NRL: Ryan Hoffman not concerned by concussion rule

Ryan Hoffman. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Warriors back-rower Ryan Hoffman is suffering no ill-effects from his latest head knock and declared himself a certain starter for the first State of Origin match next Wednesday.

There were concerns about Hoffman's availability for the series-opener after copping his second concussion in a month early on in last Saturday's clash with the Parramatta Eels.

Hoffman had to be assisted from Pirtek Stadium after he clashed heads with Eels hooker Nathan Peats as the pair fell to the ground in a tackle.

Three weeks prior he was also forced from the field in the Warriors' Anzac Day clash with the Gold Coast Titans following a high tackle from Greg Bird.

Hoffman may sit out some of the Blues' contact sessions at their base at Coffs Harbour but insists he is ready to play in next Wednesday's interstate clash at ANZ Stadium after being cleared by both the NSW and Warriors' medical staff.

"My head is fine. I've just had a couple of bad luck things happen," Hoffman said.
"But I've been through all of the medical testing with the doc.

"If there was anything I'd be concerned about it, I'd bring it up with the docs but there's been nothing that's bothered me."

This year's series is the first time the new concussion laws will be tested in the Origin arena with the NRL employing two independent doctors to monitor head knocks.

And while in the past some rules have been abandoned in big matches, Hoffman said it was imperative the NRL kept its stance in relation to player welfare.

"We've had to abide by them this year in the NRL and you can't just chop and change rules for Origin, especially when it comes to players' health and wellbeing," he said.

"I certainly applaud the NRL for the rules they've brought in. I think they're working.

"Back way back then there might've been a chance where I might've gone back on on the weekend if I thought I was right.

"But the rules there work. I wanted to go back on, but the doc kept me off and that's probably the reason why I will be right to play Origin next week."

Meanwhile, the ink was still drying on the team sheet when Hoffman went in search of Robbie Farah and Beau Scott to sort out the team's most pressing issue: Who was the oldest in the team?

Skipper Paul Gallen's injury, Greg Bird's suspension, and Luke Lewis and Anthony Watmough's omission meant there were just three players over the age of 30 in the Blues line-up for game one.

So it didn't take them long to figure out who was the oldest.

"We were talking about it when we were coming down the lift," Hoffman admitted.

"'Faz' has got me by three days. He's the 23rd of January and I'm the 26th.

"I tell you what - you hit that magical 30 mark and writers start using words like 'veteran' and 'stalwart'. But it is what it is."

Not that Daley's penchant for young players to begin NSW's defence of the Origin shield had the 31-year-old worrying about his spot in the team.

Having shared last year's Brad Fittler medal as NSW's best and fairest with Jarryd Hayne, Hoffman felt he didn't just survive Daley's cull - he's earned it.

"I won't use the term survive, because I feel like I deserve my spot," he said.

"I don't think Loz picked a team with youth in mind, necessarily. I think he's gone to pick the best players available and if two players have been comparable, he might've gone with a younger player."

-AAP