Collins & the concussion crisis

[Tommy Smith]

The heavy concussion that Lindsay suffered was horrid to watch. He runs as hard as anyone I've ever seen; and given his size, speed and impact in the collision I think the concussion we saw on the weekend was sadly only a matter of time.

So what now for Lindsay? He joins a long list of Roosters with HIA concerns. Granted its only one so far, but one more this year and he joins the 'at risk' club.

Friendy and Cordner are almost at the point of retirement. There's a close watch on Keary. Teddy suffered two heavy knocks last year. And now Collins is on HIA watch.

But whilst we're the worst affected club by far - the Sydney 'ACL & HIA' Roosters? - it's still a huge concern across the league. The Sharks copped a few on Saturday. And generally there seems to be 1 every game.

As players get bigger and more powerful, with the collisions larger and the game faster, I don't see this issue slowing down.

We are at the forefront of the issue being hit the hardest. But soon enough every club will be in the same boat. It's a huge concern for the future of the game and the health of the players.

[zac]

no doubt it's a worry.
one of our much loved posters suggested the 10m might be partly to blame, giving players enough space to really do damage and that sounds right but going back to a 5m rule probably isn't an option.
what's the answer? in the too hard basket for me. one of the attractions of the game is that it's hard, so change is going to be very difficult

[Tommy Smith]

Yeah I didn't suggest an answer because I don't know what it is, either.

To be sure, I don't think the 6-again rule has helped at all. Increasing the speed of the game and the amount of collisions under fatigue.

[Roosterfarian]

I’m pretty sure that knuckle-head JWH was the one that floored him with some friendly fire. That’s not the first time he’s done something like that as well.

[dice]

I have a theory that the increase in concussions is due to the rule changes designed to protect against concussion. For example, consider that the HIA has given defenders an incentive to take opposition players out of the game. As I have already stated, the Storm intentionally drive players backwards and downwards to slam a players head into the ground. They concussed Cordner twice last year with this tactic.

NRL only seem interested in protecting themselves financially rather than be genuinely concerned about player welfare.

[ROC181]

The heavy concussion that Lindsay suffered was horrid to watch. He runs as hard as anyone I've ever seen; and given his size, speed and impact in the collision I think the concussion we saw on the weekend was sadly only a matter of time.

So what now for Lindsay? He joins a long list of Roosters with HIA concerns. Granted its only one so far, but one more this year and he joins the 'at risk' club.

Friendy and Cordner are almost at the point of retirement. There's a close watch on Keary. Teddy suffered two heavy knocks last year. And now Collins is on HIA watch.

But whilst we're the worst affected club by far - the Sydney 'ACL & HIA' Roosters? - it's still a huge concern across the league. The Sharks copped a few on Saturday. And generally there seems to be 1 every game.

As players get bigger and more powerful, with the collisions larger and the game faster, I don't see this issue slowing down.

We are at the forefront of the issue being hit the hardest. But soon enough every club will be in the same boat. It's a huge concern for the future of the game and the health of the players.

I'm sure Collins was taken off for concussion against the Storm in Suncorp, TS.

[fletch]

I'm sure Collins was taken off for concussion against the Storm in Suncorp, TS.

Yep Friday night wasn't Collins first concussion I also remember him missing a game after copping a hit at training which led to a concussion.

[GC6]

Fingers crossed Collins didn’t fracture/break his ankle.

[TeddyGoat]

His ankle is the main concern now - was spotted in a moon boot via nrlphysio

[Thirteen]

Surely Cords and Friend are one concussion away from retirement.

[The Skeez]

I’m pretty sure that knuckle-head JWH was the one that floored him with some friendly fire. That’s not the first time he’s done something like that as well.

I thought Jared would get at least fours weeks for that

[King Salvo]

If Collins is out that will be 9 unavailable from the 10 below with only Radley set to play - so the remaining "fit" 19 or 18 will all be selected in the 21 players squad on Tuesday- 2 or 3 from the Bears required.

• Lachlan Lam (knee, rounds 8-10)
• Lindsay Collins (ankle, TBA)
• Victor Radley (shoulder, round 4)
• Sam Verrills (knee, round 5)
• Adam Keighran (wrist, round 7)
• Billy Smith (shoulder, mid-season)
• Jake Friend (concussion, indefinite)
• Boyd Cordner (concussion, indefinite)
• Luke Keary (knee, season)
• Daniel Saluka-Fifita (round 5)

[King Salvo]

I have a theory that the increase in concussions is due to the rule changes designed to protect against concussion. For example, consider that the HIA has given defenders an incentive to take opposition players out of the game. As I have already stated, the Storm intentionally drive players backwards and downwards to slam a players head into the ground. They concussed Cordner twice last year with this tactic.

NRL only seem interested in protecting themselves financially rather than be genuinely concerned about player welfare.

I think it has to do with tackling techniques as hardly anyone tackles around the legs anymore - everyone goes high to stop the ball carrier and have him upright so they don't get a quick play the ball - The defender is either clashing heads with the attacking player or with the head of a fellow defender.

Friends one for instance tried to tackle the Manly player standing up - head clash and off.- JWH and Collins both going high and clash heads.- Collins off

I know players get their heads in the wrong position when tackling around the legs through poor technique - most likely because it's foreign for them to tackle around the legs anymore.

Of course making the game faster also is a contributing factor too as with tiredness and exhausted comes mistakes and injuries such as head clashes and concussions through a loss of technique and application.

Talk of an 18 player is long overdue although I think it should be 2 HIA Subs (18th and 19th player)- whether they will review these current rules in making the game faster mid season or end of season is unknown as surely something has to change.

[King Salvo]

The heavy concussion that Lindsay suffered was horrid to watch. He runs as hard as anyone I've ever seen; and given his size, speed and impact in the collision I think the concussion we saw on the weekend was sadly only a matter of time.

So what now for Lindsay? He joins a long list of Roosters with HIA concerns. Granted its only one so far, but one more this year and he joins the 'at risk' club.

Friendy and Cordner are almost at the point of retirement. There's a close watch on Keary. Teddy suffered two heavy knocks last year. And now Collins is on HIA watch.

But whilst we're the worst affected club by far - the Sydney 'ACL & HIA' Roosters? - it's still a huge concern across the league. The Sharks copped a few on Saturday. And generally there seems to be 1 every game.

As players get bigger and more powerful, with the collisions larger and the game faster, I don't see this issue slowing down.

We are at the forefront of the issue being hit the hardest. But soon enough every club will be in the same boat. It's a huge concern for the future of the game and the health of the players.

Its to do with the tackling technique hardly anyone tackles around the legs - they want to tackle the attacking player in such a away to keep them upright and then work them over and have them on their backs so it slows the play the ball down - If your tackling someone upright you have a greater risk of a head clash not only between the defender and the ball player but other defenders who are also tackling the same way.

If players tackle around the legs the ball carrier will get up and play the ball quicker than in a tackle i mention above.

Look at Friends concussions caused by attempting to tackle the ball carrier upright - Collins concusssion - both he and JWH attempting to tackle the ball carrier standing up - head clash.

Sure players can get concussion when being tackled through contacting with the ground with their heads and or tackling around the legs when they have their head in the wrong position

In you have a ball carrier and defender running at each other at relatively the speed and both upright - what are the chances of a head clash - quite high one would say.

You teach kids when they first start playing to tackle around the legs but as they progress through the age groups the current NRL style of tackling is trained into them and tackling around the legs techniques is less so.

I'm with Sterlo on this in not being a fan of the way the game is played nowadays - if i wanted to watch wrestling i will go to youtube and watch some old WWF video's not during an NRL game.

[dice]

I think it has to do with tackling techniques as hardly anyone tackles around the legs anymore - everyone goes high to stop the ball carrier and have him upright so they don't get a quick play the ball - The defender is either clashing heads with the attacking player or with the head of a fellow defender.

Friends one for instance tried to tackle the Manly player standing up - head clash and off.- JWH and Collins both going high and clash heads.- Collins off

I know players get their heads in the wrong position when tackling around the legs through poor technique - most likely because it's foreign for them to tackle around the legs anymore.

Of course making the game faster also is a contributing factor too as with tiredness and exhausted comes mistakes and injuries such as head clashes and concussions through a loss of technique and application.

Talk of an 18 player is long overdue although I think it should be 2 HIA Subs (18th and 19th player)- whether they will review these current rules in making the game faster mid season or end of season is unknown as surely something has to change.

I could make the argument that banning the shoulder charge has forced the little blokes to put themselves at higher risk when making a tackle. Many of the concussed tacklers are little blokes making tackle around the hips, or a headclash. Many of these incidents would have historically been a Chris Sandow type pitiful shoulder charge.