NZ Warriors v St George-Illawarra Dragons
8pm Friday, 15 August
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Kurt Capewell reflects on defeat to Canterbury Bulldogs. Photo: www.photosport.nz
NZ Warriors star Kurt Capewell has suffered a case of delayed concussion that has forced him out of their crucial NRL clash with St George-Illawarra Dragons on Friday.
The Queensland second-rower was sent from the field for a head injury assessment during the second half against Canterbury Bulldogs last Saturday, but passed the check and was allowed back after a 15-minute stand-down.
Capewell duly re-entered the contest with five minutes remaining, but was subsequently re-assessed and ruled out against the Dragons.
"I think the biggest thing for that scenario is you do the assessment and they pass, then those symptoms raise their head the next day or the week after," coach Andrew Webster said.
"I've heard of players get delayed concussions. I don't think anyone has a crystal ball as a process and our medical team do a great job off that.
"He passed and, if anything, we're like let's do the right thing by Kurt this week and make sure he's OK."
While it's not ideal that a player can suffer a head knock, pass a check and return to the game, and then present with symptoms afterwards, it illustrates that the process is not foolproof, because each concussion case is different.
"Six-day turnaround… we had a look at him the next day and the day after, and we wanted to give him time," Webster said. "That's all it was.
"I think our medical team did a great job."
Capewell will be replaced in the starting line-up by teenage sensation Leka Halasima, but his absence further erodes the Warriors depth. With utility Te Maire Martin also sitting out the encounter with concussion, Webster has no real back cover on his bench.
Halfback Martin lasted just 23 minutes, before reeling from a tackle, and he was ruled out almost immediately he arrived at the sideline.
"He had the wobbly boot, but he knew what was going on straight away," Webster said. "Everyone saw he was in a rush to get back in the defence.
"Ask any boxer, if you don't take the standing eight count in those scenarios and take your time to get to your feet, you can lose your legs a bit.
"He was frustrated, because he could remember everything. He was in a rush and had the wobbly boot, but that's no reason not to go through the proper protocols and he's obviously not playing."
Normally, without Martin, Capewell could slip into centre, where he made his State of Origin debut for the Maroons, and the backline rotate around that. On Saturday, when Martin left, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad shifted to the halves and Capewell into the midfield.
Without Capewell, his team may have to turn to Halasima, who apparently has the ability to play in the midfield and probably covered there during Capewell's HIA.
Halasima himself had to leave moments after Martin for a head check, but passed and returned to play the entire second half with no apparent ill effects.
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserves: 18. Freddy Lussick, 20. Ed Kosi, 21. Tom Ale, 22. Kayliss Fatialofa, 25. Bunty Afoa
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