Rugby league legends Mal Meninga and Cooper Cronk have known as for the NRL to maneuver the impartial physician out of the bunker and onto the sidelines.
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart sparked the controversy in his post-match press convention after his aspect’s slim loss to the North Queensland Cowboys, claiming the NRL and Rugby League Player’s Association (RLPA) “don’t trust coaches.”
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“Do you think I’d let a player play if they had a concussion or is concussed?” Stuart requested.
“I don’t just trust the players’ comments when they come to the sideline in regards to that.”
Stuart made the feedback with regard to fullback Seb Kris being dominated out by the impartial physician at an important second within the sport after he exited the sector for a head harm evaluation (HIA).
The incident got here after Kalyn Ponga was controversially pulled from the Newcastle Knights’ contest towards the New Zealand Warriors regardless of the famous person feeling OK to proceed.
With the problem inflicting confusion and amongst gamers and coaches within the first weekend of the season, the NRL might be below stress from a number of events to discover a blissful medium for all.
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Although there’s frustration over the position of the impartial physician, Cronk believes the position continues to be essential however the best way they’re utilised should change.
“So, the NRL have this system where an independent doctor sits in the bunker,” Cronk stated on Fox League.
“Well, let’s just cut out the rubbish. It happened with Kalyn Ponga as well.
“Just have the independent doctor on the sideline so that the decision can be made there and then.
“So you don’t have a club doctor doing their thing and then an independent doctor in the bunker making tough, over-the-top decisions.
“Get them on the sideline, make the decision so it’s clear.”
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Cronk added the NRL “needs to invest more money into this whole concussion protocol” as a result of “they’re just throwing things up in the air and seeing where they land.”
Meninga shared the identical view of Cronk that impartial docs are essential to the welfare of the gamers, claiming it’s “the best scenario” for all concerned.
However, the Raiders nice conceded the best way during which choices are communicated have to be vastly improved.
“I think that is the best scenario, having an independent doctor at the game,” Meninga stated.
“It would sort of solve the problems.
“There’s got to be a better system about how they communicate. The club doctors and the independent doctors, I think they’re the only two people that can make those judgments and decisions.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au