Study into effects of NRL head injuries moves into next stage

After testing 100 former rugby league players on the effects of head injuries, researchers have hailed the NRL for leading the way on player safety and warned no conclusions can yet be drawn from the work.

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Brain and concussion specialists have recently completed neurological tests on 100 former NRL stars as part of the most comprehensive research into the after-effects of rugby league head injuries.

Kangaroos and Origin legends Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, Paul Sironen and more than a dozen former Newcastle Knights players are among those who have faced two-hour examinations with MRI scanning of the brain and cognitive testing.

Yet the research is far from complete.

Luke Keary was sidelined for six weeks to recover. Image: Brett Costello

The neuro experts, Professors Chris Levi and Andrew Gardner, are concerned that the test results could be effected by the lifestyles of heavy-drinking footballers, obesity and possible recreational drug use in retirement.

The researchers are now in the process of matching each of the 100 players with non-footballers of the same age who have had similar social routines.

For example, if a former player drank 30 schooners of beer and used cocaine once a month, the brain of a non-player with the same habits will be checked against the footballer.

This eliminates the risk of misleading results.

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“You need a comparison group,” says Professor Levi.

“There are other risk factors for dementia outside of concussion like substance abuse, sleep apnoea, alcohol or obesity.”

The test results will be completed next year.

Professor Levi applauds the world-class protocols the NRL has introduced in recent years.

He recently examined Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary after his second concussion episode this year.

Keary expects to return soon after being given the all-clear. Image: Brett Costello

“The NRL is right up there with international levels of cutting edge policy,” he said.

“This year they’ve adopted spotters in the bunker for an extra layer of safety around identification.

“They’ve have introduced independent second opinions from the club doctors.”

Professor Levi said the report that found evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, that was found in the two brains of deceased NRL players, was “important work but had major limitations.”