Parramatta refuse to allow Isaac De Gois to play due to concussion fears

PHIL ROTHFIELD, SPORTS EDITOR-AT-LARGE, The Daily Telegraph

an hour ago

IT was just a regulation NRL pre-season trial game. The Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans in the February heat at Alice Springs.

Tough old journeyman Isaac De Gois, a 225-game veteran, was preparing for his 11th season of NRL.

Midway through the game he suffers a severe head knock. Nothing to do with foul play. Just an accidental collision that can happen in the gladiatorial game of rugby league.

The 32-year-old has had multiple concussions in the past but this one would be a career ender.

There is no permanent brain damage but the Parramatta Eels make the decision for him.

His long term health is more important than winning football games.

De Gois has been concussed several times during his career.

Coach Brad Arthur bans him from playing, despite having two years to run on his contract.

De Gois, a father of two, quietly disappears from the game.

There is no press conference or anything to announce his retirement.

He still turns up to training but is never there on game day.

“It all comes back to a duty of care issue,” says Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr.

“He has a contract until the end of next year but we’re not comfortable picking him to play.

“It’s not a money issue and it’s not a salary cap issue. He’ll get paid everything he is owed.

“Our doctor is totally on board with what we’re doing.”

Officially De Gois is still not retired.

He was called into Gurr’s office with his agent Steve Gillis two weeks ago and told the club would never again allow him to play football.

Considering Parramatta had just lost their regular hooker Kaysa Pritchard for the rest of the season, the temptation in the old days would be to rush back De Gois to fill the void. Not a chance.

The scrappy hooker has called time on his career.

“Isaac’s had some issues and some headaches occasionally,” Gurr said, “He’s still training with us but not doing any contact work.

“Here’s a guy, a terrific bloke, with a young family.

“There is a lot of research being done but on these sorts of things you’ve got to err on the side of conservatism.”

Coach Brad Arthur pays De Gois the ultimate compliment.

“He’s as tough as any player I’ve coached,” Arthur said, “And I’m talking old-school toughness.

“One of those blokes whose team mates loved being out there with him.

“At the end of the day he’s got a beautiful wife and kids. That made it easy not to pick him.”

De Gois is now looking at opportunities outside of football. He’s studying and training to become a driving instructor. A new career. Life moves on. He accepts rugby league is all over.

"Risati won't be a centre. He will be in the halves for sure. Cant say who will be better out of the 2 since Lorenzo has barely played cup whilst Risati is only playing SG balll for the first time next year. Must see them when they are consistently…"

"I'm not suggesting throwing Lorenzo or any other young player in there now, they aren't ready, my point is they still won't be ready for a start in 2027 either so are we going to sign another 1 year stop gap 6 for 2027?."

"Thanks KN/ EA. Just checking my gut feeling. Hopefully, he stays & makes good on his potential. I like his upside: footy nous, big body, kicking game, goal-kicker. Ain't many sixes offering all that. He's called by many in RU as a "Sua'ali'i clone…"

Replies

Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 29, 2017 at 9:46pm

HELLO BA AND BERNIE!! What about Tim Mannah?

This is exactly what i was talking about in my retirement blog, If they dont do the same thing with Tim he will end up suing us in 10 years.

Surely hes 1 knock away from a tap on the shoulder for the same thing, should have been asked to walk already, he has a wife and child too.

Until Timmy gets the tap im seeing some serious double standards going on here.
- Kenny Power > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 29, 2017 at 9:49pm
  
  There is another article which states 2 or more concussions players get clearance from NRL
  Would seem he had clearance from NRL
  
  also can you stop talking about his conscussions, it is a serious issue and your vendetta against him is crass when broaching this subject
- Turpy > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 29, 2017 at 9:50pm
  
  His missus and kids must be ugly Snake.
  Or....HIA is a way of making a free replacement. We will never know
- Wild_Eels > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 29, 2017 at 10:25pm
  
  Why bring his kids? Even if they are ugly, they are his kids.
- The French Fullback #1 > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 29, 2017 at 10:40pm
  
  I read somewhere last week that he has only failed 1 HIA this season.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 29, 2017 at 10:42pm
  
  I heard Mannah could be extended until 2021.
- the eggman > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 30, 2017 at 7:30am
  
  Really beautiful how Snake is so concerned about Timmys welfare, just beautiful, and a tribute to the love that ond man can feel for another. I know personally that Snake was devistated When Tim announced his plans to marry but has finally come to terms with the fact that they may never be together. Perhaps if not for Tims strict religious beliefs and his public profile things may have been different, in fact Tim gave Snake a glimmer of hope when he promised to reconsider his proposal apon his retirement from the game.
- Beer Baron > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 30, 2017 at 10:39am
  
  Just cos Timmy has had a lot of knocks doesn't mean he has the same symptoms as degoisof post concussion syndrome?
The Offside Eel July 29, 2017 at 9:46pm

Good on the club for putting the player 1st i suppose a player at the backend of his career its easier to call time then if ge was a 20 something in about to peak.

Good luck gooisy thanks for your service
Parra fan on The Hill July 29, 2017 at 9:49pm

Good on Parra and best of luck to Isaac.

Take care of you family mate. Hangs those boots up. Time's time.