Ponga’s Canada trip ‘slap in the face’ to Australian treatment

A leading concussion expert has questioned Knights star Kalyn Ponga highly publicised decision to travel to Canada when similar brain testing is available here.

Kalyn Ponga leaves the field for an HIA at Leichhardt Oval on March 12. Picture: Getty Images.

A leading neuroscientist said he was offended by the claim by Newcastle Knights that their marquee player Kalyn Ponga needed to travel to Canada for brain testing.

Concussion expert Professor Alan Pearce says a “gold standard” technology is available in Australia and he provides similar brain testing in Melbourne.

Professor Pearce said this type of testing – measuring the electrical activity of the brain – had been around since the 1930s. Ponga recently travelled to Vancouver to have an “advanced” device measure his “neuropsychological markers”.

The Knights said the trip was successful and the Newcastle captain had been pencilled into return in round 8.

“The type of testing – the measuring of the electrical activity of the brain – has been happening since the 1930s and has been used in helping assessing the impact of concussions since around 2007,” Professor Pearce said.

“It’s nothing new and we have a gold standard level of similar testing here in Australia. I did feel rather offended by the comment around the fact we don’t have this here. We don’t have that product but very similar technology is available.

“What he was doing going over to Canada, is essentially what I do but in a slightly different way. I stimulate the brain, hook him up with electrodes, look at the results on the computer. For me that was a slap in the face to Australian doctors and scientists, because this is nothing unique.”

Ponga was sent to Canada by the Knights after suffering his fourth concussion in 10 months and talk had turned to retirement for the star after his latest brain trauma against the Tigers.

Last weekend, in his first public comments since his international trip for testing, Ponga said he was “good”.

“Four weeks ago there was talk about retirement,” Ponga told Knights ground announcer Glen Hawke prior to his side’s game against the Warriors on Sunday. “

“We got the best result I could over there … I got cleared on the brain perspective and that you are able to go back and play.”

Professor Pearce, who has campaigned for more testing and research of footballers’ brains across the AFL and NRL, has speculated the move was just a ploy to avoid more media scrutiny on the Knights’ most valuable player.

“What is the real reason for him to go overseas?” Pearce said. “You could speculate him going to Canada may be him trying to get away from the media here? A ploy to avoid intense scrutiny. Get away, go for a holiday, flip the narrative?”

On March 24, the Knights released a statement saying after “lengthy discussion and extensive research” Ponga and Newcastle Knights chief medical officer Dr Jin Lee would travel to Vancouver, Canada to undertake “further assessments”.

The Knights said that in conjunction with independent concussion consultant Professor Chris Levi, they decided to consult “global organisations to ensure every step is taken to safeguard player health and wellbeing”.

At the time it was announced Ponga would travel to Canada, Knights director of football Peter Parr spoke about the factors behind the decision.

“Management of concussion is a complex issue for everyone involved, we see this as an opportunity to gather additional information to assist Kalyn in his recovery,” Parr said.

“Our broader aim, under the guidance of Professor Levi, is to develop a model of care that will advance our capacity in supporting players with concussion.

“Kalyn remains in good spirits and wishes to thank everyone who has inquired about his health.”

On April 6, the Knights announced the trip to Canada had been a success.

“We are comfortable with the objective evidence from our independent testing, indicating normalisation of his cognitive function,” Parr said.

“Kalyn has recovered well from his recent concussion.

“However he has had limited specific training due to the amount of travel he has had to undertake in recent weeks.

“We will now focus on building his physical and tactical performance, with an aim to return in round 8 against the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.”