2021 NRL Season

It doesn’t make them liable, that’s nonsense. The game is at risk of being sued regardless but tinkering with new rules put in place to protect players by recalibrating interpretations when they’re still going to be far harsher than the previous status quo does not make you liable.

 

These are the comments surrounding the current high tackle issue that really concerns me

"Last week a journalist asked the NRL for a breakdown on the causes of failed HIAs this year. They couldn’t answer.

It took highly regarded Brisbane physiotherapist Brien Seeney just four hours to analyse every concussion case this season on video.

Turns out players making high tackles were not the major cause.

In fact only 32 percent of concussions were on ball carriers. A staggering 57 percent were defenders."

I have very little confidence that the NRL have gone into this with any kind of strategy. PVL last night was saying he was doing it to avoid government intervention... the messaging seems to be changing by the hour.

 

The better question is; is there another side in the NRL capable of making the top 4?

Roosters are cooked with injuries, Manly would need Tommy T to at least play in 10 of the next 13 games and considering he's got SOO coming up that's a bit of a stretch & Canberra are self-destructing.

No one has really emerged from the rest of the pack either, Titans just don't really give two shits about defending, Newcastle looking more like a bottom 4 side and Sharks/Dragons/Warriors are all just battling along with no real signs for optimism.

Storm & Panthers just levels above everyone else and we probably won't truly get an idea of how they are tracking this season until they play each other with close to full strength 17's as I don't see anyone else even pushing them short of them just having an off-day.

 

"The Bulldogs are $21 outsiders with the TAB, equalling the second longest odds since the Western Suburbs Magpies ran out against Melbourne in round 23 in 1999 at $31."

 

This week is a big test for the Rabbitohs if they want to hold top 4, playing Parramatta without RCG, Dylan Brown & Niukore. Rabbitohs back to full strength so no excuses not to get the job done or at the least be highly competitive if they're serious about top 4 this year.