LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Former NRL player Luke Keary has expressed concerns that concussion testing for athletes has become too lenient and requires reform. The management of head injuries and concussion protocols remain hot topics within NRL discussions, particularly regarding the independent doctor assessments, which sometimes leave fans and analysts puzzled by players' test results.
While some argue that concussion tests, which reportedly include challenging tasks like reciting the alphabet backwards, are rigorous, Keary contends on SEN Radio that players find them insufficiently challenging.
"We've come a long way," Keary remarked during his appearance on SEN 1170 Breakfast. "The first three-or-four-years were getting woken up by the smelling salts and getting back out there, and then obviously it turned into all the testing we have today. I think we're nearly at the point where we need to change because I know as a player… the testing's the same every year and you're doing the same tests… you've basically done it so many times now, you know what you're in for. You can kind of get through it. I know players that can do it when they're in a bad way."
Keary's observations highlight a critical conversation around ensuring player safety and the integrity of concussion protocols in sports. The current process, he suggests, may not adequately prevent players who are suffering from concussion symptoms from returning to the game too soon.