Player Welfare is a contentious issue. Over the last year or so the welfare of a player who receives a head knock has been made a big deal of, and rightly so.
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If a player suffers a suspected concussion he now has to come off the field and go through a series of tests by the doctor before he can go back on or play the following week.
The main reason these procedures have been introduced is to help prevent the players suffering long term brain related injuries.
In the USA over recent times the NFL has had to deal with massive lawsuits from ex-players and their association in relation to alleged lack of duty of care in regards to head injuries. The NRL is fearing the same.
So let's have a look at some other player welfare issues. Its representative season again and the best players will be put under enormous strain.
While the majority of players in the NRL will have a well-earned week off, the Anzac Test will be played on Friday and the City Country Game on Sunday.
Then in a few weeks' time Origin begins. For the players involved this will be the most intense, physical and mentally challenging 6 weeks of the season.
Darren Lockyer once explained the period to me as something like three grand finals in a row. The camps, the mental preparation and the supreme performances that are required is what Origin is all about.
The players then do their best to back up for their clubs, sometimes within 48 hours, as the NRL season continues regardless.
The end result is the quality of the NRL games during this period is severely affected. After the series is over the players then get back into the grind of the run into the finals.
There is still a third of the 24 game marathon to go before the playoffs. The structure and length of the season is a major welfare issue for the players.
The players have a lot of power that they have yet to fully understand or unleash.
The NRL is prepared to take drastic action to protect the players from head knocks; however, our best players are still required to play more than 30 games a year when you include All Stars, Tests and Origins.
Some of these games are two days after an exhausting origin battle. Why, because the NRL hasn't been forced to change the schedule yet.
They have been legally forced to take care of the threat of head injuries but have not yet been challenged enough to alter the schedule. The people in the best position to do this are the players.
One of the reasons Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Falou and Sam Burgess were lost from the NRL is that they could play less games and earn more money in Rugby Union or AFL.
Rugby League is the most physically demanding contact team sport in Australia if not the world.
It is also arguably the most valuable sport per minute on television. When the last broadcast deal was done in 2012, the NRL received an increase in revenue of more 200% per season.
At the same time the salary cap increased approximately 30%. On face value you would have to think that their association missed a golden opportunity to push their claims for better wages and conditions.
If the players can get themselves organized properly they can start negotiating now with the NRL in regards to what their next agreement may look like on a whole range of welfare issues, leading up to the new broadcast rights deal in 2017.
Player power can change the game for everyone's benefit – not the least the NRL.
If our best players can play at a higher level of intensity every week this will lead to a better product.
More sponsors, members and fans will pay for it through advertising, ticket sales and merchandise. And more people will watch it on TV.
Player Welfare. It can be a huge issue for the players, their association and the NRL.
