Boyd Cordner concussion report: NSWRL delivers medical report into Origin incident
It was the incident that divided the game - Boyd Cordner returning to the field after suffering a head knock in Origin I. NSWRL has handed down its findings.
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We would never put Boyd at risk.
A NSWRL medical report will reveal Blues doctor Nathan Gibbs used a combination of strict NRL concussion protocols - along with his experienced medical judgment - before allowing Boyd Cordner back onto the field during State of Origin I in Adelaide.
Gibbs said in the report he had dealt with more than 1000 sideline concussion cases in 35 years of treating NRL, AFL and rugby union players. He insisted Cordner showed no category one or category two signs of concern that could have led to him being withdrawn from the game.
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“There are 11 category one symptoms and seven in category two,” said NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden, “Nathan said in the report he found no signs that he shouldn’t be allowed back on the field.
“Nathan has been our Origin doctor for 19 years and has spent 35 years on the sidelines treating players. His estimation is that he’s done more than 1000 concussion incidents.”
The NSWRL will staunchly deny placing Cordner at any medical risk by clearing him to return to the field.
After Cordner passed all concussion rules in the NRL’s operations manual, Gibbs then used his own medical acumen before approving Cordner’s return to play.
The NRL requested the report even though Gibbs’ decision on Cordner was based largely on NRL protocol laws. The report will also address Gibbs’ compliance with the protocols.
“We rely, as we should, on the judgment of our experienced medical staff we employ,” Trodden said. “It’s not a judgment that non-medical people really have a capacity to make from 500 yards away.”
The NSWRL was due to lodge its report into the Cordner concussion case at 5pm on Monday. The report’s findings will be discussed by senior NRL management on Tuesday, just a day before Origin II in Sydney.
NRL officials asked for the report to explain why Cordner was permitted back onto the field after being concussed for a fifth time this season. Cordner, 28, the NSW and Sydney Roosters captain, has since ruled himself out of the remaining two Origin games this series.
Gibbs has been the medical doctor at several NRL clubs, NSW, Kangaroos, Wallabies and Sydney Swans. He is currently working with Manly and is a published author in concussion.
He is a former South Sydney and Parramatta forward.
“Our team doctor is one of the most experienced doctors – not just in rugby league – but in Australian professional sport,” Trodden said.
“He is extremely experienced in concussion issues and also in applying the NRL protocols. I have every confidence in his ability to properly manage the protocols and the decisions he makes.
“As far as I’m concerned, the NRL has an obligation as the governing body of the game to make sure player welfare issues are dealt with appropriately. The NRL has every right to ask the question they have asked.
“We don’t have any difficulty with them asking the question, nor do we have any difficulty in providing the appropriate explanation. I think the NRL is taking a perfectly proper course in asking for details of the processes that were applied.
“In some respects, if they didn’t ask the question, then they wouldn’t be doing their job as a governing body.”
ORIGIN NEWS
The NRL is expected to respond to the report later this week. Given all games are under conducted under NRL rules, the NSWRL must comply with the same operational requirements as the NRL.
NRL concussion rules state: “The most important element in the management of concussion must always be the welfare of the player - in both the short and long term. All players with concussion, or suspected of having a concussion, should seek urgent medical assessment.
“Concussion is considered a medical condition and therefore needs to be assessed and managed by an appropriately qualified doctor.
“In the period following a concussion, a player should not be allowed to return to play or train until they have had a formal medical clearance using the NRL Head Injury Recognition and Referral form by a doctor.”
Cordner concussions could cost Roosters big on cap
- Paul Crawley
Boyd Cordner’s latest concussion could potentially cost the Sydney Roosters as much as $400,000 of their salary cap next season.
But amid growing concern that Cordner could miss the entire 2021 NRL season as he recovers from a series of worrying head knocks, his manager was adamant no decision had been made on the star’s future at this point.
“I don’t think any decisions like that would be made in the short term,” David Riolo said on Monday.
“That would be really foolish.”
It comes after Blues captain Cordner ruled himself out of the rest of this year’s State of Origin series following his setback in last week’s opening clash in Adelaide.
While Cordner’s health is the top priority for everyone involved, it would still be an enormous blow to the Roosters from a salary cap perspective if the back-rower was to sit out an entire season.
Even though Cordner’s latest head injury occurred while he was on NSW duties, under the NRL’s policy relating to injuries sustained in rep matches the Roosters could apply for salary cap relief, but that figure would be capped at $350,000.
It doesn’t matter that Cordner is reportedly on a $750,000-a-season contract.
The policy was introduced after Canberra’s Josh Hodgson injured his knee while playing for England at the 2017 World Cup.
As has been the case with other injured players since, Cordner would have to sit out a minimum of 12 rounds for the Roosters to get that full entitlement.
But regardless of how long Cordner stays sidelined, the salary cap relief would stay fixed at $350,000 for the duration of 2021.
Cordner has three years remaining on his multimillion-dollar contract.
The only way Cordner’s full salary would be excluded from the Roosters’ cap would be if Cordner sought a medical retirement.
Understandably, there is huge concern across the game for Cordner’s short and long term welfare.
“I think everyone just needs to take a breath and not speculate and not try and force him (to make a decision),” Riolo added.
“There is no hurry to make any decisions on anything right at this second.
“What Boyd needs is a bit of space.
“Obviously he will be guided in the future by the best medical advice there is.
“Anyone agitating and pushing for long term decisions in the short term are kidding themselves.
“I think everyone just needs to leave him along and drop off to be honest.”
Riolo said Cordner was doing “alright” since leaving NSW camp on Friday.
“He just has to take a bit of stock and what will be will be,” Riolo said.
“But you don’t make those decisions on a whim.”
It comes in the wake of Roosters chairman Nick Politis opening up to The Saturday Telegraph about his personal concern for Cordner’s ongoing welfare.
Politis initially revealed that the tough NSW captain may need to take a complete break from rugby league for “longer than a month or two”.
The NRL is also investigating the decision to allow Cordner to return to the field after he passed his HIA test in Adelaide.
There has been a huge debate about whether Cordner should have been sent back out despite him passing his HIA.
Politis wouldn’t buy into the medical debate.
But he spoke from the heart about the conversation he had with Cordner last week.
“I rang him and said, ‘just be careful’,” Politis said of his phone call last Thursday.
“I said ‘take care, we love you’.”
Asked if he was concerned about the Australian, NSW and Roosters captain’s ongoing health, Politis was up front: “Well, we are.
“That is why when Robbo gets back (from a family holiday) we will see what happens.
“He might have to take a bit of a break, longer than a month or two. I don’t know.”
Originally published as Boyd Cordner concussion report: NSWRL delivers medical report into Origin incident