The concept of the Australian Rugby League Commission being conferred with powers to charge players with offences, in instances where the independent match review committee hasn’t, warrants close inspection. You could dress such arrangements up as a derivation of a “captain’s challenge”, yet the idea represents nothing of the sort. A captain having limited rights to ask that a referee’s on-field decision be more closely examined is different to that player overruling the match official. On the one hand, of course, we could be side-stepping shadows here. If the core purpose of these new reserve powers is to construct a backstop in terms of safeguarding fairness to NRL clubs and enhancing the safety of players, it is difficult to argue with the concept. The well-documented links between collision sports and brain damage means ARLC directors must take all necessary steps to limit the risks of harm. No questions there.