john nick
I played in the sixties when stiff arms were very common.About 7 years ago I suffered a stroke .Have wondered ever since if the stroke was in any way connected with my playing days .12 years of senior RL
From a complete outsiders point of view. Vilandys has gone completely overboard regards his new high tackling rules. Anyone, refs included can tell when a stiff arm is used and penalise appropriately. This slipping up off the shoulder on report stuff is absolutely ruining the game for the players as well as the spectators. The worst thing for a head knock usually happens by accident and by 2 team members in the tackle (head clash). With this all in mind I hope the players unite and force this idiot Vilandys out.
Stars revolt: Big-name players plotting to remove V’landys
The future of Peter V’landys as the game’s leader could be under threat as he faces a rebellion for his handling of the high-tackle crackdown.www.google.com.au
Be interesting to see which way this one falls
defensivebomb
I recently spoke with a doctor that I know socially about this, whose mentor is a well-respected head trauma specialist in the states. The biggest issue for players isn't so much the occasional head high, it is the trauma in players' brains constantly hitting the inside of their skull when they accelerate / decelerate during tackles, hitting the ground, getting tackled and making tackles. These tiny trauma add up over a player's career and the payback is later in life. Similar to a boxer - they get punch drunk from the hundreds / thousands of jabs. Not so much the haymaker KOs (although those don't help).
Get up to 35-40kph from the back fence, then get stopped in your tracks by a couple of props. The brain keeps moving at 35-40kph until it is made to slow down. Against your own skull. The same physics happens regardless of whether the tackle is legal or not. Imagine what that does over 20 years.
The crackdown on head highs recently is working on the margins, but unless the game is played completely differently (e.g. touch), then head trauma will always be an issue. What Vlandys is doing is lip service really. If he indeed cared about head injuries as much as he seems to, he'd ban rugby league. But he's not, so maybe this is his way of getting the sport to last longer in a modern era.
I'm not a fan of the crackdown as I personally love a spectacle. But I probably wouldn't be too comfortable about my kids playing.
john nick
Not so much changing the rules but interpretation. Always been illegal to make contact with the head accidentally or intentionally
bruce
Contributor
Yes, way back to 1896, somebody forgot to tell the English coalminers
Peter Fitzsimons wrote a good piece on this a couple of years ago.
His point of focus was actually the concussion in NFL, but he stated the obvious the only way forward was to to ban the game completely, and as an after thought he said the same went for both rugby codes.
One guy who I was really surprised at having to retire early was Shontayne Hapi.
Shontayne was so big and tall I doubt he got too many head high tackles, and with his size was probably as heavy if not heavier than most guys who tackled him.
I doubt Vlandys knows of Shontayne, but he is living proof that we play a dangerous game.
Also another after thought, years after I had retired from the game I played a couple of social games, one league and one union in the same year.
Apart from a punch up in the front row, which I admit I was prone to, I could have run around all day with making a decent tackle in the union game.
The league game was entirely different. There were no head highs, but the running was committed and in comparison the tackles had to be committed as well.
By that stage I had more respect for my well being and sort of wondered how crazy I had been to abuse my body/head so much.
Just saying like.
john nick
I am certain that there is a connection between head knocks and brain problems. K.Sterling and Steve Mortimer come to mind. Must be thousands of others. Peter Fitzsimmons is pretty thick also 😍Yes, way back to 1896, somebody forgot to tell the English coalminers
Peter Fitzsimons wrote a good piece on this a couple of years ago.
His point of focus was actually the concussion in NFL, but he stated the obvious the only way forward was to to ban the game completely, and as an after thought he said the same went for both rugby codes.
One guy who I was really surprised at having to retire early was Shontayne Hapi.
Shontayne was so big and tall I doubt he got too many head high tackles, and with his size was probably as heavy if not heavier than most guys who tackled him.
I doubt Vlandys knows of Shontayne, but he is living proof that we play a dangerous game.
Also another after thought, years after I had retired from the game I played a couple of social games, one league and one union in the same year.
Apart from a punch up in the front row, which I admit I was prone to, I could have run around all day with making a decent tackle in the union game.
The league game was entirely different. There were no head highs, but the running was committed and in comparison the tackles had to be committed as well.
By that stage I had more respect for my well being and sort of wondered how crazy I had been to abuse my body/head so much.
Just saying like.
bruce
Contributor
Thank you for your well researched and considered comments.
Peter Fitzsimons is a lot of things, but thick ain't one of them.
In NFL I don't recall that head high tackles are usual, and they wear helmets.
john nick
Let me tell you that PF comes across as thick. Ask his ex. Plenty of head high tackles in NFL. Thanks for your ill researched and ill considered comments 🙂Thank you for your well researched and considered comments.
Peter Fitzsimons is a lot of things, but thick ain't one of them.
In NFL I don't recall that head high tackles are usual, and they wear helmets.
bruce
Contributor
The guys is that thick he has had 27 books published.
I won't ask you how many you have had published.
He is a self admitted egotist. He has only been married once.
He does tend to get his facts right. Close the door on the way out.
Inruin
Contributor
Pretty good movie about NFL concussions with Will Smith in it. While the head knocks certainly don't help it was more about the high intensity collisions causing big issuesThank you for your well researched and considered comments.
Peter Fitzsimons is a lot of things, but thick ain't one of them.
In NFL I don't recall that head high tackles are usual, and they wear helmets.
john nick
Plenty of NFL players are now coming out with head disorders and dementia strokes etc. Helmets and all
john nick
Please understand that my comments were mainly because you mentioned coalminers back in 1896.Times have changed
john nick
Rick O'Shay
Contributor
I'm thinking V'Landys is cleaning the house up in case of future litigation as we have seen overseas.
As an employer they are having to take all practical steps to ensure health and safety (while still maintaining the code)
Pretty big job
As an employer they are having to take all practical steps to ensure health and safety (while still maintaining the code)
Pretty big job
john nick
Yes you are right. Huge job but only enforcing the current rules. The problem is the interpretation by the refs and their inconsistencies. However they have a very hard job to please everyone
gREVUS
Long live the Rainbows and Butterflies
Contributor
i thought one of the commentators said it best. it is the player who choses to tackle in a way that ends up with head contact. he could have gone lower, this was a choice he made. given the current rules a poor one.
its really hard to connect with the head if ypur tackling under the ribs or lower
matiunz
This year yet?
Contributor
NFL one I believe is more head clashes, some players will even lead with the head.Thank you for your well researched and considered comments.
Peter Fitzsimons is a lot of things, but thick ain't one of them.
In NFL I don't recall that head high tackles are usual, and they wear helmets.
think it was Sup42 that mentioned the high velocity coming to a sudden stop does a great deal of damage- regardless of helmets
gREVUS
Long live the Rainbows and Butterflies
Contributor
and i just watched josh morris take a shot to the head, about a foot off the geound as he tried to score that was rulled a head high penalty. and i really couldn't see how the defender could avoid it. so whT do i know.
Tonbridge (Swanley)
Agree, it's the ones where the attacker is falling I have issues with.
case in point, Burrs 10 minutes against Tedesco, I mean come on, what is he supposed to do?
We really need the video ref to make a decision on the day about penalty, 10 minutes or off...
There should be someone watching the game the whole time advising the referee just on high shots.
snake77
The last few weeks has highlighted Tedesco having a bad habit of lowering himself at the line. I know the emphasis is on the tackler but if it keeps happening to the same ball carrier its not just someone out to take out a key player. At some point the player needs to fix up their habits for their own long term safety.
Robinson said its cause he takes the ball directly to the line which makes the special players as they give themselves as late as possible. That's fair but most of them don't drop down low doing it.
Robinson said its cause he takes the ball directly to the line which makes the special players as they give themselves as late as possible. That's fair but most of them don't drop down low doing it.
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