment it is a bit of an each-way bet. If players have the wobbly boots on then the trainer waves them off the field, and the player is replaced. They have fifteen minutes to be tested for their cognitive response and can come back on the field if deemed to have passed.
A cynic would suggest that the better the player, the more likely they will pass the test.
If the trainer doesn’t take a player off, or if the doctor lets an obviously concussed player back on, then the NRL will ‘crack down’ with a fine. The fines so far have been intermittent over the past season and into 2015. The fines are hardly a deterrent for a club, as it is little more than when a coach is fined for bagging a referee.
It is hard for the fans. If your team loses a key player, it is like the world ending during the 80 minutes of combat. You want the player back on, regardless of consequences. If you are watching a neutral match, it is much more obvious that player welfare is everything.
A lot of people are now suggesting that a neutral doctor manage the concussion tests at each game. This is so obvious, that it is embarrassing not to have already commenced. I am not sure of the cost involved, but remember the future cost to the NRL in litigation, and the cost to the player’s health after football. It is a no-brainer (pardon the pun).
So, all of the NRL community would agree that the concussion rule be managed rigidly and without self-interest. What about the match itself? I may have a solution to this, and to the interchange rule in general.
Let’s quickly look at interchanges. We currently have the ten interchange rule with four bench players. Most coaches run three big units, and a dummy half. Others, like Des Hasler, prefer four big units off the bench.
Many fans bemoan the loss of the ‘fatigue factor’ and that the little guy has a continuous stream of fresh big men running at him for 80 minutes. I am one of them. The game needs the clever players that can spot a tired defender towards the end of the game. We are heading our game more and more towards NFL, with specialist defenders or attackers coming on and off.
So, how can we solve these issues? I would like to see a five-man bench, with eight interchanges. The fifth man is to be used purely as a direct concussion replacement. He covers for the concussed player for the time he is off the field. If the concussed player is ruled out, then it is all game and not counted as one of the eight interchanges.
As far as the interchanges go, I strongly believe that a player should only be subbed once. Let’s use an example. Say James Graham, of the Bulldogs, is subbed off for David Klemmer. Graham can come back on, but not be subbed off again. Klemmer can be subbed off as well, but only once.
This eliminates the big guys coming on and off like they are in a square dance. Coaches will need to be a bit craftier about their interchange. A total of only eight interchanges means that fatigue will become a factor if a player has lower aerobic fitness, thus coaches will need to hold someone back for the last ten minutes in case of emergency.
A five-man bench means that all coaches can cover their big men, and a playmaker. If there is no concussion in the match, then they can only use four men off the bench. It is their choice which are the four.
Oh, what if there is more than one concussion? Well, it is a bit like if there is a player that is injured and out of the game. You do your best under adversity, that’s what creates legends.
That’s what I think, tell me what you think, Roarers.
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