NRL 2020: Newcastle Knights and Maroons player Tim Glasby faces early retirement
A Queensland Origin representative is facing the heartbreaking decision of an early retirement as he battles to overcome ongoing health issues after a recent incident in Townsville.
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The football career of Queensland Maroons and Newcastle Knights forward Tim Glasby could be forced to a premature end with the prop struggling to overcome a bout of recent concussions.
News Sport can reveal there are serious concerns for Glasby’s playing future and more importantly his health, with the 31-year-old father of two suffering ongoing concussion symptoms from repeated head knocks – his latest three weeks ago against the Cowboys on June 27.
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Glasby has not played since the Round 7 clash in Townsville.
Newcastle have made the NRL aware of Glasby‘s situation with both parties preparing for the distinct possibility he may be forced to medically retire, ending his 138-game career prematurely.
Glasby has undergone a series of neurological tests in the past few weeks as a result of the amount of head knocks he had suffered.
He has visited the Sports Concussion Clinic at the University of Newcastle, working with leading neurologist Chris Levi, while Knights officials met with Glasby on Friday to discuss his next step forward.
Glasby failed his HIA in the first half against the Cowboys and did not return. It was his second concussion since the competition resumed. Glasby was stood-down for a game last year after suffering two head knocks in three weeks.
Glasby, who has played five State of Origin games for the Maroons, is off-contract at the end of next year.
He and Sione Mata’utia missed Saturday’s match for the Knights against South Sydney.
Mata’utia is also being rested after a recent concussion. Mata’utia has also had an extensive history of head knocks but there is not an expectation that he will have a long-term stint on the sidelines.
The back-rower has missed the past two matches after being concussed out against the Sea Eagles in round eight.
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Knights coach Adam O’Brien said on Friday the club were taking an extra cautious approach.
“With Tim and Sione, the HIA is not something I want to play around with,” O’Brien said.
The NRL have adopted stringent concussion protocols in recent years. It comes after a host of players considered their legal position.
Former Newcastle representative winger James McManus is in the midst of legal action against his club for their handling of head knocks during his career.
Former Cronulla back-rower Reece Williams dropped his lawsuit against an ex-Sharks doctor after Williams’ premature retirement because of head knocks at 25.
Former Gold Coast Giants, South Queensland Crushers and Parramatta Eels player Brett Horsnell also dropped his action in May.
North Queensland’s Te Maire Martin was forced to retire at just 24 earlier this year after he was not given medical clearance to return.
Martin had been sidelined since suffering a bleed on the brain in April last year.
TIM GLASBY’S KNOCKS
■ August 31, 2018 - Round 25: Playing for Storm v Penrith. Ruled out by half-time due to concussion
■ August 12, 2019 - Round 21: Knights v Eels. Stood down for one week suffering two knocks in three weeks
■ May 31, 2020 - Round 3: Knights v Penrith returns from HIA to play 60-minutes
■ June 27, 2020 - Round 7: Knights v Cowboys lasts just 21-minutes after failing HIA
■ June 28-July 19, 2020 - Unavailable for selection
Originally published as NRL 2020: Newcastle Knights and Maroons player Tim Glasby faces early retirement