Sharks star and Rugby League Players’ Association director Wade Graham has thrown his support behind the NRL’s new concussion policy and believes the mandatory stand down period will “save players from themselves”.
The new rules come into play from Round 3, with a mandatory 11-day stand down for both category one and two concussions.
Players are still able to avoid missing games provided they gain clearance from an NRL-approved neurologist and meet the criteria laid out under the new protocols.
Graham, who made his first grade debut in 2008, is certain these changes will only benefit players and take decisions regarding their welfare out of their hands.
“When any protocol comes in, it is even for all 16 teams... on a personal level, I like it,” Graham said on Thursday night’s pre-game show.
“You take the decision out of the player’s hands, because even previously when it wasn’t mandatory, you still need to go through your tests.
“If you were to pass those tests, but still not feel 100 per cent right, with any other injury in the game, close to 100 per cent is 100 per cent.
Fox League’s Gorden Tallis also backed the new rulings and explained how players feel pressure in the dressing room to return to the field.
“And you would have felt pressure from your teammates, sitting in the dressing room saying ‘look, you got knocked out, it was nine days ago, you’re still not 100 per cent right?’,” Tallis said.
“They would probably expect you to play.”
Graham also highlighted the internal pressure to deliver for your teammates and take the field, even when you haven’t fully recovered from the effects of a concussion.
“Not even pressure from your teammates, pressure from yourself, you want to get out there and compete for your team,” Graham added.
“If I’ve passed all my tests... and even if I don’t feel quite 100 per cent right, how often do NRL players, especially late in the year, go out at 100 per cent.
“If you are close enough, that’s good enough, you’re 100 per cent, you are good enough to play.
“I like this opportunity where we take it out of our hands, have an extra bit of time mainly at the start, the first three days of recovery because you aren’t trying to rush through the protocols to give yourself a chance to play in seven days.
“You actually have an opportunity to have two or three days off and let it settle... then look towards recovery.
“But I wouldn’t be surprised to see the protocols change a number of times over the next few years.”
Tallis, who played 214 first grade games, explained the new rules are in place — it’s now time for clubs to follow them.
“You have got to save these kids, you have got to save them from themselves... the protocols now are in place, we actually just need to move on,” Tallis said.
