Changes to Super League Kick-Offs discussed by RFL

A sickening incident in the NRL has sparked a new debate about head injuries. At the centre of that debate is the role of the kick-off. Now, the RFL has discussed the potential for changes to the kick-off in Super League. 

St George Illawarra star, Moses Suli, received a nasty blow to the head in the Dragons’ ANZAC day clash. Suli was heavily concussed in the game’s first play. His head position was wrong when trying to tackle Sydney Roosters’ Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

The incident has sparked a national debate in Australia. Several high-profile individuals have now called for the kick-off to be banned, or amended, to reduce the inherent risks. However, a number of individuals, including Suli himself, have pushed back against the idea.

Now, the RFL has offered its stance on whether it will make moves to ban the kick-off.

RFL: Kick-offs have a high incidence rate of concussions

Speaking in an RFL media briefing last week, former Super League referee Robert Hicks, gave the RFL’s position. Their data suggests that the kick-off does have a higher incidence rate of concussions.

However, the vast majority of concussions in Super League still come from line tackles.

“We’ve been able to assess our last 200 concussions and about where they are caused by. And what you find is, some have a higher incident rate, so kick-offs have a high incidence rate” Hicks explained.

“But there’s relatively few kick-offs in a game, so actually whilst the rate is high it doesn’t cause that many of our concussions.

“So, the challenge that you have to find when making change in any way is where do you place your bet, where do you put more bang for the buck.”

No imminent change to Super League kick-offs planned

Hicks confirmed that, whilst the RFL will continue to monitor the data, there are no imminent plans to change the way kick-offs work. Priority will be given to reducing the number of concussions caused by line tackles.

“So, changing kick-off, because it’s the highest risk, yes, or one of the highest risks. However, if it’s only accounting for 2% of your concussions, you’re really fiddling around the edges.

“And what we find is that the line tackle is the one that creates most concussions in our sport. So, it’s working on that area.”

However, the RFL will continue to consult with the NRL, to ensure the two governing bodies remain aligned. Hicks also confirmed that his statement does not mean a change will never be made

“We will be working with the NRL now to make sure we are aligned around kick-offs and if there’s any changes.

Nothing’s ever laid to rest. I think that’s the reality. We should be data-led. I think the reality of the kick-off is it will be an area that everybody looks at. But finding the right way of having a kick-off.”

Technology will also play a key part in the decision, with the use of video technology and smart mouth guards helping to inform decision making. Hicks also confirmed that any changes will also be fully trialled before they are implemented.

“We’d be naive and probably negligent if we didn’t review those kinds of things,” Hicks concluded.

“Now, what we have an ability to do now with the use of mouth guards and with the use of video technology is assess whether we could trial something differently.

“So, before we’d ever change anything, we should have always trialled it to see what it looked like.”