Would be interesting to know the numbers over the last 5 years for HIAs for D vs A... ie how many attacking players struck in the bogging vs how many defenders aiming low being knocked out by a knee or hip...
Then throw in friendly fire head knocks...

Shirley the NRLol has the data on this and that data has been carefully considered when implementing mandates to avoid possible  litigation...

I find it laughable that the reason ‘hitting blokes in the head has always been against the rules’ is trotted out when so many rules.have been ignored over the past 15 years... especially the PTB...

Technically the defender does it to themselves, if they initate contact.
Lawyers split hairs like that, even when sports fans don't.

But I wonder why headgear isn't mandatory, not a total solution but it would help.

I think headgear mainly helps protect against cuts. The brain still bounces around inside the skull.

Another pet hate of mine is seeing big forwards at 5/8 or elsewhere in the backline at scrums.  Good backline movements from these set pieces are thus unlikely. I know it's a pinch from Union but I would like the ref to call the packs to engage then ball in.  Backs could be backs and forwards could be forwards.  With the resulting push you could destroy the opposition pack, opening up opportunities and bring back lost skills.

They say it’s proven footy headgear doesn’t positively affect concussion outcomes, only cuts... maybe boxing headgear is the way to go..NFL. Helmets allegedly as bad if not worse than nothing...

aas did the defender doing it to themselves, could the same argument be made fir someone ducking into a tackle???...

Will be an interesting game in years to come with players only allowed to tackle above hip and below shoulder... while the ball runner must remain erect...

So ok to hit the likes of Napa and Elliot in the head then???...

I expect Elliot will be Dally M...

Well said Dman

It will dampen the impact, so the brain will move less.

There is no simple total solution, but we want to reduce frequency and severity.

There’s argument that headgear, like boxing gloves, spread the impact and add to the mass effect.

I would like to see a study on this.

Crumple zones in cars apparently reduce the impact g-force of the collision.

The NRL would be well advised to ask a Uni to study this area and design better headgear.
A Uni can use dummies with build in sensors.

I may be that the best headgear has ballon sections designed to pop and needs to be refurbished or replaced after a heavy impact. I am saying air-filled becuase air is compressable and light.

Just use Google. Type “headgear and concussion”. Studies galore.

Ok, point taken.

These studies we talking about conventional headgear not something specifically designed to reduce concussions.
Not saying that is possible, just worth trying to find out.

Given that the body is coming to a complete stop that is hard, but we want to slow the decleration of the head.

It is hard to reduce the risk, unless we slow down the speed players are travelling.which would detract from the game.

There is a simple solution.... ban contact sports.

Yes. One of the key elements missing.

I think you'd have to crumble zone the skull

I love the way the media describes someone like Jamil Hopoate when they get into trouble as an NRL star. He's not a star, a star is a principal performer, he was a fringe first grader.

Too bad for us it wasnt Will Hopoate that was jailed...

That is in extreme poor taste even by your lofty standards of same

Oh ok....let me re-phrase
Too bad it wasn't Will who has to stand down under the NRLs no fault stand down policy....

People get hit in a hard front on tackle and even bounce back, they rarely get kocked out from the g-force.

On carnival rides etc, g-forces can kock people out.

My conclusion, tackles rarely knock people out, but  they do with direct blow to head.
A blow to the head is sudden jerky deceleration, like a rollercoaster, to overcome that you must aborb a lot of energy.

Villi's is writing the club poor performance stand down policy - will Hoppa be safe? 😉

Villii can write???...

There is some evidence to suggest that sub concussive impacts are cumulative and contribute to CTE and later mood or behavioural problems.  Being knocked out is not the defining indicator.

U don’t need to get knocked out to suffer concussion...and plenty of evidence about to say repetitive ‘soft’ knocks have a cumulatively negative impact...

Players will simply have to sign off that they can’t sue the game or other players for the effects of getting hit in the head... I reckon 99.9% today and yesterday would... cos they love to play... even those that don’t get paid.... it’s fvcking sport for Vick’s sake... 

Then parents wil have to get formal consent for their kids to play juniors...

The issue is so much bigger than footy... I’m not old enough to remember the Brigham thing.... that’s how long at least the ‘current’ ‘ real issue’ has been an issue...

I’m glad I grew up when I did... and I’m glad I’m not gonna be here to see what the anti fun anti risk world completely controlled by lawyers, insurance companies, and Instagram will look like in 50 years...

Enjoy doing nothing fun you soft litigious woke transhuman cvnts who lack accountability...

#banrollercoasters...
#thinkabloutthejids...

He just needs a thumbs up or down emoji for each player ... can he manage that?

Opposable digits are his greatest asset.... 

Same here, there is a lot of things we did growing up that kids probably can't experience today.

And it will only advance... Contact sport will not exist.... then non contact.. driving... swimming at the beach... Leaving your pod..

But that’s ‘progress’....  

And that’s ok... cos future generations will have been convinced they will be able to experience what is was like without the consequence, lesson, or real feeling courtesy of whatever system they are permanently wired up to... wirelessly...

Amazonia, Googland, and Muskville the Utopia... all supported by ‘elected officials’...

To think... Covid almost got us to a point where we could ban everything... hopefully the next virus does the job properly...