Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has referred to as on the NRL to “stop pandering to clubs” and scrap the impartial physician within the wake of a controversial HIA ruling surrounding Kalyn Ponga.
Ponga was left fuming after he was ordered off the sphere for a head damage evaluation with 12 minutes left within the sport.
The Knights half collided with Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake earlier than referee Chris Sutton despatched him for an evaluation beneath instruction from the impartial physician.
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Knights Press Conference | 06:21
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Speaking on Saturday, Bennett stated it was time the present system was scrapped.
“We don’t need a doctor in a box,” he stated.
“The solution is make the clubs more accountable, that’s what I’m saying.
“Get the guy out of the box, because that’s why the NRL put him in there, to be trusted enough to make the right decision.
“We realised that last year (the system had flaws) but nothing changed with it.”
Bennett stated the sport had by no means been extra severe about head accidents however believed it was time for the onus to be put again on golf equipment.
“Instead of taking the soft options and pandering to clubs who do the wrong thing … the clubs have to own it.
“When they (the NRL) had a few moments in the last few years (to crack down on club doctors not cracking down on concussions), they didn’t punish the clubs enough.”
“If you make clubs more accountable, you don’t need an independent doctor.
“The NRL have to punish clubs with heavy fines or a points deduction if you leave these players on the field when they need to come off.
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“You’ll get rid of it pretty quick.”
The choice to drag Ponga from the sphere sparked loads of date within the rugby league group.
Veteran journalist Brent Read and St George Illawarra Dragons prop Aaron Woods additionally weighed in on the subject on the Triple M Rocks Footy radio present on Saturday.
Read believed the fallacious name was made relating to Ponga.
“You could see that it was not a clear concussion so surely at that point the trainer should check on Kalyn rather than dragging him straight off,” Read stated.
Woods then claimed gamers have been instructed to not keep down within the hopes to attain a penalty in case the impartial physician confuses that for concussion signs.
“We tell our players to get up straight away because then if a player like Ben Hunt cops one and he gets up really slow, they’re going to be watching that closely, and we can’t lose a player like that,” Woods stated.
“But the issue with that is Woodsy, is that you’ll have players disguising concussions,” Read replied.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au