NRL urged to stand down concussed players for three weeks

The former England international said that, now that his career was over, he wouldn’t alter the course of events.

“I’m not going to betray my former self, because I was who I was,” he said.

“Rugby was the be all and potential end all of my life. I have to probably live with that forever.”

Graham conceded that some of the seemingly blase comments he made regarding concussions during his career was a case of creating a tough-guy image.

“That was my public persona,” he said. “Part of that was having the reputation on the field of being a guy that didn’t really care; wanting to be that guy, wanting to be feared and stuff like that.

“As I went on the journey, I asked the doctor some questions about the risks and asked myself some questions. Was I going to privilege the present over the future?

“I decided that I was going to privilege the present over the future. I was willing to take on those risks.

“That’s not discounting any of these terribly sad cases where we see [former players], not just rugby league professionals but in all the sports, have some serious degenerative brain issues.”

Asked whether Roosters skipper Friend should retire, Graham said, in part: “I’m not saying concussion is a good thing. Jake’s wellbeing should be at the forefront of his thoughts, but there could be some things further down the stream if he just hangs up there boots now that could be catastrophic as a result.”

Graham’s comments came on the same day as a leading concussion clinician who treated Boyd Cordner after his latest head knock used Brain Awareness Week to advocate for three-week mandatory stand downs for concussed NRL players.

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Dr Rowena Mobbs, the clinical co-director at the Australian Sports Brain Bank, has treated many athletes for the lingering symptoms of concussion, including Boyd Cordner. She urged the NRL to introduce longer mandated stand-down periods for concussed players.

“A conservative estimate would be 28 days away from play [as an appropriate recovery time],” Dr Mobbs said. “A middle road might be 21. Within 14 days is too soon, although we welcome the intent for an independent neurological assessment [to provide a clearance].

“That is certainly a good change within NRL and we hope to work with NRL and other researchers to further this cause.”

Dr Mobbs, a keynote speaker during a Brain Awareness Week seminar at Macquarie University on Tuesday, was critical of the decision to allow Dufty to remain on the field.

“This is a further example of poor concussion management,” she said. “He should have been taken off the field and we need to respect that there is increasing scientific evidence for brain injury and brain abnormality, even after symptoms resolve.

“Certainly in that immediate phase after concussion, a player should be off. In this instance that did not occur.”

Dr Mobbs added that concussion subs and independent doctors were other measures the NRL could introduce to provide even better care for its players.