NRL 18th man: Peter V’landys refutes rule changes are cause of injury chaos
As leading coaches, players and doctors call for an 18th man to help deal with the growing injury crisis, Peter V’landys has denied a connection to injuries and speed of the game.
NRL
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ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys wants irrefutable proof that the explosion of injuries which has marred rugby league was caused by increases to the speed of matches.
“Give me an instance?” V’landys asked.
V’landys’ comments come as a leading Australian sport doctor called for the NRL to consider introducing an 18th man sub for any injured player.
An ARL Commission board meeting on Tuesday will discuss whether to introduce the 18th man substitute for concussed players.
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NRL clubs suffered horrific injuries in round three but V’landys was quick to dismiss suggestions the players were hurt because of rules that have increased in the pace of games this season.
Not all agreed though with former NRL player Cameron King tweeting: “I hope all these rule changes which are for entertainment purposes are worth it because this is carnage and it’s round three. #playerwelfare.”
I hope all these rule changes which are for entertainment purposes are worth it because this is carnage and it’s round 3 🤔 #playerwelfare
— Cameron King (@CAMKINGY) March 27, 2021
😳🤠pic.twitter.com/PAGUUZ12ff
— Cameron King (@CAMKINGY) March 27, 2021
Canberra lost three players inside the opening 13 minutes - Ryan James, Sebastian Kris and Joseph Tapine against New Zealand, forcing centre Curtis Scott to play on with a fractured rib.
Sharks players Briton Nikora, Wade Graham, Sione Katoa and Will Kennedy were all injured by halftime against Parramatta on Saturday night. None returned for the second half.
Eels halfback Mitch Moses failed an HIA test. And on Friday night, the Roosters lost Luke Keary (ACL), Lachlan Lam (medial) and Lindsay Collins (concussion) against Souths.
Other players injured over the weekend included Dylan Edwards, Brandon Smith and Ben Hunt.
THE DOCTOR
Leading Australian sports doctor Nathan Gibbs wants a substitute on standby for any injured player, not just those who are concussed.
“Have a sub for any injury,” Gibbs said. “Let’s not just worry about concussion. An injury sub should be allowed if you lose a player for the match. There will be times when one isn’t enough, like Canberra.
“You can’t account for every scenario but one reserve would be a start. That would help. The game is quicker but I think teams this year have had a better opportunity to prepare for it.
“Every year in trial matches, we get a lot of injuries. That’s because the players are getting used to the speed of playing football compared to trying to recreate that in training sessions. This year there was only one allowed trial match because of the shortened off season through COVID.
“You often play three trial matches. So those early matches in the year, which were often trial games, are now early-season NRL games. It’s definitely more common to get injuries early in the season.”
The AFL has controversially introduced a medical sub this season that can be used when club doctors decide if an injured player will be unable to play a game in the next 12 days.
THE NRL
Despite the high injury toll, V’landys said the NRL would not react until all injury data had been examined.
“No one has been able to show me (the injuries) have been caused by the speed of the game. Give me an instance,” he said. “The Luke Keary (pictured) injury was a freak accident. I don’t think it had anything to do with the speed of the game. It was just the way he landed.
“We also had a shorter pre-season with a lot less trial games. The game is taking concussion a lot more seriously. We are taking it to another level. We look at data every day and we review it after every game.
“The injuries (this year) are on average with what they have been in previous years. Everything has to be done with the appropriate data and information to back it up.
“We are privy to information people don’t get so we can see if it’s an issue or not. I’m not ruling it (an 18th man) out but I am one of seven (commissioners) and management will have a say as well. I’ve got an open mind and will try and do what is best for the game.”
Prompted again about the 18th man proposal, V’landys said: “If it’s serious enough, we will consider it.
“That’s one of the things we take pride in, that we are agile and make decisions when they are needed.”
THE PLAYER
Manly star Kieran Foran supports an 18th man.
“If you get two or three (concussions) in a game, the next minute you’re playing with 14 men or even 13 men with no one on the bench. That is putting stress on blokes to play longer minutes, which leads to injuries,” Foran said.
“The amount of injuries from the weekend was unbelievable. (A concussion sub) would be something the league would have to look at. There is food for thought.
“If we’re dead serious about player welfare, and with blokes having to play on because there’s no one left on the bench, what risk is that putting on players’ bodies? Player welfare is paramount, with all the research being done and the protocols there for HIA and head knocks.
“But I do think the game is doing an incredible job around HIA. I don’t know the statistics but there seems to be a lot more now than in the past or maybe we’re just more aware.”
THE COACH
Multiple premiership-winning coach Craig Bellamy said the 18th man would counter increasing player injury rates.
“I think we should be looking at something,” Bellamy told The Big Sports Breakfast Weekend.
“There are better brains in the game than me to sort this out but I think we need to do something where if you have two or three HIAs, if the player goes off and doesn’t come back on, if we had an 18th man that could come on, then it would take a little of the burden off.
“We just need to do something.”
THE BETTING
Extraordinarily, the Roosters – without Keary - have blown in NRL premiership betting from equal $5.50 favourites (with Penrith) before last round to $11.
“They are now on the sixth line of betting,” said the TAB’s Gerard Daffy. “Their price has doubled. And to be brutally honest, I don’t know if you’d take the $11.
“Any injury can turn betting on its head but none more so than Luke Keary. There’s no greater example than that - $5.50 to $11. You just don’t see drifts like that on the back of one loss.
“And just as importantly, the Roosters were hammered by Souths. Right at this point in time, punters have put the pen through the Roosters chances.”
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