Player Eliesa Katoa

[MrFrankWhite]

Slightly controversial opinion here, but Katoa is partly responsible here

If you take a heavy hit to the head and don't tell someone you feel out of sorts, it makes the medical and coaching staff's jobs harder to do

Players are good about speaking up when they tweak their hammies. They also have a responsibility to ensure staff know what's going on upstairs

Obviously the medical and training staff have the main responsibility, and collectively here they've looked the other way - probably because he's one of Tonga's best players. But players too have an obligation here, especially when it isn't physically obvious

You do realise concussion effects decision making yeah?

 

[Matiunz]

Slightly controversial opinion here, but Katoa is partly responsible here

If you take a heavy hit to the head and don't tell someone you feel out of sorts, it makes the medical and coaching staff's jobs harder to do

Players are good about speaking up when they tweak their hammies. They also have a responsibility to ensure staff know what's going on upstairs

Obviously the medical and training staff have the main responsibility, and collectively here they've looked the other way - probably because he's one of Tonga's best players. But players too have an obligation here, especially when it isn't physically obvious

100% Eli likely didn’t let on how bad the hit rocked him- he’d not wanna feel like he’s letting his team down and would be itching to play.
This situation though needs to be taken completely out of the players hands as they’re in no state to make rational decisions

 

[defensivebomb]

I'm certainly not excusing the coaches and medical team. They shoulder the blame

But players need to look out for themselves too. If a 5/8 can pull himself from the game for self preservation, then a player should also do the same if they feel like their head has been snapped back and they feel groggy.

It's accepted to put your hand up if you've pulled a muscle. But nobody puts their hand up if they are seeing stars. The culture isn't to do so, but needs to change, particularly with everything we read about CTE

The whole game puts all the onus on the medical staff. Which is fine, but an upshot of that is everyone (players, coaches, refs, fans) expects that it's play on if the medical staff don't say anything. That's not a strong enough system to prevent this sort of thing happening

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I'm certainly not excusing the coaches and medical team. They shoulder the blame

But players need to look out for themselves too. If a 5/8 can pull himself from the game for self preservation, then a player should also do the same if they feel like their head has been snapped back and they feel groggy.

It's accepted to put your hand up if you've pulled a muscle. But nobody puts their hand up if they are seeing stars. The culture isn't to do so, but needs to change, particularly with everything we read about CTE

The whole game puts all the onus on the medical staff. Which is fine, but an upshot of that is everyone (players, coaches, refs, fans) expects that it's play on if the medical staff don't say anything. That's not a strong enough system to prevent this sort of thing happening

I deffo see where you're coming from, but imo you then open yourself up to a lot of madness...

Kikau got hit in the head during one of their finals appearance, and while he was cleared and came back on, after the game he declared that he essentially wouldn't go and see a doctor that following week, in case he had a fracture and couldn't play. Some applauded his mentality in the media but I was thinking what the actual fook....
Imo if you give the player the chance, you're going to have many players trying to be tough nuts, and we'd see several serious injuries as a result

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I'm certainly not excusing the coaches and medical team. They shoulder the blame

But players need to look out for themselves too. If a 5/8 can pull himself from the game for self preservation, then a player should also do the same if they feel like their head has been snapped back and they feel groggy.

It's accepted to put your hand up if you've pulled a muscle. But nobody puts their hand up if they are seeing stars. The culture isn't to do so, but needs to change, particularly with everything we read about CTE

The whole game puts all the onus on the medical staff. Which is fine, but an upshot of that is everyone (players, coaches, refs, fans) expects that it's play on if the medical staff don't say anything. That's not a strong enough system to prevent this sort of thing happening

This saga is a textbook example of why the independent doctors were brought into contact sports in the first place.

You cannot trust a player to do what’s in his long term best health interests. You cannot trust the team to do it either.

Tough guys will pretend they aren’t hurt and teams will do what they need to in order to win.

It’s disgusting and everyone high enough in the Tonga coaching staff should get sanctioned. If you make coaches liable it will sort itself quick asf.

 

[Noitall]

I deffo see where you're coming from, but imo you then open yourself up to a lot of madness...

Kikau got hit in the head during one of their finals appearance, and while he was cleared and came back on, after the game he declared that he essentially wouldn't go and see a doctor that following week, in case he had a fracture and couldn't play. Some applauded his mentality in the media but I was thinking what the actual fook....
Imo if you give the player the chance, you're going to have many players trying to be tough nuts, and we'd see several serious injuries as a result

I recorded sharko on Sunday and finally watched it last night, the documentary about Mark Graham. I feel like the type of attitude from that era is still present today and it viewed as a badge of honour to line up to play no matter the ailment and viewed as letting coaches, players, fans and the club down. Even the nrl plays up to this with the likes of DWZ one of the most criticised for staying down, and the nrl tries to encourage the player to get up despite the potential effects of an illegal tackle and deemed a hollywood. You can see players try to hide the effects at times when hit high knowing they’re going to be taken to the sideline

 

[John Nick]

I recorded sharko on Sunday and finally watched it last night, the documentary about Mark Graham. I feel like the type of attitude from that era is still present today and it viewed as a badge of honour to line up to play no matter the ailment and viewed as letting coaches, players, fans and the club down. Even the nrl plays up to this with the likes of DWZ one of the most criticised for staying down, and the nrl tries to encourage the player to get up despite the potential effects of an illegal tackle and deemed a hollywood. You can see players try to hide the effects at times when hit high knowing they’re going to be taken to the sideline

I watched the show with interest as I played in the era and against Mark Graham. I think our ignorance on the subject was the biggest problem as we never heard or thought about the damage that might be occurring. Only now that science has caught up and increased the awareness.

 

[Noitall]

I watched the show with interest as I played in the era and against Mark Graham. I think our ignorance on the subject was the biggest problem as we never heard or thought about the damage that might be occurring. Only now that science has caught up and increased the awareness.

With the effects of boxers being known for some time and the nfl having lawsuits decades ago, it seems ignorant to the point of ridiculous to think there not be consideration that similar things were happening. His era and yours had to contend with players deliberately harming him any way possible to which those days seem largely gone

 

[Brightman]

It’s disgusting and everyone high enough in the Tonga coaching staff should get sanctioned.

Send 'em back to Tier 3!!