Think I'll watch the part of yesterday's trial with our full squad again.
2023 NRL General Discussion
- Thread starter Mr Ryan
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Sparkles
Jaws
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Seinfeld doesn't strike me as a guy I'm taking that sort of advice from
Six Again
Grey Nurse
Proud Shark
Jaws
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The NRL is preparing to make one of its most significant decisions to date in combating the concussion crisis as it weighs up whether to introduce an automatic stand-down rule for players who have suffered a brain injury.
On the eve of the new season, the NRL’s medical advisory panel is in the final stages of a process to decide whether to follow other sports such as AFL in enforcing mandatory rest periods for players diagnosed with concussion.
A decision is expected to be made before the opening round in a fortnight.
While players and medical officials have debated limits on contact training, the NRL has quietly taken advice from medical professionals over summer about whether players should be rested for a minimum of one match after suffering a concussion.
The AFL introduced a 12-day rest period - which means players automatically miss at least one match - for a brain injury in 2021.
The NRL’s guidelines allow for an 11-day rest period following concussion but fall short of automatically ruling a player out of the next game. The protocol has a clause which allows clubs to have players cleared by an independent concussion expert to return to the field of play within a week, theoretically meaning they can play the next round after a head knock.
Panthers forward Spencer Leniu was part of Penrith’s grand final-winning team last year despite being concussed after a high shot from South Sydney’s Taane Milne in the preliminary final.
Leniu admitted to “not remembering much of the night”, but passed through the relevant concussion protocols and was cleared by an independent medic for the decider against the Eels. It was the first time he had been diagnosed with concussion in his NRL career.
If the NRL is to introduce a mandatory stand-down, it will be the biggest shake-up to concussion protocols in the game’s recent history.
The governing body last year introduced an independent doctor to help identify on-field concussions. The medico sits in the NRL’s remote inner-Sydney bunker and can access various camera angles before relaying information to on-ground officials, who can order a player to come from the field for testing.
Several NRL stars have had extended time on the sidelines as they battled lingering concussion symptoms in the last year, including the Roosters’ star Luke Keary and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga.
Wests Tigers star Alex Twal played his first game since June last year in the trial game against the Raiders at Belmore on Sunday afternoon. Twal suffered two concussions in three games and sat out the rest of the season.
Asked about the potential for a mandatory rest period, Twal said: “At the end of the day they’re professionals and whatever they think is right, we’re happy to abide by it. The club had my best interests at heart and I’m looking forward to the season ahead now.”
Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii will need to pass concussion testing to be fit for the tricolours’ season opener against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium after being helped from the field after trying to make a tackle in the pre-season challenge loss against Manly.
On the eve of the new season, the NRL’s medical advisory panel is in the final stages of a process to decide whether to follow other sports such as AFL in enforcing mandatory rest periods for players diagnosed with concussion.
A decision is expected to be made before the opening round in a fortnight.
While players and medical officials have debated limits on contact training, the NRL has quietly taken advice from medical professionals over summer about whether players should be rested for a minimum of one match after suffering a concussion.
The AFL introduced a 12-day rest period - which means players automatically miss at least one match - for a brain injury in 2021.
The NRL’s guidelines allow for an 11-day rest period following concussion but fall short of automatically ruling a player out of the next game. The protocol has a clause which allows clubs to have players cleared by an independent concussion expert to return to the field of play within a week, theoretically meaning they can play the next round after a head knock.
Panthers forward Spencer Leniu was part of Penrith’s grand final-winning team last year despite being concussed after a high shot from South Sydney’s Taane Milne in the preliminary final.
Leniu admitted to “not remembering much of the night”, but passed through the relevant concussion protocols and was cleared by an independent medic for the decider against the Eels. It was the first time he had been diagnosed with concussion in his NRL career.
If the NRL is to introduce a mandatory stand-down, it will be the biggest shake-up to concussion protocols in the game’s recent history.
The governing body last year introduced an independent doctor to help identify on-field concussions. The medico sits in the NRL’s remote inner-Sydney bunker and can access various camera angles before relaying information to on-ground officials, who can order a player to come from the field for testing.
Several NRL stars have had extended time on the sidelines as they battled lingering concussion symptoms in the last year, including the Roosters’ star Luke Keary and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga.
Wests Tigers star Alex Twal played his first game since June last year in the trial game against the Raiders at Belmore on Sunday afternoon. Twal suffered two concussions in three games and sat out the rest of the season.
Asked about the potential for a mandatory rest period, Twal said: “At the end of the day they’re professionals and whatever they think is right, we’re happy to abide by it. The club had my best interests at heart and I’m looking forward to the season ahead now.”
Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii will need to pass concussion testing to be fit for the tricolours’ season opener against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium after being helped from the field after trying to make a tackle in the pre-season challenge loss against Manly.
I guess for player safety you sort of have to accept it but as long as they do it properly. Dale missed a game and a half last season despite never failing a test because the doctor thought he saw him stumble. You shouldn't have to miss a full 12 days due to something like that.
Also how valuable are these concussion experts if they can clear a player after 6 days but that is also wrong and not enough
Also how valuable are these concussion experts if they can clear a player after 6 days but that is also wrong and not enough
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Typical NRL, make the change a week and a half from the start of the season.
Western Sharkie
Jaws
True, but this is player welfare so I guess you just roll with the punches on this one.
If it was more of a “change your game plan to suit the new rules” type of rule, I’d be with you 1,000,000 % HB
Sir Chadley
Jaws
I could not help laughing when Kikau went off with HIA yesterday. First game for a new club!
But this time he failed it so he must have got a bit of a knock this time.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Yeah I had a chuckle as well. He did cop a whack this time though.
I appreciate the narrative shift from
- I don't think we will see both the Sharks and Cowboys maintain their success, Sharks had an easy draw and crashed out of finals last year, so I think they will be the ones to fall
- Well even though the bulldogs have a better team off course they got easily beaten by the Sharks they are one of the best sides in the competition
Sir Chadley
Jaws
Who said this mate?
Western Sharkie
Jaws
Must have been Gordan T ???
Tightywhitey
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Not sure about that take specifically but I heard Michael Chammas say that he thinks Tigers could potentially make the 8 replacing someone like the Sharks…
BurgoShark
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Just to chip in on the concussion conversation. Here is the current return to play guidelines for all players Australia wide (not just NRL players). 24 hours to progress though each stage for adults. 48 hours for anyone under 18.
There is also some research out of Canada that females are more susceptible to concussion than males, though more studies are required in that one before they go slapping extra restrictions on female players.
There is also some research out of Canada that females are more susceptible to concussion than males, though more studies are required in that one before they go slapping extra restrictions on female players.
Just vibe of (some) opposition fans
Coming out of last season there were a lot predicting us to fall, only successful on the back of a soft draw
For example...
If you asked him about the Dogs now he'd probably say something like "lost to a very strong Sharks side"
Capital_Shark
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hahaha he can serve his 2wks next year then
Capital_Shark
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Chammas has been the Tigers fluffer this off season hasn't he? Gets some attention & column filler he'll jump right in.
