NRL: Anthony Seibold rallies for changes to HIA protocols after costly forced changes in loss to Sydney Roosters

Frustrated Manly coach Anthony Seibold has called for changes to HIA protocols after claiming that three forced changes to his side against the Roosters were “crazy and didn’t make sense.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: Jason Saab of the Sea Eagles leaves the field during the round 21 NRL match between Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium, on July 27, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Angry Manly coach Anthony Seibold has called for HIA protocol changes postseason while claiming that three forced changes to his side through the bunker doctor and foul play were “crazy and didn’t make sense.”

The Sea Eagles lost centre Reuben Garrick and winger Jason Saab in a controversial 34-30 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night with Seibold declaring: “They weren’t tactical changes but dictated to us by others.”

Garrick was ruled out of the game by the bunker doctor, who wasn’t at the ground, with Saab the victim of foul play from Roosters centre Michael Jennings, who wasn’t sin-binned but later charged with a grade two careless high tackle.

Seibold admitted to being “frustrated” and rejected suggestions clubs “would take the piss” by playing concussed players.

The Manly coach revealed research and data showed teams that lose an outside back have a 20 per cent less chance of winning.

Seibold is pushing for the activation of an 18th man as soon as an injured player is ruled out of a match through an HIA.

Jason Saab’s night ended early against the Roosters. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

“We had to make three changes through no fault of our own,” Seibold said.

“At the end of the season, the NRL needs to have a look at taking pressure off both officials and also the bunker doctor. The bunker doctor ruled Reuben Garrick out before he’s even assessed by our cub doctor.

“He was ruled out because of a slight stumble. We couldn’t even test Reuben. My doctor was telling me that we couldn’t overrule the bunker doctor, we couldn’t argue with him, although the bunker doctor wasn’t at the ground and didn’t assess Reuben.

“Reuben was ruled out as he walked from the field. For me, that’s just crazy. How that then hurt us was that we had to use an interchange player, which is what we want to do because we want to look after the welfare of the player.

Reuben Garrick was another casualty for Manly. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“But it doesn’t make sense that the bunker doctor rules one of our players out and then we have to use an interchange. And Reuben was adamant he wasn’t concussed.

“So then, fast forward a couple of minutes, (Roosters centre) Michael Jennings, blatant head high shot on Jason Saab. So we lose a player from foul play and we have to use an interchange player but we can’t activate our 18th man until Jason, 15 minutes later, is categorically ruled out.

“So we had to make a second replacement who was the subject of foul play. Michael Jennings wasn’t even sin binned and now he has a grade two (careless high tackle) charge which is two weeks (suspension).

Should teams lose a man if they give away a penalty that sees an opposition player fail their HIA? 🤔#NRLRoostersManlypic.twitter.com/Wq0d83PVDs

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 27, 2024

“Take the pressure off the bunker doctor, take the pressure off the club doctor, even take the pressure off the referee, by having an 18th man who can be activated as soon as the player is ruled out by HIA.

“I know people will say the clubs are going to take the piss but it’s not like that anymore because HIA’s are so heavily scrutinised and guarded by coaches and a club’s medical staff so it just doesn’t happen.

“I’m not trying to be controversial, all I’m doing is stating the facts and trying to come up with solutions. It was there for all to see on Saturday night.”

With his side flattened by Saab and Garrick’s HIA dramas, Manly was brave but fell agonisingly short of an epic win.

Anthony Seibold believes HIA protocols need to be changed. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

And Seibold wants to remind the NRL about the game’s push for player safety around concussion.

“We talk about protecting the head of a player and we’ve seen a heap of sin bins for head high shots yet (Jennings) wasn’t sin binned and we get no benefit from that,” he said. “In actual fact, we then had to use two replacements for Jason Saab because we couldn’t activate the 18th man until the 15 minutes had passed (for Saab’s HIA).

“So we had Ben Trbojevic playing on the wing, we had our starting back rowers Corey Waddell and Karl Lawton playing in the centres. And then at halftime, once the 15 minutes had elapsed, we then had to make a third change by activating Clayton Faulalo, our 18th man.

“All of a sudden, at the start of the second half, we’ve had to make three changes, outside backs, who were ruled out by the bunker and foul play. They weren’t tactical changes, they were dictated to us by others.

“It meant we had two interchanges for the entire second half because we had to use three changes for Reuben Garrick and Jason Saab. That doesn’t make sense to me because we talk about protecting the welfare of the players.

“My frustration is that we lost Jason to a blatant high shot, there was no sin bin and now Michael Jennings is suspended for two games. That doesn’t help us. We don’t get any benefit.”