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NRL to consider limit on contact training as concussion crackdown continues
Full-contact training sessions are capped to a maximum of one per week in the NFL due to concussion concerns. Now the NRL is considering following suit.
The NRL will consider following the path of the NFL in limiting the number of full-contact training sessions to further reduce the risks of concussions.
The governing body has been criticised for a stricter enforcement of the rules midway through the season after a record 24 match review charges were laid during Magic Round. Only Storm forward Christian Welch chose to contest his dangerous-contact charge at the judiciary.
However, league powerbrokers are unapologetic about the crackdown and will consider instituting further measures to ensure the welfare of participants. One of those could come in the form of monitoring and limiting the amount of full-contact sessions that clubs are permitted to run.
Since 2011, the NFL has limited full-contact padded practices to 14 for the year, which equates to a maximum of one per week during the regular season.
The move came after studies of college football found the majority of head knocks occurred during training rather than in games. Since the rule was introduced, only 18 percent of NFL concussions have occurred in practice.
Having made it clear that any contact with the head and neck during games will result in immediate dismissal from the field, the NRL’s focus could soon turn to player welfare at training.
“That’s something we definitely have to look at, absolutely,” ARLC chairman Peter V’landys told the Herald.
“It’s my job to make it as safe as possible for the player. We have to review everything because there could be head knocks there too.
“I was ignorant of the fact that there is so much contact at training. It’s unregulated, so we definitely have to look at it, no doubt about it.
“I’m not being critical of any club or any coach, but it’s something that has been brought to my attention and naturally we will have a look at it.”
Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech, who has pledged his brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank, has often spoken out about how fighters often receive their most brutal blows before they get to a fight. The “Marrickville Mauler” believes some of the worst concussive blows can be delivered during sparring sessions.
News that the NRL will also consider regulating pre-game training was well received by Dr Chris Levi, a respected neurologist who has treated the likes of Boyd Cordner and Tim Glasby after repeated head knocks.
“That is a very valid point, there’s not much point in only enforcing things on the field [during game days],” Dr Levi said. “You would look at the evidence around the adherence to that and how effective self regulation is, because at training it’s all about self-regulation, you don’t have a referee.
“It’s a sensible thing.”
The NRL is attempting to avoid the situation that occurred in the NFL, where the governing body agreed to pay damages that would amount to more than $1 billion over 65 years to resolve a host of concussion lawsuits from former players.
“I’ve said before that COVID was going to bankrupt us, but concussion could kill us,” V’landys said. “People are seeing that our intentions are good.”
In a further indication of how seriously the NRL is taking the concussion issue, it has fined Canterbury $20,000 its handling of Lachlan Lewis’ head knock in April. The Bulldogs sought a waived or reduced fine in responding to their breach notice, but the full fine will stand.
“While we respect the process that was undertaken and the fairness of the hearing we received, we are disappointed in the severity of the fine,” Canterbury CEO Aaron Warburton said.
“We also acknowledge that the determination does not call into question the professionalism capability or commitment of the club’s medical staff and management.
“The breach deals with a specific instance of non-compliance during round four.”
