Luke Keary has called for improvements to be made around concussion testing, with the concussion prone former Rooster making the alarming claim that players know their way around the system.
The handling of Eli Katoa‘s three head knocks in quick time – one in the warm-up, then two in the game – during the Pacific Championships has sparked concern around the NRL, with investigations into the incident ongoing.
Tongan officials have been put under the spotlight for their handling of the situation, given Katoa suffered his first head knock during the warm up.
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The Storm has since confirmed that Katoa had brain surgery and has been ruled out for the entirety of next season, leaving some fearful he may never play again.
“It made you feel sick,” Keary said of Katoa’s head knocks on The Journos podcast.
“The picture of him on the bench, it was a horrible, horrible chain of events.”
Eli Katoa is seen speaking with Tongan trainers. Getty
Keary, himself, has had a long history with head knocks in the game, with some speculating that concussion played a part in his choice to cut his deal short by one year and retire.
The 33-year-old cited a change of heart for his reasoning behind retiring, but he has encouraged all active players to continue to learn about the effects of concussion.
Reflecting on his own experiences while also discussing Katoa’s situation, Keary said many players would be familiar with the tests used for concussion.
In fact, he hinted that they may be becoming too familiar with the questions asked.
“I know for a fact that we probably have more improvement to do on (the concussion) side of thing,” the former playmaker said.
“You can complete those SCAT (Sport Concussion Assessment) tests on the side of the field in a bad way. We’ve done them now for seven or eight years, the same similar test.
“It can get you if you are really bad, but we can kind of get through them as players without too much trouble.”
Luke Keary in action for the Sydney Roosters. Getty
Katoa was not formerly ruled out of the game until the 53rd minute but was deemed to have passed the head injury assessment after he suffered his second knock.
The Storm prop did not undergo an assessment prior to the game beginning.
Keary noted that he was unsure how exactly concussions during warm up are treated, although expected that the same protocols would be used. However, he questioned how attentive the team’s trainers are to the players before the game kicks off.
“No, no, obviously not,” Keary said when asked if he is being monitored as closely during warm up as he is during the game.
“In a game, if you get hit and the trainers misses it, the doctors are on the sidelines with a TV screen watching it … they can then go, ‘no, you need to come off’. That’s even if you don’t put a hand up or alert a trainer.
“I don’t know how that works in the warm up. It’s hard to comment (on Katoa’s case) but it is easy to condemn.
“As a player, you would’ve said you were OK and all good. But as a game, we are starting to get educated more on the potential long-term and short-term effects.
“As players, you are more vigilant now. The boys will not fight with the trainers, they kind of know. But you still have that warrior mentality of ‘I’m going until someone needs to rip me out of this battle’.”
Paul Gallen has called for those involved in Katoa’s incident to be hit with life bans, a plea which Keary admits he could understand.
Although, Keary hopes the NRL continues to tighten the system to ensure players can’t skirt concussion protocols due to their desire to stay on the field.
“It has changed a lot but there is probably that little bit more to go, in terms of taking it away from the player,” he said.
“Don’t give him an option in certain situations.
“I understand where (Gallen) is coming from. But until we know whether they did see the footage, did they go through the concussion test (pre-game) and what was said.
“Even for the coaches’ education, they are all very vigilant of it now.
“If there is a knock, even at training, the boys are taken (straight away). A lot of the coaches are ex-players, so they do care. But there is probably a little bit more to go.”