Parramatta Eels in showdown with NRL over Richie Fa'aoso's return
Date
March 14, 2015 - 10:00PM
Adrian Proszenko
Chief Rugby League Reporter
Parramatta plan to take legal action against the NRL should the governing body stand in the way of Richie Fa'aoso making a remarkable comeback from a broken neck against the Warriors.
Fa'aoso's career appeared over when he broke his neck in the penultimate game of the 2013 season. However, the injury – initially diagnosed as a C7 fracture – healed naturally. Three of the five specialists Parramatta consulted have cleared the journeyman prop to return, although red tape from head office has protracted his period in limbo.
On Friday, Parramatta officials sourced what they believe is the final impediment for a return, an insurance policy that they believe is a superior product than the interim one covering NRL players. There were hopes the 30-year-old could be greenlighted in time to play for feeder team Wentworthville on Saturday but the focus is on getting NRL clearance for Parramatta's clash with the Warriors next weekend. Fa'aoso's return would be a timely fillip for a side decimated by injuries sustained by Semi Radradra, Chris Sandow, Anthony Watmough, Beau Champion and Tepai Moeroa against Canterbury. Despite the long lay-off, Fa'aoso would probably be spirited into a side, which is also without the suspended Junior Paulo. "Everything we're doing now is to enable him to play next week," said Eels chief executive Scott Seward.
"We have worked with our insurance broker on behalf of Richie and as of Friday we believe we have secured the right insurance policy for him at the right amount. Now we are just awaiting the NRL to sign off on that policy now that it meets their requirements and he should be able to play."
The policy covers Fa'aoso for hemiplegia, paraplegia, permanent total disablement, quadriplegia and triplegia to the tune of $750,000.
Seward believes the NRL now has no reason to place impediments to his return. "It's fair to say everyone's frustrated with the process," Seward said.
"We understand that we need to ensure every base is covered. We also need to ensure that Richie and his family are covered in case anything happens. We get that, but we certainly didn't think it would be as lengthy a process as this. Richie and the club are struggling to understand why, if we have secured the right insurance and medical clearance, he can't play. If there's a reason for it, we'd like to be told what it is."
Asked if legal action against the NRL would be an option, Seward said: "We will look at absolutely every option.
"I'd also suggest if the insurance we've been able to source can cover someone with Richie's issues, we'd have to challenge the current policy the NRL have got."
Danny Wicks played his first NRL game in five years for Parramatta following a stint in jail for drug trafficking. "I felt pretty fresh out there. I felt like a bit of a sardine, being in the can for a long time, so I was good to go," the former Knight said.
