Concussion in Rugby League: What Every Player and Parent Should Know
- John Fadel
- Aug 9
- 13 min read
Introduction
Concussion in rugby league has become one of the most important conversations in modern sport, and rightly so. As our understanding of brain health continues to evolve, so too does our responsibility to protect the people who play the game we all love.
This article isn't about creating fear, and it certainly isn't about promoting one brand of headgear or mouthguard over another. In fact, EXCEL Sports Management has no commercial relationship with any manufacturer mentioned throughout this article.
Instead, this is a comprehensive guide designed to help players, parents, coaches and supporters better understand the bigger picture of player welfare.
We'll explore concussion management, brain health, player welfare, sleep, nutrition, recovery, confidence, psychology, protective equipment, family support, coaching, long-term athlete development and why every one of these areas contributes to building healthier athletes and, ultimately, healthier people.
Throughout this article, I'll draw on my experience as an NRL Accredited Player Agent, the education I've completed through the NRL, current concussion management principles and my own experiences working alongside players and families across Australia and New Zealand.
One of the biggest influences on my thinking came through wellbeing and performance education with performance psychologist Steve Johnson. His whole-person approach challenged the way I viewed athlete development and reinforced a philosophy that continues to guide everything we do at EXCEL Sports Management.
For me, success has never simply been about signing contracts, making representative teams or playing in the NRLW.
Success begins by protecting the player first.
Because without your health, every other achievement becomes secondary.
Player Welfare & Wellbeing Framework
Our Core Philosophy
This article is not about selling headgear.
It is not about selling mouthguards.
It is not about creating fear around concussion.
In fact, EXCEL Sports Management has no commercial relationship with any manufacturer mentioned throughout this article.
It is about protecting young athletes by promoting a deeper understanding of:
Player welfare
Long-term athlete development
Evidence-based decision making
Physical wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing
Social wellbeing
These are not simply modern trends.
They are principles that continue to be reinforced throughout rugby league as our understanding of player welfare continues to grow.
Throughout the NRL Accredited Player Agent education program, player welfare was consistently presented as a priority—not only because it protects careers, but because it protects lives.
The message was simple.
The player's long-term wellbeing must always come before short-term success.
That philosophy sits at the heart of everything we do at EXCEL Sports Management.
My Personal Reflection
Throughout the NRL Accredited Player Agent education program, I had the opportunity to complete wellbeing and performance sessions with performance psychologist Steve Johnson on two separate occasions.
To be completely honest, they became some of the sessions I looked forward to the most.
When people hear the words psychology or wellbeing, some immediately assume the topic will be dry or uninteresting.
I had the complete opposite experience.
I've always been fascinated by mental development, leadership, confidence and understanding what separates good athletes from great athletes.
Steve Johnson's approach wasn't about creating softer athletes.
It was about creating stronger people.
People who could perform at a high level because they were supported physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.
One example that completely changed my perspective was concussion.
If I'm honest, years ago I probably viewed head knocks much the same way many supporters still do today.
I admired the players who got straight back to their feet after a heavy collision and kept playing.
But after completing the NRL's player welfare education and gaining a much deeper understanding of concussion, brain health and long-term wellbeing, my perspective changed completely.
Today, I'd much rather see a player miss one game than risk the consequences of returning too early.
That personal reflection is mine and mine alone.
I understand it won't always satisfy supporters who simply want to see the best players remain on the field.
But I'd rather disappoint a crowd for one afternoon than see a player live with lifelong consequences because warning signs were ignored.
As a player agent, one of my greatest fears isn't losing a game.
It's seeing one of my players—or any player—suffer a preventable long-term brain injury that affects not only their own future, but also their family, their career and the people who love them most.
That is why this topic matters so much to me.
The sessions reinforced something that has stayed with me ever since.
High performance should never come at the expense of a player's wellbeing.
One of the biggest lessons I took away was that player welfare isn't simply about recovering from injury.
It's about creating an environment where athletes continue developing:
Physically
Mentally
Emotionally
Socially
throughout their entire sporting journey.
One lesson that has remained with me throughout my NRL education is this:
The best players aren't simply the best athletes. They're often the athletes whose wellbeing is protected, whose environments support them and whose long-term development is prioritised over short-term success.
That philosophy continues to influence how I work with every player and every family at EXCEL Sports Management.
High Performance Starts With Wellbeing
For years, success in rugby league was often measured by wins, premierships and representative honours.
While those achievements remain important, the modern game has recognised something equally significant—healthy athletes consistently give themselves the best opportunity to perform at their highest level.
Rugby league is also a professional business.
Clubs make difficult decisions every week based on performance, roster management and long-term planning.
No player is guaranteed a position forever, and every career eventually comes to an end.
That is exactly why investing in player wellbeing matters so much.
The best preparation isn't simply about training harder.
It's about giving athletes every possible tool to perform safely and consistently.
That includes:
Physical preparation
Mental wellbeing
Recovery
Nutrition
Sleep
Education
Support networks
Medical care
Confidence
Safe training environments
Like every area of sport, some clubs invest heavily in player wellbeing, while others have fewer resources available, particularly in junior and pathway programs.
As the game continues to grow, I believe continued investment in player welfare and wellbeing should remain a priority across every level.
Healthy athletes generally perform better because they know they are supported, protected and surrounded by people who genuinely care about their long-term future—not just the next game.
Every athlete wants to be selected.
Every athlete wants to compete.
But having the right support systems, education and medical care dramatically improves the opportunity to enjoy a longer and healthier career.
One of the biggest cultural changes I've witnessed through my NRL education has been the shift in how concussion is viewed.
Years ago, players were often expected to "shake it off" and continue playing.
Today, the priority is very different.
The priority is protecting the athlete.
We cannot prevent every concussion.
But we can prevent poor decisions.
Following a concussion, the brain undergoes a temporary recovery process and is more vulnerable during that time.
That is precisely why return-to-play protocols exist.
Those protocols aren't designed to keep players off the field unnecessarily.
They're designed to protect players from returning before their brain has fully recovered.
To me, that isn't making rugby league soft.
It's making rugby league smarter.
Whole Person Development
One of the greatest lessons I learnt throughout my NRL education is that athletes aren't simply footballers.
They're also:
Students
Daughters
Sisters
Friends
Employees
Future parents
Future professionals
Members of their community
Too often we define athletes by what they do on the field.
The reality is that rugby league represents only one chapter of a person's life.
Developing the whole person doesn't just produce better footballers.
It produces better people.
When athletes grow physically, mentally, emotionally and socially, they become more resilient, make better decisions, build stronger relationships and are better equipped to deal with both success and adversity.
That's the type of development that lasts long after the final whistle.
Elite Sporting Environments
The world's leading sporting organisations continue to invest heavily in player wellbeing.
They understand that sustainable high performance is built on far more than physical ability.
Elite environments increasingly focus on:
Wellbeing
Mental performance
Leadership
Resilience
Recovery
Psychological safety
Education
Communication
Personal development
The best organisations don't simply ask how they can build better athletes.
They ask how they can build better people.
Because when people thrive, performance usually follows.
Understanding Concussion in Rugby League
Concussion is not a test of courage.
It is not a measure of toughness.
It is a medical condition that should always be taken seriously.
A concussion can have significant short-term and long-term consequences if it is not managed appropriately.
That is why players should never hide symptoms, teammates should never encourage someone to stay on the field when they are clearly affected, and no one should rush the recovery process.
Medical professionals—not coaches, teammates, parents or player agents—are responsible for making return-to-play decisions.
One of the biggest positives I have seen over recent years is the NRL's continued commitment to strengthening concussion protocols and placing player welfare at the centre of decision-making.
The focus is no longer simply winning the next game.
The focus is ensuring players have the opportunity to enjoy healthy lives long after rugby league is over.
Protective Equipment
Protective equipment is an important part of rugby league, but it should never be viewed as the complete solution.
No mouthguard.
No headgear.
No piece of equipment can completely eliminate the risk of concussion.
What protective equipment can do is help reduce certain risks while giving players greater confidence to play the game safely.
The most important piece of protective equipment will always be knowledge.
Education.
Medical advice.
And making smart decisions.
Mouthguards
One piece of equipment I strongly encourage every player and parent to invest in is a professionally fitted custom mouthguard.
A quality custom mouthguard is designed to provide a more secure fit than generic "boil-and-bite" mouthguards and may help better protect the teeth, jaw and surrounding structures while also improving comfort and allowing players to communicate and breathe more naturally.
Parents often ask me which company I recommend.
One company I have been impressed with is Fitguard Australia.
Their attention to detail and focus on custom-fitted mouthguards is something I believe families should look into when researching the options available.
To be completely transparent, EXCEL Sports Management has absolutely no commercial relationship with Fitguard Australia.
I mention them simply as an example of a provider specialising in professionally fitted custom mouthguards, and I encourage every family to do their own research before making a decision.
Headgear
Headgear has also evolved significantly over recent years.
Years ago, most players chose headgear based on appearance or comfort.
Today, more families are beginning to ask a far more important question:
"What evidence supports the protection it provides?"
One company I encourage families to research is SWAARM.
SWAARM publishes information about its patented impact-reduction technology, independent testing and product development. The company states its products are designed to reduce impact forces while recognising that no headgear can completely prevent concussion.
That honesty is something I respect.
As with any protective equipment, I encourage families to read the available information, review the published evidence and decide what best suits their own circumstances.
No headgear should ever replace:
Proper coaching
Correct tackling technique
Qualified medical advice
Concussion protocols
Good decision-making
Protective equipment should always be viewed as one part of a much bigger player welfare strategy.
Long-Term Athlete Development
One of the biggest messages reinforced throughout my education was that player development extends far beyond football skills.
The athletes who enjoy the longest, healthiest and most successful careers are usually those who invest just as much into their wellbeing as they do into their training.
Sleep
One area that completely changed my thinking was sleep.
Like many people, I once believed that simply getting six to eight hours of sleep was enough.
The more I learnt, the more I realised how important quality recovery really is.
Elite athletes place enormous physical and mental demands on their bodies every day.
Quality, uninterrupted sleep allows the body and brain to recover, process information, consolidate learning and prepare for the next day's training.
I often compare it to clearing the cache on a computer.
Throughout the day your body and brain process enormous amounts of information.
Sleep is the body's opportunity to recover, reset and prepare itself to perform again.
Recovery starts with quality sleep.
Nutrition
Food is fuel.
Every athlete has different nutritional requirements depending on their age, position, training load and body composition.
I strongly encourage athletes to seek guidance from an accredited sports dietitian or qualified nutrition professional who can develop a nutrition plan suited to their individual needs.
Good nutrition supports:
Recovery
Performance
Muscle development
Energy levels
Injury prevention
Overall wellbeing
Recovery
Recovery is no longer optional.
It is part of training.
Today's athletes understand that recovery includes:
Quality sleep
Hydration
Nutrition
Mobility
Stretching
Ice baths (where appropriate)
Active recovery
Rest days
The athletes who recover well are often the athletes who perform consistently over many years.
Education
One of the greatest investments an athlete can make is education.
Learn about:
Your body
Your mind
Injury prevention
Recovery
Confidence
Leadership
Communication
Decision-making
Personal development
The more you understand yourself, the better equipped you are to perform.
Confidence
Confidence isn't something you simply have.
Confidence is built.
It develops through:
Preparation
Repetition
Learning
Experience
Honest feedback
Healthy environments
As I discussed in my recent article, "Confidence Isn't Given, It's Earned," confidence is developed long before game day.
Family Support
No athlete succeeds alone.
Behind every successful athlete is usually a strong support network.
Family provides:
Stability
Encouragement
Perspective
Accountability
Emotional support
The strongest support networks help athletes enjoy the game while keeping life in balance.
Coaching
Great coaches don't simply develop footballers.
They develop people.
The best environments encourage:
Respect
Accountability
Learning
Communication
Safety
Continuous improvement
The Parents' Role
Parents play one of the most important roles in player welfare.
They create safe environments by:
Listening without judgement.
Encouraging honesty about injuries and symptoms.
Supporting qualified medical advice.
Seeking a second medical opinion if they have genuine concerns.
Avoiding unnecessary pressure to return before recovery is complete.
Prioritising long-term health over short-term success.
Most clubs today genuinely care about player welfare and work hard to follow concussion protocols.
Parents should never be afraid to ask questions, understand medical advice and be active participants in decisions affecting their child's health.
The Culture Has Changed
One of the biggest messages that stayed with me throughout my NRL Accredited Player Agent education is just how much the culture around player welfare has changed.
Years ago, toughness was often measured by how quickly a player got back to their feet after a heavy collision.
Today, the game measures professionalism very differently.
The smartest decision is often the safest decision.
Protecting a player's brain isn't a sign of weakness.
It's a responsibility.
It's a responsibility I encourage every player to embrace, every parent to understand and every club to continue taking seriously.
The NRL has made it very clear that player welfare comes first, and I fully support that approach. NRL Link
As supporters, it's easy to yell "Get up!" or question why play has stopped.
But we aren't the ones making medical decisions.
Today there are independent doctors, club medical staff, referees and the Bunker all working together to make decisions based on player welfare.
Will every decision be perfect?
Probably not.
But I'd much rather see a player removed from the field unnecessarily than see a player continue when they shouldn't.
If there is uncertainty, I'd rather the game errs on the side of caution.
That isn't making rugby league soft.
It's making rugby league smarter.
Knowledge Is One of the Greatest Forms of Protection
One of the greatest lessons I've taken from my NRL education is that knowledge protects players.
We may never eliminate every risk that comes with rugby league.
It is a contact sport.
But we can reduce unnecessary risk through:
Education
Quality coaching
Safe environments
Evidence-based medical care
Honest communication
Good decision-making
Strong support networks
Protective equipment has an important role.
Medical professionals have an important role.
Parents have an important role.
Coaches have an important role.
But knowledge sits at the centre of them all.
The more we understand player welfare, the better decisions we make.
Better decisions create safer careers.
The Biggest Myth About Concussion
One of the biggest myths in rugby league is that admitting concussion symptoms is a sign of weakness.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Speaking up is one of the strongest decisions an athlete can make.
It protects:
Yourself
Your teammates
Your family
Your future
Real courage isn't ignoring symptoms.
Real courage is putting your long-term health ahead of one game.
What Changed My Perspective
If I'm honest, years ago I probably saw head knocks much the same way many supporters still do.
I admired the player who got straight back to their feet and kept playing.
But after completing the NRL's player welfare education and gaining a much deeper understanding of concussion, brain health and long-term wellbeing, my perspective changed completely.
Today, I'd much rather see a player miss one game than risk the consequences of rushing back too early.
That personal reflection is mine and mine alone.
I know it won't suit every supporter.
But these are the facts as I understand them today.
As a responsible player agent, one of my greatest fears is seeing one of my players—or any player—suffer a preventable long-term injury that affects not only their own life, but also their family, parents and future.
No result on a scoreboard is worth that risk.
Get to know more about John Fadel. Click Here
Final Thoughts from John Fadel
After completing my NRL Accredited Player Agent education, one message has remained with me more than any other.
A rugby league career is important.
A person's life is far more important.
Contracts will come and go.
Premierships will be won and lost.
Representative jerseys will eventually be packed away.
But your brain, your health, your family and your future remain with you long after your final game.
People often remember the player.
The people who truly matter remember the person.
That's why player welfare matters.
If this article encourages just one player to speak honestly about symptoms, one parent to ask another question, or one family to place long-term wellbeing ahead of one weekend of football, then it has achieved exactly what I hoped it would.
At EXCEL Sports Management, we don't simply help players build rugby league careers.
We strive to help them build healthy, resilient and fulfilling lives—both on and off the field.
Because, in my opinion, the greatest achievement isn't simply playing rugby league.
It's having the opportunity to enjoy a healthy, meaningful life long after rugby league is over.
Family • Faith • You
Contact us at EXCEL Sports
NEED ADVICE?
Further Reading & Resources
I encourage players, parents and coaches to continue learning about player welfare and concussion through trusted, evidence-based resources.
Wellbeing Science Institute — Steve Johnson and his team provide evidence-based education on whole-person wellbeing, leadership and elite sport.
NRL – Management of Concussion Guidelines — Official guidance on concussion recognition, removal from play and return-to-play protocols.
SWAARM Headgear — Information on the company's published testing, design philosophy and impact-reduction technology.
Fitguard Australia — An example of a provider specialising in custom-fitted mouthguards.
Comments