‘He wouldn’t be playing’: Calls for Super Bowl solution amid fears trend could ruin Grand Final

Debate is on the table whether the NRL Grand Final should be played two weeks after the prelims on the back of current concussion rules.

As it stands a player is automatically stood down for 11 days following a category one HIA, with a longer break between the final two rounds of finals also allowing players with lingering injuries crucial time to freshen up.

The Super Bowl is currently played a fortnight after the NFL conference finals providing the chance for a huge build-up and players to get their bodies in as optimal condition as possible.

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NRL 360 host Braith Anasta cited the potential plight of Roosters enforcer Lindsay Collins who was ruled out of Friday night’s preliminary final with concussion who would miss this weekend’s grand final had the Roosters defeated the Storm.

“The only thing I sort of think of is that if they had won Linsday Collins wouldn’t be playing this weekend,” Anasta said.

The Australian’s Brent Read said a two-week break following the preliminary finals was a logical move considering the huge ramifications posed to teams whose players suffer concussions and are then ruled out.

“Like the Super Bowl they need to bring in a two-week break,” he said.

“Lindsay Collins for example wouldn’t play in a grand final because he couldn’t play a week later. In America they have a two-week break between the conference games and the Super Bowl.

“If you look at a two-week break between the prelims and the final so that players that get concussions are able to play in the grand final. Pumping it up and playing the Prime Minister’s XIII in the middle.”

Anasta said it would also be beneficial for players battling injury such as Penrith’s Nathan Cleary who enters Sunday’s grand final with a worrying shoulder complaint.

“If he had an extra week off he would be fit and healthier on grand final day,” he said.

Cleary has been battling a shoulder concern and clutched at the injury during the Panthers’ grand final qualifying win over Cronulla.

Read said Penrith didn’t seem too worried about their star half’s health heading into the big dance.

“I don’t think they’ve got many concerns at all Braith. He reached for it (shoulder) on Saturday night and stayed on the field for a few more minutes and then eventually came off for a rest,” he said.

“I think if there was any serious concern they would have him straight off but they didn’t – he kept playing.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said some key figures in the game held grave fears for the three-time premiership-winning No.7’s ability to get through 80 minutes of football.

“There are some respected people NRL physio Brien Seeney and Nathan Gibbs have both expressed concern about it,” he said.

“Why do you think they’re carrying Brad Schneider on the bench. There’s obviously a concern there.

“But the bloke is an off the charts champion.”

Fellow panellist Gorden Tallis said he expected Cleary to handle the traffic which is surely set to come his way.

“I think he’s proven (himself). Roosters are a big heavyweight and he had Crichton in front of him who is a good ball runner and they couldn’t get him,” he said.

“So I think Storm they tried it with Cooper Cronk and it didn’t quite work I think Melbourne just need to play their own game.”

Meanwhile, Rothfield said Cleary’s toughness and brilliance now had him on par with former greats Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston.

“I think people have been trying to target Nathan injured all year,” he said. I don’t want to start this argument again but he is Johns and Thurston wrapped up in one.

“Five straight grand finals. He won a Brad Fittler medal.”

Read said Cleary had some ways to go before being mentioned in the same breath as those two.

“He’s not there yet,” he said. “He’s not Johnathan Thurston yet.

“He’s a great player and might finish his career alongside those blokes.

“In six years time I’ll tell you if he’s Johnathan Thurston.”