Phil Rothfield: Where NRL concussion crackdown is failing players

We all agree there will not be a game in 30 years unless something is done about concussions. But here’s where the NRL have got it wrong.

Collisions are much harder in the NRL these days.

Rugby league is the greatest game of all because of its gladiatorial nature.

Even if you don’t follow the Sydney Roosters, everyone loves the way lock Victor Radley plays the game. On Saturday night he did what all great enforcers do.

While the Broncos were aiming their big men at teenager Sam Walker, Radley did what he is trained and paid to do — act like the bodyguard and belt the likes of Tevita Pangai Junior, who was picking on his little mate.

Like when Mark Carroll, Paul Harragon, Les Davidson, Sam Burgess and all the great enforcers played the game.

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Sadly Radley’s career is now at the crossroads. He is not a dirty player but occasionally hits too high. It’s what happens in high speed, high pressure sport. His muscle memory from years of training and technique can’t be changed by the flick of a switch. It needs time.

The NRL has overwhelming support for making such a loud noise about concussion and player health and safety. We all agree there will not be a game in 30 years unless something is done about it.

However the problem is how they have gone about it with little or no research.

Victor Radley sent to the sin bin. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

There are so many important issues and reasons for the spate of concussions that were not properly addressed prior to the Magic Round panic attack.

One of those issues is the size, weight and power of the modern day player.

The best illustration of how this has changed in the era of professionalism is with the original Immortals.

Fullback Clive Churchill weighed 74kg, lock Johnny Raper 87kg, centre Reg Gasnier 82kg and five-eighth Bob Fulton 84kg.

Now compare them to players in their same positions in modern rugby league.

James Tedesco weighs 95kg. (21kg more than Churchill), Isaah Yeo weighs 106kg (19kg more than Raper), Joseph Manu weighs 98k (16kg more than Gasnier) and Cameron Munster weighs 89kg (5kg more than Fulton).

Obviously bigger, bulkier, more powerful and faster players are going to have more brutal collisions.

Like a prang between two trucks has a greater force than a collision between two cars.

There are other important size issues to consider.

In the year 2000, only 38 percent of players weighed over 100kg. Now 50 percent of NRL stars weigh over 100kg.

It has happened because of the evolution of sports science and the fact rugby league has become such a power game. The hit-ups, the occasional spread and then kick for field position.

For years the NRL did nothing to make the game safer. They simply refused to use the sin bin even for the most serious act of foul play. No-one got sent off.

The worst collision on a football field comes from the kick-off.

A 120kg front-runner running as fast as he can straight into two or three equally large defenders, who are trained and finely tuned NOT to go low.

Not once in recent discussions about player health and safety has this part of the game been spoken about.

Surely a new rule to restrict kick-offs to 30 metres would not only create a great contest for possession but take all the sting of these collisions.

Collisions are much harder in the NRL these days.

These are the discussions the game needs to have with the sharpest minds at the end of the season, not via an email.

You often wonder about the NRL and their failure to do proper research before implementing all these new rules.

Last week a journalist asked the NRL for a breakdown on the causes of failed HIAs this year. They couldn’t answer.

It took highly regarded Brisbane physiotherapist Brien Seeney just four hours to analyse every concussion case this season on video.

Turns out players making high tackles were not the major cause.

In fact only 32 percent of concussions were on ball carriers. A staggering 57 percent were defenders.

Why was this important analysis ignored? Why did the NRL not consult more experts?

Why did they think one email with no consultation with players and coaches would work?

NRL 360 and Daily Telegraph columnist Paul Kent makes good points about the former great judiciary boss Jim Comans and how he cleaned up rugby league in the 80’s.

Les Boyd 15 months, Bob Cooper 15 months. Your columnist covered these cases. And we all supported it.

Nowadays eye-gouging is a four week ban (Luke Thompson). Back then it was 12 months.

There were no paltry $1500 fines with Mr Comans.

For a head-high tackle you now get a week or two. Rather than ruining the game with the over-the-top use of the sin-bin, the match review committee and judiciary need to toughen up.

Accidental high shots on a football field should be dealt with after the game.

Only the vicious and deliberate acts require send-offs or sin-bins.

Double or treble the penalties. What’s a $1500 fine to a $500,000-a-year player?

Make it $5000. Maybe two week-suspensions should become four weeks.

But don’t ruin our product. Don’t ask fans to buy memberships or pay good money to go to the football each week then make them watch an 11 v 13 game. Stop robbing them.

This problem can be fixed. It just won’t happen overnight.