NRL 2020: Why Knights star Tim Glasby’s decision to retire after repeated concussions will change lives
Only a few weeks ago Tim Glasby could spend only half-an-hour with his two kids before feeling sick. It is why his decision to retire after repeated head knocks is so important – and will save lives.
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Tim Glasby is the name rugby league can never forget.
When his headaches have finally stopped and we wince at the next footballer on television felled from concussion, recall what Glasby did last week.
Remember that time, in the 2020 season, when despite still being in its infancy on the subject, the game and it’s people grew up and wised up, to head knocks.
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Glasby’s mature decision to retire last Sunday after repeated concussions and his insight into how he reached the career-ending call, will change lives.
The irony and reality is, the low-profile former Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights forward who was once cheekily headlined ‘TIM WHO?’, following his shock call-up to the Queensland State of Origin team, has retired from the game with a legacy far more powerful than any prop charging through a defensive line.
As we’ve seen in the NFL in the US, decisions like Glasby’s can also save lives.
A full 13 weeks have passed since Glasby played his last of 138-career games. He left the field after his head met the turf in round seven while playing against North Queensland in Townsville.
To this day, the 31-year-old remains dumbfounded by how innocuous the knock was.
Far from spectacular or graphic, replays are anything but conclusive to any severe force or impact to Glasby‘s head.
That‘s what frightened his mum Tracie, dad Graham and wife Casey most.
“They were pretty concerned with how I was getting knocks easier and easier,” Glasby said.
The headaches have subsided, but not entirely, particularly after a long day, be it with his two kids, Parker and Remy, or at the Knights, where he continues to train and work as an important mentor to a Newcastle side bound for their first finals in seven years.
Only a few weeks ago, Glasby could spend only half-an-hour with Parker and Remy before feeling sick.
“I know kids give people headaches sometimes, but mine (headaches) were on another level,‘’ Glasby says, making light of the matter.
“I honestly couldn‘t spend more than a half hour with my kids before I’d have to go and have a lie down.
“When I was sitting there and I was having to go and have a lie down after half an hour with my kids, I knew then that wasn‘t how I wanted to be.
“I had the assurances (from doctors) that I would improve and I would get better in time, but the risk was there if I kept playing that it would return and potentially get worse.
“I just wasn‘t going to take that risk.’’
Glasby’s inability to watch television due to the headaches, or so too after a weights session, were all symptoms during the period of which the Knights medical staff sent the rugged forward for neurological testing.
He was given time and space to recover, without a sense of pressure to return to training or playing.
It sounds obvious, but not so long ago, this wasn‘t how footy clubs and coaches dealt with concussion.
“You can tell that things are changing over the years, because even eight years ago, people weren’t sitting out that many games from concussion,’’ Glasby said.
“I don’t even think when I was playing in the Queensland Cup if there was a HIA.
“Then the HIA protocols came in and they changed again.
“It will continue to change I’m sure as they do more research.’’
Glasby has heard the voices of concern for other players dealing with a concussion, most recently NSW Origin and Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner.
But Glasby said we all need to be wary of judging our favourite players‘ state of health after a concussion.
“I’ve learnt how individualised it is,’’ Glasby said.
“I‘ve learned the hard way that you can get symptoms for a long period after a concussion.
“I’ve learned that because it’s (concussion) so publicised, with blokes at other clubs going through concussion issues, and I suppose it’s easy to sit back and say: ”They need to sit out games.”
“They (medical experts) don’t know a lot about concussion, but they do know a few things — and everyone is different.’’
Which is why, from his own experience and how the NRL and Newcastle have handled his sensitive case, Glasby feels a mandatory 90-day ban from participating — as is the concussion rule in boxing — isn‘t necessarily the answer in rugby league.
“You can’t put a blanket rule over everyone,’’ Glasby said.
“You hear people talk about other sports or other professions that have different rules, but you just can’t compare those because ours is a different sport.
“The sports are different. They have blokes just standing there getting punched in the head, we don‘t do that.
“If the (medical) experts turned around and said that’s what we need to do, so be it.
“But I have no doubt the NRL takes it seriously — I know they did in my case.
“The club (Newcastle) take it seriously — I know they did in my case.
“Other clubs really care about their players and they‘ve got a duty of care for them, so I’ve got full confidence in the decisions others are making, like Boyd Cordner or other blokes who have had issues, that their clubs are looking after them.
“At the end of the day, it‘s a medical issue and so nobody knows what’s going on.
“You don‘t know someone’s complete medical history. That’s why I put trust in them to do the right thing.’’
With a 2017 premiership ring and five Origin appearances with the Maroons, Glasby has achieved more than most footballers ever dream of.
With his experience, Glasby says he wants to stay involved in the game in a coaching capacity while he will also further his career in financial planning with Newcastle firm JSA Group.
At 31 and with a further year remaining on his contract at Newcastle, Glasby could‘ve chosen to brush aside his headaches and continue his career.
Others certainly have in the past.
Glasby has retired as an NRL footballer. He has his whole life ahead of him.
And that‘s what makes his decision so smart.