Why the NRL needs a 'concussion replacement player'

Tyson Frizell’s high tackle on Tim Browne on Sunday is the perfect example of why the NRL needs to introduce a ‘concussion replacement player’ for incidents of foul play.

Browne was knocked out cold by the high shot and would not have been allowed to return to the field under the NRL’s new policy for handling concussions.

The Bulldogs were subsequently reduced to 16 men for the remainder of the game.

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Some would say Frizell should have been sent off to level the playing field, but perhaps a better option would be to give the Bulldogs a fresh player.

Each team should be allowed to name an 18th man who can be used when concussed players cannot return to the field due to foul play.

The decision to place Frizell on report and allow him to stay on the field has been heavily criticised by fans and sections of the media.

However, the Dragons forward did not deserve to be marched.

The contact with Browne’s head was largely accidental. The Bulldogs forward was falling in the tackle after initially being hit low by Jack De Belin. Frizell’s arm was well below his own shoulder height and his fist was not clenched – a clear indicator of a ‘swinging arm’ tackle.

Even Canterbury coach Des Hasler was happy with the decision not to send Frizell off.

"He was probably second man in on the tackle if I can recall.

"The tackle was on report, let's hope the match review committee don't miss it and they will deal with it accordingly.

But the two-time premiership winner joined the growing chorus of voices within the NRL calling for changes to be made to the interchange rules to accommodate the new concussion laws.

"It raises the point, there has been a lot of talk about concussion, there has been a lot of talk about interchange, if they are going to drop it to eight or to six, whatever number they drop it to, the impact of something like today I will be interested what they come up with.

"They are going to have to give it some consideration."

What Des is trying to say, is every team needs to be given an 18th man who can be used to replace players who have been concussed due to foul play.

There is no use penalising teams who are disadvantaged by no fault of their own.

Fans took to social media during the game to express their bewilderment at the non send-off:

But instead of laying the blame on referees or Frizell, we should be rallying the NRL for a concussion replacement player to be introduced.

With added pressure on players and club doctors to abide by the new concussion rules, this is the only way to avoid further send-off debates.