Concussion expert says NRL is right

GLOBAL concussion crusader Chris Nowinski has backed the NRL’s stance on contact with the head and urged the game’s decision-makers to stare down their critics if they want to guarantee the sport’s future.

Nowinski, the co-founder and chief executive of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, has been at the forefront of the concussion debate in the US for more than a decade. He was also a pivotal figure in the establishment of the Australian sports brain bank.

At times in recent years he has been critical of the NRL’s attitude towards concussion.

He has, however, given unmitigated support after it used Magic Round to launch a blitz on incidents involving contact with the head amid concerns about the impact it was having on parents and the threat of potential legal action.

“It was an inevitable step and we might as well do it now,” he said.