Bulldogs at centre of NRL investigation as 'rorting' claims emerge
The NRL is reportedly set to come down hard on the Canterbury Bulldogs after the club allegedly rorted concussion protocols in their opening round victory over the Cowboys.
The Bulldogs had four players got off for head injury assessments (HIA) during the match but held on to win 6-4.
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However the HIA of Jeremy Marshall-King has come under intense scrutiny after questions were raised about whether he was taken off so the Bulldogs could use a free interchange late in the match.
The NRL has reportedly reached out to Canterbury for an explanation after Marshall-King was taken from the field to undergo an HIA despite appearing to injure his shoulder.
Under the HIA system, teams can use a free interchange for a player who is forced to undergo a concussion test.
Fox League commentator Steve Roach said at the time: “Marshall-King with a shoulder injury by the looks of it."
Co-commentator Brenton Speed said: “You can hear what the home fans think. They think it’s a bit of gamesmanship here to slow this down.’’
Shane Flanagan added: “Now he’s undergoing a HIA test."
Roach then said: “I thought he was clutching his shoulder?”
News Corp journalist Dave Riccio revealed on NRL 360 on Tuesday night that the Bulldogs will be facing a fine if the NRL proves they rorted the system.
“The NRL will request a please explain in relation to this incident regarding Jeremy Marshall-King,” he said.
“The orange shirt trainer of the Dogs, indicates Marshall-King needs to be removed for a HIA check.
“They will be facing a significant fine if proven... the Dogs may have a legitimate response in relation to that he have hit his head on the way down.”
Paul Kent takes aim at clubs 'rorting' HIA system
The NRL has made internal changes to the bunker's independent doctor protocols this season in a bid to remove players from the field sooner after head knocks.
“They have used what appears to be a shoulder injury there to gain a free interchange by claiming it is a head injury, that is why we need the independent doctors there to stamp down on these things,” Paul Kent said.
“Coaches were faking head injuries to get free replacements and then other players who were a six or a seven or a nine or whatever who are important and needed to stay out there, they would try and say it is actually a shoulder injury, or it was a leg injury or whatever as to why he was slow to his feet.
“The coaches have surrendered the right to be in control of their own destiny, because the coaches were the ones rorting the rule and privately the doctors went to the NRL and said 'we are sick of being stuck in the middle here because we have the coach up here saying mate he is okay keep him on the field he’s not concussed’ when I can clearly see he is concussed and we need to get him off'.
“So the coaches, they have no one to blame but themselves because they do what they always do, they try and bend it to their own advantage.”
Under the new system unveiled at the weekend, an independent doctor can now rule players out of games after head knocks or tell clubs to remove them for an assessment.
“I have spoken to (NRL CEO) Andrew Abdo... he did admit there needs to be a little bit of massaging done as far as the speed goes to diagnose these because we saw the speed over the weekend when the players were playing three, four to ten minutes like Braidon Burns before the doctor actually got involved and said no you have got to get him off,” Kent said.
“Certainly that has to be fixed, but this is all about the welfare of the player, and we need to understand that and I know a couple of people have been critical of it already, but the players so far have been in support of it."
with AAP
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