Martin Lang knows more than most about taking heavy head knocks.

After playing more than 180 games across nine high-impact NRL seasons as a middle forward for Cronulla, Penrith and Queensland, on retirement he promptly became a neuroscientist with a focus on contact sport-induced traumatic brain injuries.

So when Lang, 50, speaks on the issue of concussions it’s probably worth listening.

Following Monday’s announcement that four members of the Tongan medical staff have been issued with breach notices for their roles in the sickening injuries suffered by Eli Katoa in the Pacific Championships, Lang took to X to offer his highly informed perspective.

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“A bandaid solution for a problem not going away,” Lang said of the 24-month bans, before calling for the introduction of special mouthguards to be worn by players during matches and training.

“Solution – Mandatory use of instrumented mouthguards measuring head kinematics when an athlete is involved in a collision during practice/match-play.

“The Katoa incident is prevented with the utilisation of this technology.”

Instrumented mouthguards (iMG), commonly referred to as smart mouthguards, are an emerging sports technology using embedded sensors to measure the linear and angular movement of the head, including impact forces.

Unlike externally-worn sensors that are attached to headgear for example, such mouthguards can provide a rigid connection to the player’s skull making it possible to accurately measure head motion on the field, with medical staff then able to make data-informed player welfare decisions.

It remains to be seen if the NRL is open to embracing Lang’s recommendation.

A bandaid solution for a problem not going away.
Solution – Mandatory use of instrumented mouthguards measuring head kinematics when an athlete is involved in a collision during practice/match-play.
The Katoa incident is prevented with the utilisation of this technology. https://t.co/NLCcPaHecl

— Martin Lang (@Martin_Lang11) December 8, 2025