Andrew Johns believes independent doctors need to be present at the ground to rule on whether a player should leave the field for a head injury assessment.
Several coaches have already voiced their concerns with the handling of head knocks over the opening round of the 2023 season.
Fans have been left scratching their heads as players who appeared fine following contact to the head were made to leave the field for a HIA, as ordered by an independent doctor.
Speaking on the Sunday Footy Show, Johns said the system needs some work.
“The doctor’s got to be at the ground,” the Immortal said.
“I think you’re questioning the integrity of the club doctors too.
“This is all happening because we’re terrified of getting sued.
“That’s why it’s happening but there’s got to be an independent doctor at the ground who assesses the player, face to face.”
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and Newcastle boss Adam O’Brien spoke of their issues with the system following their respective sides’ losses in round one.
“The RLPA and the NRL, they don’t trust coaches,” Stuart said after he was forced into a reshuffle when fullback Sebastian Kris was made to come off.
“Do you think I would let a player play if he had a concussion or he was concussed?
“I don’t just trust the player’s comments when he comes to the sideline – he is down getting his leg attended to…he was very coherent.
"That didn’t help us in that game…the RLPA don’t trust coaches.
“All they want to do is come and talk to me about how much time off the players are going to get and how much more money.”
😠 "No trust"
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) March 5, 2023
🤨 "Confusing"
Are there problems with the independent doctor and concussion protocols? And what needs to be done? 🤔
🖥️ Sunday Footy Show | https://t.co/7lWUfbYKkz#9WWOS #NRL pic.twitter.com/idRiljWqk7
Fellow Sunday Footy Show panellist Brad Fittler sympathised with his former coach.
“I felt like a lot of the decisions to bring players [off for a HIA] were confusing,” Fittler said, adding the independent doctor needs to liaise with those at the ground before making a call.
“Maximum communication is the key without a doubt.
“I think they should be able to communicate with people at the ground.”
The current HIA process, involving an independent doctor assessing incident from the bunker, has been in place since the start of last season.
It may be too early to tell, but so far in 2023, it appears the threshold for what requires a HIA has been lowered.
Just how this develops over the season is likely to be remain a key point of contention.
