Concussion fear: The Eels are being investigated for sending Nathan Peats back onto the field after a head knock against the Warriors. Photo: Getty Images
NRL doctors fear they will face the sack if they report coaches for forcing concussed players back onto the field as the NRL launches its second investigation in as many weeks after Parramatta’s Nathan Peats was allowed to return following a heavy knock on Saturday.
Fairfax Media understands the NRL is extremely concerned about the decision to allow Peats to return. An NRL spokesman confirmed there would be a “full review of the Peats concussion incident”. Manly will also come under the spotlight after their delay in taking a dazed Brayden Wiliame from the field on Monday night. These incidents come as the NRL continues to investigate South Sydney’s judgment in allowing halfback Adam Reynolds to come back on after a head knock in round two.
An NRL doctor – who spoke to Fairfax Media on the condition of anonymity – said it would take a gutsy medico to self-report any incident. “It would take a brave doctor handing in a ‘fail’ form to the NRL if the coach sent the player back on,” the doctor said. “If a coach overruled the decision of the club doctor, I don’t know whether a doctor would risk upsetting his employer by reporting it to NRL. I don’t think that a doctor – who was getting undue pressure or frankly was being overruled by coaching staff – would necessarily feel comfortable reporting this.”
Doctors of both teams can now easily identify concussions with the NRL this season setting up a “concussion tent” on the sidelines at each game. The booth, which has a a computer and HD screen, enables doctors to confirm injuries. It was successfully trialed in last year’s finals series.
“The excuse of the past was that the doctor ‘didn’t see the incident’ which had player getting knocked out or wobbling and not able to stand, which indicate definite concussion,” the doctor told Fairfax Media. “This year they have a video technician on the sideline who replays the incident to the doctor, who then in theory should identify a clear concussion and rule out the player. This is why opposition doctors are speaking out as they get to view incidents as well.”
Former NRL chief medico Ron Muratore has backed calls for an independent doctor to deal with concussions – to take the pressure off club doctors. Muratore questioned whether club medicos were being placed under too much pressure from coaches to leave players on the field or reinstate them after a head knock. Roosters doctor Ameer Ibrahim raised concerns about Reynolds’ return to the field while reports suggested Warriors medico John Mayhew disagreed with Peats’ comeback against New Zealand.
“Coaches will look at how South Sydney have been playing under the concussion rules over the last two to three seasons and think that their club shouldn’t be disadvantaged and some may be pressuring their medical staff,” the doctor said.
Reynolds was brought from the field after he emerged stumbling from a tackle on Roosters forward Aidan Guerra but after passing a SCAT3 test he returned 12 minutes later and ended up setting up the match-winning try. Eels coach Brad Arthur said he followed his team’s medical advice in sending Peats back into the fray.
“I was told he was good to go back out there,” Arthur said. “I’ve got my head in the game, we’ve got medical staff I trust and they told me he was good to go back out and finish the game out. I’ve got a good medical staff and they told me he’s fine to go back out, he’s fine to go back out.”