Contrary to earlier reports he has not suffered a fractured skull after a serious head knock during the match on Sunday with the Nowra Bomaderry Jets.

Bulldogs’ club president Bert Powell said Brad Hammond was now at home recovering.

“He was unconscious for seven to eight minutes, a serious thing. Brad will have brain scans to make sure he’s OK.”

Mr Powell said the doctors had advised Mr Hammond not to play football again.

“Brad’s health is of first importance; the game is secondary,” he said.

The incident follows recent attention concerning changes to concussion rules in the NRL which clarify when players have to be taken off – and kept off – the field.

Mr Powell said he was reluctant to discuss the issue before a hearing Thursday night into incidents during the game that are unrelated to Mr Hammond’s injury.

“But no one should set out to win at all costs,” he said.

President of the Bomaderry Junior League Steve McConville said the junior league abided by the same rules as the NRL, including the new concussion rules.

“There’s risk in any sport, but we teach our juniors to get their heads in low and tight for a tackle, and not to tackle dangerously.”

Mr McConville said there was no messing about in case of head injury, especially if a player is unconscious. 

“We get an ambulance straight away.”

He said in all his time involved with the junior league he had never seen a serious head concussion.

This story first appeared in the South Coast Register.