Ban kick-offs debate, concussions, James Graham vs Dean Ritchie, Moses Suli,
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Former NRL and England star James Graham is strongly against banning the kick-off as fierce debate rages after Moses Suli became the latest player knocked out off the opening play of a game.
St George Illawarra’s Suli clashed heads with Sydney Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as he tried to tackle him in the opening few seconds of their Anzac Day clash, with both coaches conceding after the game more needs to be done to protect players in kick-off situations.
Graham is an advocate for the understanding and treatment of concussions, estimating he suffered more than 100 in his career. However, in a passionate debate on Monday night’s NRL 360, he said scrapping the kick-off would be going too far.
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“If you want the game to be (completely) safe, you’re playing the wrong game,” Graham said.
“You’re watching the wrong game. You cannot… If you view the game through the prism of safety and that’s all you view it through.
“… Is there an unacceptable risk of injury (here)? I say no.”
Graham argued that Suli’s concussion was not caused by the kick-off, or his tackling technique, but unfortunate contact with teammate Jayden Su’a that put him in the path of Waerea-Hargreaves.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie — who strongly believes the game should explore the benefits of banning kick-offs — argued in response: “It doesn’t matter how it happens.
“It’s happening. It continues to happen. Whether a defender is nudged from left or the right-hand side, to me, isn’t a concern. It’s the fact that it is happening continuously.”
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“…These are people’s brains. And, Jimmy, you know this better than anybody.
“You had more than a hundred concussions and 18,000 collisions in your career, which is an unbelievably tough bloke you are.
“But you should know better than anybody the dangers of this kick-off.”
Graham responded: “Of course. I was attracted to the danger.”
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta sided with Graham and questioned why other measures could not be explored first before banning the kick-off.
“The kick-off is such an integral part of our game,” he said. “It’s what brings the fans through the gates.
“It’s what we sell subscriptions on TV. It’s why a lot of people watch the game. Yes, it’s the collision, but it’s the build-up. It’s the hype. It’s something that is so unique to our game that other games…
Read More: Ban kick-offs debate, concussions, James Graham vs Dean Ritchie, Moses Suli, 2024-04-29 21:37:55