Did these players really need HIAs? The NRL is watching

September 18, 2026 — 12:56pm

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The NRL issued two clubs with “please explain” notices last weekend asking them to clarify details of players who had left the field for head injury assessments.

In other words, did the players really require a HIA?

Let’s start with Saturday evening and James Fisher-Harris, the New Zealand Warriors prop widely regarded as one of the most intimidating players in the NRL. Even his tattoo of a panther, to commemorate his four premierships with Penrith, is considered scarier than any of his former teammates’ ink.

Fisher-Harris went to make a tackle on Kurt Donoghoe, the Dolphins forward who has left plenty of journalists questioning their own concussion status when trying to remember how to spell his surname on deadline.

Donoghoe caught the ball near the tryline and appeared to clash with Fisher-Harris, who then went down, watched where the ball finished........

© WA Today