South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL news: Cameron Murray’s candid HIA admission
Souths skipper Cameron Murray admits players are still fighting an internal battle between ‘self-preservation’ and not letting their team down when it comes to head knocks.
Fatima Kdouh
South Sydney captain Cameron Murray has responded to accusations that he is disguising concussion symptoms to stay on the field and made a candid admission that should ring alarm bells for the NRL.
Murray was cleared to play in the Rabbitohs’ elimination final win over the Sydney Roosters last Sunday having suffered a concussion the week before trying to tackle Kevin Naiqama.
In last Sunday’s physical encounter, the hardworking lock appeared to cop a head knock attempting to tackle Roosters prop Matt Lodge.
Then was rattled by a hit from Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – who drove Murray’s head into the ground – in the second half.
Murray was not taken off the field after either incident, raising questions about whether the 24-year-old had disguised symptoms that would alert trainers and concussion spotters.
Murray strongly refuted the claims when put to him by News Corp.
“Every player I know just loves playing footy,” Murray said.
“So nobody wants to come off and not play.
“And when you’re in the heat of the moment, when emotions are running high, there’s not a lot of thought around, you know, what’s right for you in that moment. It’s all about what’s right for the team. And you don’t want to let the team down.
“So I’m not saying that players are getting better at it because I don’t think you can mask a concussion symptom.
“You know, if you’re concussed you can’t play it off, you know.
“I have been concussed and you know, a lot of other players have. It’s not easy to hide.
“The game is getting a lot better in identifying it and protecting players, and there’s probably still a little bit to go, but I guess it’s just a natural progression to make sure that we continue to get better to protect the safety of our players.”
Murray has suffered three concussions in the last 12 months, including a head knock in the Origin decider in July.
The NRL has a number of measures to protect players from the impact of concussion, like head injury assessments, return to play protocols and independent doctors. But at all stages, there is a reliance on self-reporting of symptoms from players.
And while Murray insisted players understood the seriousness of brain injury, worryingly for the NRL, the NSW forward revealed some players are still fighting an internal battle between ‘self-preservation’ and putting the team first.
“When I’m out there playing footy, I just want to do the best for my team … I try not to think too much about … you don’t think too much about self-preservation,” he said. “You just try to do the best for your team.”
As Murray prepares to line-up against Cronulla in Saturday night’s semi-final, the NRL is weighing a number of new concussion protocols, including a mandatory stand down and reduced contact at training.
But for the players who need those measures most, the players willing to put their team ahead of their own self-preservation, those rules are unlikely to be introduced any time soon.
Murray believes tighter game-wide mandates designed to protect players from the long-term impacts of repeated concussion would be welcome by the wider NRL playing group.
“If we add up the total times that we’re doing contact more than half of them would be during training sessions if we count the pre-season,” Murray said.
“So it makes sense to look at that type of thing.
“I guess it makes sense to keep listening to the science and the research that’s going around it and just jump on the back of what the professionals are saying.”
