NRL step up concussion crackdown

The NRL’s concussion crackdown will go up a level in 2015 with team medical officers to have sideline access to footage of incidents that will help them determine the severity of an injury.

Last season was the first where official concussion protocols were put in place and NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said although he was pleased with the results, more work still had to be done to change the culture within the game.

For the first time, players who sustained knocks to the head had to be withdrawn from the field of play immediately and undergo cognitive testing by a medical officer.

However, some incidents were still missed and Greenberg said the new technology, which will be accessible in a tent nicknamed the “injury bubble” on the side of the field, will allow doctors to spot anything they may have missed.

“Last year 155 players were assessed,” Greenberg said.

“In 67 cases the player did not return to the game. That has been unheard of in previous years.

“There were also 88 cases where the player was assessed and then allowed to return.

“There will be technology on sidelines for doctors to use high definition screens to track injury.

“Doctors can look at this at any time during and after game. We used it during Origin last year and the grand final but this year it will be used in all NRL games.”

Greenberg also confirmed talks are in place about reducing the number of interchanges made by a side during a game.

Teams are currently permitted to make 10 changes per game and Greenberg that could be amended by 2016 provided it gets the green light from chief medical officer Dr Paul Broomfield and the new medical and player safety advisory group.

Dr Brookfield spent a decade in a similar role with Manly and will work alongside Dr Donald Kuah, who used to work with the Wests Tigers and Dr Ken Crichton and Dr Carolyn Broderick to improve player safety.

“We’re looking at that this year and we will be working on it over the next four to six months,” Greenberg said.

“The new advisory committee which we have just appointed will look into that as ultimately it is about player safety.

“If we decide there are some decisions to be made by 2016 we will do that.

“There is a lot of feedback on the interchange but we don’t have firm views on what that will look like in the future, but this research will help us articulate this view.”

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