This was from nrl physio some years ago....Simply...don't be a Manly player.
(I'd forgotten the rort that was GI and Sam Burgess)
Medical retirements in the NRL
Will look at each player’s reported injury history + circumstances leading up to retirement (apologies for lengthy post).
Summary of the reported medical retirements since the new insurance scheme was implemented by the NRL in July 2014:
Steve Matai (neck/shoulder) - Denied, included in salary cap
Brett Stewart (knee) - Denied, included in salary cap
Anthony Watmough (knee) - Approved by the NRL, not included in salary cap. But claim initially denied by insurance company (QBE)
Kyle Stanley (knee) - No report on NRL decision, but approved by insurance
Dylan Farrell (back) - Approved, not included in salary cap
Kade Snowden (neck/back) - Approved, not included in salary cap
James McManus (concussion) - Approved, not included in salary cap
Ben Matulino (knee) - Approved, not included in salary cap
Sam Burgess (shoulder) - Approved, not included in salary cap
Matt Gillett (shoulder) - Approved, not included in salary cap
Exact NRL criteria for medical retirement:
"Player had no similar injury or medical condition to that area of the body that either has or could reasonably be predicted medically to lead to a degenerative condition of that area of the body prior to signing his last NRL contract"
Important to note; payout of salary to player is negotiated between club and insurance company, is completely separate from the NRL and their decision. If NRL approves medical retirement insurance company can still deny; means club has to payout salary but exempt from cap
Steve Matai
2007 - Suffers “bulging disc” in neck, restricted to 11 games. Post season surgery to repair cartilage tear/cyst in shoulder + treat neck
2008 - Has post season shoulder (floating bone) & neck surgery
2009 - Scans confirm “nerve damage” in neck
2014 - Reported that the disc space between C5-6 (neck vertebrae) is “too small for nerve to pass through” despite surgery in 2008, reason he is prone to burners
2016 - Battles ongoing neck injury until mid-season surgery, misses rest of season
2017 - Matai retires
Brett Stewart
2007 & 2009 - 2 separate surgeries on right knee for meniscus damage +/- chondral lesions, 3-5 months recovery each time
2010 - Undergoes osteotomy on left knee after cartilage damage (meniscus + chondral lesions), misses all but 1 game (6+ months recovery)
Note: Osteotomy is an operation where bone is cut and removed/graft put in to realign knee, attempt to relieve pressure. Stewart was the first NRL player to return after an osteotomy, not performed commonly in professional sport. Usually indicates presence of early stage osteoarthritis
2011 - Stewart misses time after knee injury during “Battle of Brookvale”, also out of post season 4 Nations & was in doubt for 2012 WCC
2016 - Misses 2nd half of season after surgery to “clean out” a chronic knee injury
2017 - Drs unable to clear him for a return, retires
Anthony Watmough
2014 - Signs with Eels, says hasn’t been at his best for 2-3 years due to “niggling knee injury”
2015 - Required weekly painkilling injections in knee, July undergoes surgery to repair torn MCL in left knee. Said to have been playing with torn MCL for “years”. Significant struggles with post surgery rehab in 2016 preseason, had to “learn to run again”. Medical staff say ongoing symptoms are from muscle weakness/fatigue as a result of playing through MCL injury for so long
2016 - Watmough has pre-season collision with Beau Scott that causes left knee hyperextension, suffers “medial injury” + “bone started chipping away”. Club Drs + independent Dr agreed Scott hit led to career-ending injury. Watmough announces medical retirement, approved by NRL.
Came to paying out Watmough’s salary, insurer QBE initially denied claim saying retirement a result of “symptomatic, pre-existing degenerative changes” to left knee. Notes from club Physio showed Watmough had ongoing symptoms/disability in knee + injections prior to games
2018 - The Eels take legal action against insurer QBE to Supreme Court for refused payout to Watmough. QBE reportedly eventually agrees to pay 50% of contract, Eels to pay other 50%
Kyle Stanley
Pre 2012 - Ruptures left ACL twice
2012 - Ruptures ACL in right knee. 4 months later re-ruptures right ACL after slipping on wet surface
2015 - Suffers 5th ACL rupture, retires end of season. Insurance pays out 10 months later
Dylan Farrell
2015 - Suffers “complex and ongoing” back injury mid season, attempts to play through for the rest of the season but becomes extremely limited. Forced to retire.
2017 - Last report in June of 2017 he was yet to receive insurance payout
Kade Snowden
2011 - Dealing with “bulging discs” in neck and lower back early in the season, misses a month but plays rest of the season. On transfer to the Knights considers surgery but opts for rehab instead
2015 - Suffers whiplash injury which aggravates disc injury in neck
2016 - Snowden only manages to play opening round, then a number of injuries (primarily his neck) force him to retire. Announced mid season
James McManus
2012- 2015 - Suffered a series of head knocks/concussions, culminating in 2nd concussion of 2015 that required ambulance transfer to hospital. Doesn’t play NRL again
Announces retirement in 2016, legal case ongoing with the Knights
Ben Matulino
2014 - Undergoes minor right knee surgery to “tidy up cartilage”
2016 - Another minor right knee surgery post season to “tidy up niggling injury”
2017 - Suffers left knee injury at training, undergoes surgery. Contracts post op infection, requires 4+ month recovery.
On transfer to Tigers admits knees need ongoing rehab, “has 2 knees that need a bit of TLC”
2018 - Misses time due to “chronic knee injury”
2019 - Suffers “serious knee injury” in Rd14 (? which knee), unable to return to training. Forces retirement
Sam Burgess
2010-2011 - Undergoes 2 left shoulder reconstructions in 2 years
2018 - Post season minor left shoulder surgery
2019 - Suffers left shoulder injury in Rd5, plays through til Rd13 then undergoes “clean out” surgical procedure (removal of loose bodies/scar tissue)
2019 - Also word Burgess received stem cell injections (usually used in attempt to treat cartilage injury). Post surgical infection discovered (from most recent surgery). Reportedly has 25% of bone (cartilage) left in shoulder (accelerated by infection?), results in retirement
Matt Gillett
2012 - Right shoulder reconstruction surgery
2018 - 2nd right shoulder reconstruction
2019 - Suffers right shoulder injury in Rd23, finishes season then scans reveal serious nature of damage. Considered career ending injury, forces retirement
Note: Greg Inglis was not medically retired. His injuries were not considered career ending but he “could no longer perform to his own standards”.
GI gave up remaining value of playing contract. Salary for new off-field role was included in Rabbitohs cap
Overall this is a complex process that isn’t isolated to the NRL; exists in other pro sports & everyday workplace. Also similar considerations; when at work accidents/injuries occur the presence of pre-exisiting/chronic conditions can complicate ability to obtain benefits/damages
