NRL warns players staying down for penalties risk being sent for concussion tests
Players who stay on the ground after contact waiting for refereeing intervention will continue to be sent for concussion tests after another weekend in which the “milking” debate reared its head.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley confirmed on Monday the remote independent doctor would be vigilant in ensuring players who are “slow to stand” subsequently undergo 15-minute head injury assessments, while also admitting the bunker had blundered in awarding Manly a controversial try.
The “milking” issue flared up in the Roosters’ defeat of the Eels on Saturday night when, most notably, Kelma Tuilagi was slow to return to his feet after a tackle, ultimately winning a penalty after a lengthy delay.
The following day, Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan was ordered off the field to undergo a concussion test after being slow getting up from a hit from Haumole Olakau’atu, prompting referee Peter Gough and the bunker to also award a penalty.
Annesley was at pains to point out he wasn’t accusing players of feigning injury, but said those who stayed on the ground for extended periods run the risk of being sent for HIAs.
“One of the signs the independent doctor in the bunker looks for is any player who is slow to stand after any kind of head contact, whether it be accidental or as a result of foul play,” Annesley said.
Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan is chipped by Manly’s daly Cherry-Evans after being sent for a concussion test.
“While I’m not suggesting that players may be feigning injury in an attempt to receive a penalty, players who do not regain their feet within 15 seconds after identifiable head contact, will generally find they are removed to undergo a head injury assessment.
“In the case of minor head or neck contact, the bunker match official will only intervene if the contact is deemed to be at least a reportable incident.”
The warning came after the Dragons received an apology from the NRL over a decision to contentiously award a try to Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu in their costly defeat to the Sea Eagles.
Flanagan appeared to be obstructed by Ben Trbojevic as he ran a decoy line before Olakau’atu shrugged off an attempted tackle from the St George Illawarra star to score.
The bunker officials gave the green light for the try, which infuriated Dragons officials as the decimated Sea Eagles overcame an enormous injury toll to run away with the match in the second half.
“The bunker decisions on obstruction are controversial at times,” Annesley said. “We are the first to admit that. We do go through and look at a lot of these. They often divide opinion.
“On balance, we’ve looked at this [Monday] morning. Admittedly, we’ve looked at it with much more time than the bunker had to look at this, but it doesn’t take away from the fact, in our view based on the way we have ruled on these in previous cases, this try should have been overturned and not upheld.”
Meanwhile, Tuilagi will head to the judiciary on Tuesday night as he fights for a downgrade to his dangerous throw charge for a horror tackle on Lindsay Collins. If he’s unsuccessful, he will be suspended for five matches.
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