"If you bring the independent doctor into it, there's no chance of a rort," Bennett said. "You've got to make them [the rules] foolproof and idiot proof just to make it work."

Dr Parkinson has heeded the call, the decorated surgeon and researcher saying he would be happy to take part and organise a pool of experienced medicos should the NRL want independent advice.

"If they want an independent doctor, I'd be happy to get involved and try to arrange a cohort of doctors. I'd be happy to take the lead and help arrange that sort of thing if the NRL and the sports doctors were happy," Dr Parkinson told Fairfax Media.

The arguments for independent doctors assessing players, particularly in big matches or at pivotal moments, are compelling. Doctors have no relationships with the players they are checking and no pressure from their employers, the football clubs, to get them back on the field.

Dr Parkinson said there was no suggestion that any club doctor had been anything less than exemplary in their work but the added pressures added extra hurdles that need not be placed in the way of head injury assessments.