Experts key in concussion issue: V’landys

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has declared that the independent doctor is here to stay and hit back at Canterbury head of football Phil Gould over his criticism of the NRL’s handling of concussion, insisting that head office will be guided by the experts not emotion.

V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo have been under fire from several coaches and commentators after an opening round when the independent doctor’s influence on the game was more pronounced than ever.

V’landys told News Corp on Thursday morning that rather than reeling back the use of technology, the game was investigating whether to expand its use as it moves towards introducing a mandatory standdown period for head knocks.

“Is the independent doctor here to stay? Absolutely,” V’landys said.

“We will take no shortcuts with player welfare, we will use all the technology available to us including an independent doctor with a number of TV screens that can see every angle.

“When they work in partnership with the club doctor, you have the optimum situation. We signalled our intention that we would protect the players’ head and we are going to continue that journey of protection with more things rather than less. We won’t be at all swayed by anyone with a view that is not medical.”

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett and Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo were among the highprofile coaches who were critical of the current system.

However, the most incendiary comments were made by Gould during an appearance on the Nine Network on Monday night. Gould called the independent doctor the greatest abomination in the game’s history and slammed the way the game had handled what he called “concussion hysteria”.

V’landys made no apologies for head office’s stance as he conceded he and Gould were poles apart when it came to the issue of concussion.

“There is no secret that Gus and I have a significantly different viewpoint on this,” V’landys said.

“I didn’t see with due respect to Gus that he is a neurologist. He is a commentator and he is entitled to his views but we will take the views of the experts – of the medical and scientific evidence.

“That’s the view we take. We take fact-based information and act on fact-based information. We are not going to act on media commentators’ views with due respect.

“As custodians of the game, we take player welfare probably the most serious of any issue.”