Mothers of NRL’s stars of tomorrow back crackdown on high tackles

The mothers of tomorrow’s rugby league superstars are 100 per cent behind the NRL’s crackdown on high tackles. Here’s why.

The mothers of tomorrow’s rugby league superstars are 100 per cent behind the NRL’s crackdown on high tackles.

“There’s always a worry when your kids are playing sport that they’re going to get hurt,” said Beck Kiellor, whose sons Coby, 12, Talan, 9, and Jayse, 7, all play rugby league.

“I do worry about the high-contact sports. Which is why I make all my boys wear headgear.”

Junior Engadine rugby league players and their mums (from left) Nicole White with son Lucas, 11, Claire Cousemacker with son Lucas, 12, and Beck Kiellor with son Coby, 12, at the Dragons’ clubhouse. Picture: Jonathan Ng

She said the NRL’s strict enforcement of rules on head-high contact had made it easier to explain to her boys that “it’s something you just don’t do”.

“We all watch most NRL games together and we’ve had many conversations about the short-term and long-term impacts of dangerous tackles,” Ms Kiellor said.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has been criticised for the tough stance he has taken on high shots, with players­ reportedly calling for his head.

But at the grassroots level mothers are united in their support of the crackdown.

La Trobe University neuroscientist Professor Alan Pearce said the impact of head knocks was profound when repeated on a brain that is still developing until a person is in their early 20s.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys.

La Trobe University neuroscientist Professor Alan Pearce.

“We are seeing a concern at the grassroots level because parents are concerned at the long-term risk to their kids,” Professor Pearce said. “We are seeing players retire early because of brain trauma and older players revealing their brain deterioration.

“Parents are obviously questioning whether to put their kids into the sport.

He said modern players were bigger and faster than players from 30 years ago, but although the speed and force of impacts was greater, the brain was still the same.

“NRL has to change in some form and we have to be brave enough to change the game so that it is still as ­exciting but not so dangerous,” he said.

Footy mum and neurological physiotherapist Kate Watson with 12-year-old son Jacob. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Balmain District Junior Rugby League Club chairman Richard Kelly said the high-tackle crackdown “sends a great message to parents whose kids are joining the game”.

Junior rugby league has a strictly enforced ban on tackles above the shoulder, but Mr Kelly believes many parents worry about introducing their children to a sport that does not protect them when they get older.

Without the current crackdown, he believes the very ­future of the game is at stake, withering from the grassroots up, because no parent will ­encourage their child to join out of fear of brain damage.

“Enforcing the rules is only positive and makes the game much easier to sell to mothers in the playground, who are our best recruiters,” Mr Kelly said.

The message is already being heard.

Footy mum and neurological physiotherapist Kate Watson, whose 12-year-old son Jacob plays for the Engadine Dragons, said the NRL’s crackdown meant “the days of ‘take his head off’ are well and truly gone”.

“Jacob copped a knock to the head a couple of weeks ago,” she said. “It was a complete accident and he didn’t have a concussion but it was still managed as a head injury … Jacob knew he needed to come off and was happy to stay off for the rest of the game.

“I definitely support the NRL’s crackdown.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Protect Our Kids campaign aims to stamp out high shots at all levels of the game.