Footy show mocked cult hero Mario Fenech when it knew he was sick:
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...k/news-story/cb8e4e2526230061c553cadb7ee7a6a7
Players union calls for overhaul of concussion rules after NRL Finals farce:
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/pl...s-after-nrl-finals-farce-20220917-p5bius.html
These two articles are also from the Sydney Morning Herald,
Mitchell moolah too good to be true
Souths officials are chuckling at reports that Latrell Mitchell is so marketable that he is now a $2 million-a-year player – not because they don’t think he is worth big money, but because a year ago the same media group, News Corp, was calling Mitchell all sorts of things after his tackle ended Joey Manu’s season.
And anyone who dared challenge the view that Mitchell was a thug – as this column did – was dismissed as someone who was just buttering up Mitchell to get an interview. We were not allowed to have an opinion.
The attacks were hard to read, but not as hard to fathom as the revelation, to News Corp types, that he is the game’s most marketable player.
Souths know who is talking up Mitchell’s price and why it’s being done. And it’s not his agents. It’s designed to put pressure on South Sydney’s salary cap.
Mitchell is not motivated by money, and never has been. He will be well rewarded when he signs his next deal – he is off contract at the end of the 2023 season – but he is a person who craves respect rather than riches. He won’t be a player who breaks his club’s salary cap and forces others out.
Head-scratcher
NRL players’ ability to beat the concussion system and either get back early or disguise symptoms has been an issue this week.
Those questioning the system will have more ammunition when they learn players may never see the independent doctors in person. NRL stars can Zoom with the independent doctors making season- and career-defining decisions about concussions.
There has been widespread confusion about what players have to do to get back on the field, and that’s not surprising because it’s a complex area. The NRL strongly recommends that the “graduated return to sport” strategy should follow current best practice after the initial 24-48 hour rest period.
Once a player returns to their pre-concussion baseline they can then begin a graded return to sport program, which includes:
■daily activities that do not provoke symptoms;
■ light aerobic exercise – walking or stationary cycling at slow to medium pace. No resistance training;
■sport-specific exercise – running or skating drills. No head impact activities;
■non-contact training drills – harder training drills, e.g passing. May start progressive resistance training;
■full contact practice – following medical clearance, participate in normal training activities
■return to play/sport.
It would be typical to have 24 hours (or longer) for each step of the progression. If any symptoms worsen while exercising, the player has to go back to the previous step. When a player is considered for an accelerated return to sport in less than 11 days, additional expert clinical opinion should be used.
