Rugby league legend Andrew Johns says the NRL should think about a break between the preliminary closing and the grand closing to accommodate the newly launched concussion protocols, even if senior figures on the NRL have already dominated it out.
The league has launched a compulsory 11-day stand-down interval for any participant recognized with a class one concussion, both throughout a sport or at coaching.
The necessary interval takes the ability away from membership medical doctors to find out if a participant can line up the next week after struggling a foul concussion.
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And whereas Johns has no qualms with the brand new rule, he’s involved it has the potential to rule gamers out of huge video games, like finals or State of Origins.
Chatting with Vast World of Sports activities’ Immortal Behaviour, the Knights legend stated there needed to be a approach to keep away from such a conundrum.
“What we have to do, without a doubt, is have a week off before the grand final,” Johns stated.
“If the Roosters and the Rabbitohs are playing in the grand final, and god forbid Latrell Mitchell gets (concussed) in the (preliminary final) and he can’t play in the grand final, can you imagine the let down?
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“Have the weekend off, have a two-week build-up for the sport, then the celebs can all play.
“Also that way if someone gets a niggle, sprains an ankle, you give them 14 days to recover.
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“I believe it is one thing we have to discuss.”
Yet, even before that discussion has had time to build momentum it has reportedly been squashed at head office, where News Corp reports there is no appetite for a two-week build-up to the big dance.
This view has been taken despite the fact that other professional competitions around the world have been successful in introducing breaks leading up to big events.
The NFL in America has two weeks between the conference finals and the Super Bowl, while the AFL has a general bye between the last round of the regular season and the first week of the finals series.
“I believe we undoubtedly need to have the dialog a couple of week off,” Johns continued.
“Huge video games, grand finals, we want all of the superstars.”
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