If Peacock is effectively allowed to pick himself and defy the medical team and McDermott is almost powerless to stop him then why didn't he play against Hull or Wigan or Saints? We all know Peacock would've wanted to play those games yet he didn't.

Could the 'players pick themselves' actually be agenda b*ll*cks?

Surely not, but can anybody explain otherwise?

I guess theres a difference between can't walk injured, and coming back early once most of the ain has gone, and said injury could be strapped up, and pain dealt with in some way

I'd imagine there are a lot of ex-players suffering with impaired joint mobility now in part due to the game generally (an occupational hazard) but in some cases the effects will have been worsened as a result of taking to the field 'needled up' to get them out there when probably they shouldn't have.

Like the time in Origin when Michael De Vere got his head stapled back together while still out on the field. The macabre images only enhanced still further when the gun got stuck and refused to disengage, leaving the trainer trying to pull it away from the NSW wingers eyebrow and that was in full view of the watching millions, let alone what went on under the stands to keep the players out there.