Phil Gould offered invite to meet patients with CTE after his concussion comments

One of the country’s leading neurologists has invited Phil Gould to meet her patients with CTE, after his controversial comments where he claimed the NRL was a victim of ‘concussion hysteria’.

Kalyn Ponga has a history of concussions.

One of the country’s leading neurologists has extended an invitation for Phil Gould to meet her patients with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as the medical world rounds on the Bulldogs head of football over his inflammatory comments around concussion.

Gould savaged the NRL’s use of the independent doctor during an appearance on the Nine Network on Monday night, describing it is as “the greatest abomination perpetrated on our game in history”.

He also claimed the game was a victim of “concussion hysteria”, discussion around the issue was “overkill” and the debate had left players confused.

Dr Rowena Mobbs, who extended an invitation to Gould to visit her patients on social media, is at the forefront of research into CTE, the chronic brain injury thought to be linked to repetitive end knocks.

Dr Rowena Mobbs. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

She described Gould’s comments as shocking and archaic.

“I respect Phil Gould in many ways but his comments on concussion are shocking and represent a view from the distant past, when concussion didn’t count and players played on despite brain injury,” Mobbs, a director of the Australian CTE Biobank, told News Corp.

“Not every independent doctor’s call will be accurate but it is the safest option to eliminate bias. I back the NRL and congratulate them for continuing their long overdue campaign on concussion, and encourage further steps in CTE prevention.”

Mobbs wasn’t alone. Noted neuroscientist Alan Pearce added: “Disappointing but unsurprising comments really. The issue is more than just concussion per se but impacts to the brain and long term health.

“Winning is important but to potentially what cost?”

The NRL has backed the use of independent doctors after an opening round which left the medicos in the spotlight following a handful of contentious calls and criticism from leading coaches, including Wayne Bennett and Ricky Stuart.

As for claims from Gould that the playing group was confused, Sydney Roosters star Luke Keary - who has had his own battles with head knocks in recent seasons - suggested that any confusion was a small price to pay to protect the health of players.

“I think [independent doctors] are definitely the right direction to go,” Keary said.

“The club doctor at a game has a million things going on, right. And then you’ve got to trust that someone can spot the knock at ground level.

“You saw it in Origin, the trainers are running around, they’re not watching every tackle to see if someone’s got a head knock. They’re trying to do other jobs.

Phil Gould has copped some flak for his comments around concussion in the NRL. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“The way the NRL’s got someone there, they’re not aligned with any club. Their job is to look out for the welfare of the player. They’re not there saying ‘let’s just take him off just in case’. That’s not their job.

“You’d rather err on the side of caution anyway. And as players, right now we maybe can’t see it. We just want to play.

“But later on, we’ll be thankful for them. Anyone who argues against that, I don’t see how.”

American concussion crusader Chris Nowinski, who was one of the founders of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, also backed the NRL’s use of independent doctors.

“It‘s a shame Mr. Gould is so very wrong on the issue of independent doctors,” Nowinski said.

“While independent doctors will sometimes remove healthy players for assessment, critics like Mr. Gould should keep these rare incidents in perspective.

“If independent doctors never removed healthy players for evaluations, then we can be confident they are leaving injured players in the game, as no one should expect perfection.

“Removing and returning healthy players shows the system is working. It is always better for the player‘s short and long-term health to err on the side of caution.”

TOP DOC WARNS NRL STARS: DIVE AT YOUR PERIL

Dean Ritchie

Divers beware – your days are numbered.

A leading Sydney sports doctor has warned uninjured players risk being immediately banished for an HIA test by rugby league’s independent doctor by feigning injury to secure a penalty.

Doctor Nathan Gibbs – a former NRL star who has worked professionally in rugby league, AFL and rugby union – said players who “milk penalties with an exaggerated response” could have it backfire spectacularly by being dragged off for a concussion test.

Gibbs’ comments come as leading NRL coaches question whether club doctors on the sideline could diagnose concussed players, rather than an NRL independent doctor.

Taylor-Adeline Mapusua of the Roosters is assisted off the field by doctor Nathan Gibbs. Picture: Getty Images

There are ongoing suggestions that players are staying down after receiving a high hit to land a penalty or have an opposition player sin binned. That, Gibbs says, will only ensure the player faking injury be sent for an immediate HIA.

“Players try to milk penalties,” Gibbs said.

“So what I will say is that if players after a hit to head feign injury or overplay a hit to head in order to get a team penalty, the bunker doctor can’t presume that and has to take it on its merits and bring the player off for a head assessment.

“Sometimes players use hits to the head – because tackles around the head can obviously be penalised – and have an exaggerated response.

“Unfortunately now, an exaggerated response is exactly what the bunker doctor is looking for and if they see a response after a head knock, then they will have to react accordingly and get the player assessed.

“So it may well make players stop doing it, if they are inclined to do so.

“The bunker doctor is looking for signs and symptoms after a hit to the head. Staying down or getting up slowly are all part of the criteria that can be used to bring a player off the field.”

Leading coaches Ricky Stuart, Cameron Ciraldo, Wayne Bennett and Adam O’Brien have publicly questioned why and how independent doctors should have the power to force uninjured players off the field.

Over the weekend, Canterbury’s Jacob Kiraz, Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga, Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs and Canberra’s Sebastian Kris were ordered from the field by independent doctors only to be cleared to return.

Kotoni Staggs receives attention from the trainers, before being ordered off the ground. Picture: Getty Images

Gibbs fiercely defended his fellow doctors and denied any medical staff would risk their reputations by keeping a concussed player on the field.

“The primary objective of a club doctor, many of whom have been doing it for a long time, is the health and safety of the football player. Everyone else is about winning the game,” Gibbs said.

“Sure it’s good to win but the health and safety of a player is paramount.”

Gibbs is a staunch supporter of the NRL retaining its independent doctors.

“What it does is allow the club doctor to do their job, which they do very well, on the sideline and not have all this extra pressure and stress – let the NRL have it,” Gibbs said. “It’s a great system.

“I can’t speak for all club doctors but I’m sure most of them prefer someone else making these sort of calls. We want someone to see all the vision and not be obstructed and we want that person to make the decision on how a head injury should be managed.

“The independent doctor uses vision - and he has many different camera angles - to look at head knocks and see the reaction of the player to see if there are any signs and symptoms that might indicate a concussion.

“That would then prompt the independent doctor to tell the referee or match day doctor that the player has to come off and not go back – category one – come off and be assessed, category two, or sometimes just be assessed on-field.

“That’s all the independent doctor is doing. He is doing that with the advantage of the many camera angles you can have sitting in an office. I think it’s best done in a studio.

“There should be good communication between the bunker doctor and sideline doctor and perhaps that’s not happening. They are allowed to talk to each other.”

The NRL is reviewing the controversial medical decision to remove Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga from the field late in Newcastle’s loss to the Warriors on Friday night.

BUZZ: IT’S TRUE, NRL COACHES CAN’T BE TRUSTED

A player’s long-term health is worth far more than two competition points.

The independent doctor who dragged Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga off the field on Friday night against the Warriors did the right thing. The same with others over the weekend.

Retired old footballers spending their final years in nursing homes would have benefited from the rules and procedures that sadly many are now criticising.

The NRL is the most brutal collision sport in the world. Sometimes too brutal.

Players are getting bigger, stronger, faster, more powerful and more physical.

The contact impact is far greater than what it used to be.

Kalyn Ponga has a history of concussions.

The reaction over the weekend from coaches and players was predictable.

Adam O’Brien: “Now we’re jumping at shadows to get him (Ponga) out of the game. I don’t get it.”

Ponga: “I couldn’t believe it. 10 minutes to go, the game on the line.”

These comments show exactly why the NRL has to be so vigilant.

If it was left to the players and coaches, especially in situations where games are on the line, the footballer would too often remain on the field.

This mentality has got to change.

We don’t need Wayne Bennett coming out as he did over the weekend to criticise the use of an independent doctor.

It has to be taken out of the hands of the clubs because they can’t be trusted. It’s as simple as that.

Look at the situation the Knights are in.

O’Brien’s future is on the line. He needs to win. He wants his best player on the park.

We are not suggesting he’d intentionally risk the health and safety of his players.

But the fact is doctors are more qualified than coaches to make these calls.

Kalyn Ponga is under pressure to produce.

Ponga is the same as the coach. He’s under pressure.

His commitment to the Knights has been questioned because of the booze and toilet cubicle incident last year.

He now wants to show how dedicated he is. He wants to lead Newcastle to the finals.

That’s terrific but also dangerous in situations like we witnessed on Friday night.

With these decisions a doctor doesn’t look at the scoreboard or the clock.

It doesn’t matter if a game is on the line or if it’s a blowout.

They are only concerned for the welfare of the player.

Any doubt and the player has to come off.

Like Canberra star Sebastian Kris, who took a heavy knock against the Cowboys.

You’d rather a doctor being wrong in removing a player from the field than being wrong in leaving him out there. You can either be safe or sorry.

There were times when Boyd Cordner or Jake Friend might not have been replaced had it not been for the NRL’s tough stance.

I have visited too many old players in nursing homes in recent years.

You have to be there to see how sad it is and the effect it has on their families.

That their lives have been horribly impacted by lack of care and medical knowledge back when they played.

That no-one would drag them off. That it was a badge of honour to take a heavy knock and keep playing. Those days are long gone.

It’s not even the threat of litigation. It’s about Kalyn Ponga and not wanting his family to visit him in a nursing facility in 40 years’ time. The game owes it to every player to take every precaution.