Gareth O’Brien was forced to leave the field once again – with his mouthguard flashing.

05:00, 21 Mar 2026Updated 12:08, 21 Mar 2026

Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 06/03/2026 – Rugby League – Betfred Super League Round 4 – Leigh Leopards v Catalans Dragons – Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, England – Gareth O’Brien of Leigh(Image: SW PIX)

Adrian Lam has laid out his frustration with rugby league’s flashing mouthguards after Leigh Leopards star Gareth O’Brien was forced to leave the field for the second time this season.

The mouthguards, made mandatory for the 2026 season, alert medical teams to a potential head injury upon high impact, with O’Brien’s gumshield flashing up in the second half of Friday’s 18-14 defeat at Wakefield Trinity – meaning a head injury assessment.

However, despite leaving the field around the hour mark, not to return, the player, who had no concussion symptoms, was cleared after the check, with no head injury unfolding.

O’Brien’s mouthguard also flashed again in the changing room AFTER the game, with the player – who also saw the same situation unfold against Catalans – cutting a frustrated figure as Leigh were defeated for the fourth successive Super League game.

“That’s the second time it’s happened to him where he’s not felt anything,” Lam stated post-match. “The protocol stands that he’s got to be replaced for a HIA check. They told me it went off again as he ran up the tunnel to go back into the dressing room after the game.

“I know it’s a 15-minute protocol, but the frustrating part is that’s something we need to look at where when there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the player on review, that can become five minutes. What if there’s something wrong with the mouthguard at this stage? There is no clinical evidence.

“It didn’t cost us the game, but it just hurts with one of our key players not being involved in the important part at the end of the game.

“We had Lockie Lam playing at full-back; it’s not ideal, and it’s something that needs looking at. Again, it’s not the reason why we lost, but it’s certainly something to think about.”

Addressing another defeat, Lam put Leigh’s loss down to discipline once again, with a sequence of penalties given away their undoing.

“Our discipline hurt us in big moments of the game,” Lam said. “There was plenty of effort and that’s what I’m looking for. There was lots of spirit, but we were clunky, and too many penalties got us in the end. It was a 7-1 count at half-time, and it’s certainly hurting us.”

Enduring a tough time on the injury front, Leigh host Toulouse Olympique next with Lam’s message to his players clear.

“We’ve just got to stay positive through these difficult times,” the head coach added. “We only had 18 players to pick from and we only had 11 train this week.

“It’s not about getting too concerned; it’s about staying positive and being there for each other during difficult times. I know we’ll come good. We’re not far off. It seems a long way off at the moment, but watch the boys and their actions, and they’re not far off. There are positives.”