Parramatta Eels hooker Isaac De Gois breaks silence on concussion drama
Isaac De Gois has revealed he had no option but to retire after doctors warned he would likely suffer "severe brain damage" if he copped another concussion.
De Gois came into the season as Parramatta's reigning Ken Thornett medallist, the honour bestowed on the club's best player. However, his 225-game career came to a premature halt after a pre-season head knock. The veteran hooker was concussed during a trial match against the Gold Coast in Alice Springs, the latest in a series of head injuries suffered during a distinguished NRL career spanning a decade.
Speaking for the first time about the incident, De Gois said he was still suffering ill effects more than six months after the collision that ended his career.
"It's hard when you get told by doctors you've got to pull the pin, otherwise you'll be suffering from severe brain damage," De Gois told Fairfax Media.
"Obviously it's a pretty easy choice. I've got a young family to look after. It is what it is. I've obviously had a fair few knocks in my career. This one, I wouldn't say it was different - the collision wasn't that big - but it rocked me a little bit.
"The next day I didn't feel too good and then I went for scans and whatnot. I had numerous scans, saw numerous doctors. I even flew to Melbourne to see a doctor there and ended up going to Newcastle to see Dr Chris Levi [of the Sports Concussion Clinic at John Hunter Hospital], who pretty much narrowed it down to exactly what it was.
Parramatta hooker Isaac De Gois risked "severe brain damage" if he suffered another concussion. Photo: Peter Rae
"It's been a long road with recovery, I'm still getting there. In due time, hopefully, I will be back to 100 per cent."
De Gois admits he is unsure when he will fully recover from the blow that ended his career.
"There's a few issues, I won't go into detail, but there are a few symptoms from the head knock I copped a while ago know. Hopefully in time everything will be clear," he said.
"That's the thing, doctors can't put a time frame on it. I've got to be patient and hopefully get back to normal.
"The doctors said 'you've copped a fair few knocks in your career - one more and you probably will do brain damage.'
"When you get told that, it's obviously scary. In saying that, you pretty much know it's the right decision not to lace them up again."
De Gois has had to watch on as Parramatta qualified for their first finals appearance since 2009. While the Eels have enjoyed a winning season without him, his absence has undoubtedly been a setback. The Portuguese international is one of coach Brad Arthur's favourites and is respected among the playing group for setting the line speed in defence, his toughness and selflessness on and off the field.
De Gois began his career at a time when there were no concussion protocols, with players often returning to the field after serious head knocks.
"That's the thing, I was playing 10 years ago," De Gois said.
"Unfortunately players my age, back then you were getting the knocks and you just continued to play because you thought it was the right thing to do.
"Now, in this time and age, it's so much better with head knocks. The doctor has to clear you, you have to come off. They've got the HIA [head injury assessment] interchange as well. Now it's so much better and will only continue to get better, which is the right thing for the wellbeing of the player."
Asked if he thought he suffered damage resulting from head knocks that previously weren't managed properly, De Gois said: "I don't want to comment on anything like that because I don't know. Hopefully in due time I will be back to 100 per cent …
"The new rules now are so much better. In the earlier years, 2007-8 and whatever, you get knocked out and - you ask anyone playing back then - you just get back up and try to continue on.
"Now, you still try to do the same thing but they bring you off as a precaution. That's the right thing to do, it's not on the player saying 'No, no, leave me on.'
"I'm all for it. Well done to the NRL for player wellbeing now, they've realised how bad it can be."
De Gois thanked his wife Renee for helping him through a difficult period.
"When you get injured, especially with the head injury, we were doing it very tough for a long time," he said.
"I've got a good one, she stuck by me and we're going all right now. I've got two little girls and you want to be around as long as you can to see them grow up and be there for them."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ence-on-concussion-drama-20170829-gy6cp4.html
