Players boss in brain study call

Rugby League Players Association boss says there should be ‘consequences’ if the NRL study has failed current and former footballers.

Former Newcastle Knights NRL player Robbie O'Davis. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Pressure is building for an inquiry into the controversial NRL brain study after Rugby League Players Association boss Clint Newton called for “consequences” if anything underhand had occurred in the research.

“This story was confronting, there is no doubt about that,” Newton told The Australian.

“If there is anything underhanded here in this research, there should be consequences.”

Newton – who disclosed to The Australian he himself has been a participant in the NRL research – said the project was vitally important, and one of the world’s largest, but it had to be ­beyond reproach.

“We must ensure this research upholds the highest ethical standards,” Newton said.

He said he understands Sydney University is investigating the allegations, although this is not confirmed by the university.

The Australian reached out to Sydney University for a ­response that an investigation is under way and a spokeswoman said: “Any complaints received are carefully considered and addressed in line with our policies and as required under the codes. This process is considered confidential.”

The Australian Rugby League Commission, chaired by Peter V’landys, will meet on Wednesday ahead of a do or die Origin game for the Blues.

The commission is expected to discuss the NRL’s official concussion study that allegedly did not warn rugby league legend Robbie O’Davis that a scan showed signs of brain injury, nor alert the families of two other retired champions they had been diagnosed with dementia.

A three-month investigation by The Weekend Australian uncovered an alarming number of former Newcastle Knights champions suffering early-onset dementia as well as serious con­cerns from their families and a top neurologist about the research protocols of the NRL-funded study, which has been hyped as a “milestone” for the sport’s treatment of long-term head trauma.

The NRL, Newcastle University and Sydney University have all declined to answer direct questions about the study.

The questions included: How many participants have so far been detected with dementia in the NRL study? Was the radio­logist who examined the MRIs between 2014 and 2022 a specialist neuro-radiologist?”

Other questions were: How many footballers were referred for clinical treatment care? Are Newcastle University/Sydney University/the NRL taking any formal steps to investigate the ­allegations?

The Australian inquired if the universities and the NRL were “satisfied that six players with dementia have been dropped from the research studies” and whether “this study is presenting a comprehensive picture of the state of footballers’ brain health”.

Sydney University reiterated that NRL study lead and associate professor Andrew Gardner joined the university on January 1, and questions relating to his research activity should be referred to the University of Newcastle, which said Sydney University must ­answer the questions.

“Associate Professor Andrew Gardner is now employed by the University of Sydney,” said University of Newcastle Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Brian Kelly.