Why must it be mandatory though?
Surely someone's health is their own concern. No one else's .
Didn't Roberts say Fitzsimons misquoted him on something there?
Coverage of which has been very selective.Yep and even in follow up interviews he never claimed League was unsafe, he just stated that its OK to put your hand up as a kid, and say your not feeling 100% after a head knock.
If what Paul Kent said last night about the former nfl players lawsuit against the NFL about their head brain damage and other medical problems they are having as a result of head knocks is true then it might not just be the players concern.
Apparently the NFL offered 770 million to settle and the judge rejected it and said that isnt enough. Also worrying is the fact junior american participation is dropping since 2010 with one of the major reasons thought to be the concussion thing getting blown up.
Now thats the US and the NFL, it doesnt mean it will happen here but you can see why the NRL is being pro-active about the issue.
The lawsuit is about covering up how damaging it can be, not about the actual damage.
We've been over this a thousand times geez.
The NRL is being pro-active because they are overreacting to the extreme. The NFL banned head-to-head contact. We've already banned that, plus any other contact with the head including arm, shoulder, knee and foot. The shoulder charge ban is a ridiculous overreaction. The concussion test rule is a good one, but 4 weeks out for any concussion would be another stupid one. I've never felt any ill-effects from one a week later let alone 4. At some point the players' safety has to be their choice. And if a player chooses to play a week after a concussion and then for some reason sues the NRL later in life then they are a hypocrite to the max.
THERE’S an absolutely fantastic column by Matty Johns in today’s Daily Telegraph which should be compulsory reading for every sports fan, parent and pretty much everybody, really.
The column is about concussion in rugby league, and about how Johns now feels every step must be taken to minimise its incidence.
Thanks God the game has changed and boy didn’t it need to! Parents need to know, when they register their kids to play rugby league, that the welfare of the child will never be compromised for something as trivial as two points, regardless if he is playing under-6s or State of Origin.
Its about bothThe lawsuit is about covering up how damaging it can be, not about the actual damage.
Neither the NFL or the NRL has been pro-active. Both sports have only done things now because of the worry of lawsuits and the fact that the public has woken up to how damaging to the brain concussions can be.The NRL is being pro-active because they are overreacting to the extreme. The NFL banned head-to-head contact. We've already banned that, plus any other contact with the head including arm, shoulder, knee and foot.
Its the long term problems of concussions that we need to worry about. Not so much how you feel one or four weeks latter. If you have suffered a few concussions during your career lets see how you feel 20 or 30 years later.The concussion test rule is a good one, but 4 weeks out for any concussion would be another stupid one. I've never felt any ill-effects from one a week later let alone 4. At some point the players' safety has to be their choice. And if a player chooses to play a week after a concussion and then for some reason sues the NRL later in life then they are a hypocrite to the max.
LINKRashard Mendenhall NFL Running Back said:Why I Retired At 26
So when they ask me why I want to leave the NFL at the age of 26, I tell them that I've greatly enjoyed my time, but I no longer wish to put my body at risk for the sake of entertainment. I think about the rest of my life and I want to live it with much quality. And physically, I am grateful that I can walk away feeling as good as I did when I stepped into it.
I thought Matty Johns mea-culpa in the Telegraph this morning was pretty damn compelling.
As for Fitzsimmon, he seems very focused on League. But the worst case I've seen of lack of player welfare was in Union last year when Wallaby George Smith was knocked senseless five minutes into a test match. He was in Disneyland and had to be helped off the field - jelly legs, vacant eyed. Five minutes later he was back on the field - clearly still suffering the effects. He had a shocker. RU is more culpable than League in this regard.
Its about both
Neither the NFL or the NRL has been pro-active. Both sports have only done things now because of the worry of lawsuits and the fact that the public has woken up to how damaging to the brain concussions can be.
Its the long term problems of concussions that we need to worry about. Not so much how you feel one or four weeks latter. If you have suffered a few concussions during your career lets see how you feel 20 or 30 years later.
Ok I'll ask my dad. Oh, he feels fine. Amazing. Maybe I should ask my grandparents and uncles and great-uncles. What? They all feel fine and actually went on to coach kids and adults to play as well? Unbelievable.
The NRL have been plenty pro-active. I don't give a shit about the NFL but the NRL was doing great for player safety until this stupid shoulder charge ban.
Any player who sues because of damages sustained while playing rugby league after they chose to play deserves to have their case thrown out of court. It's as dumb as signing up for the army, being deployed in a war and then suing because I got shot.