Concussion expert warns Cameron McInnes he’s risking his future after Sharks star broke NRL record by racking up 81 tackles in a single game

A leading Australian concussion expert has warned Sharks star Cameron McInnes he is risking his future health if he continues to batter his body in the NRL.

McInnes, 29, made a competition-record 81 tackles in last Saturday’s 28-0 defeat against the Panthers – and at fulltime he resembled a boxer after a bad loss.

His Cronulla teammates were in awe at his ironman performance – but NSW-based Dr Adrian Cohen, CEO and Founder of Headsafe, believes McInnes’s relentless approach in defence needs to change for his own safety.

‘Without doubt he [McInnes] is increasing his chances of brain damage,’ Cohen said.

‘The number of impacts over time, multiplied by their force [in a contact sport like rugby league] gives you a total lifetime ‘dose’ of energy to the brain. 

McIness (pictured middle, on the ground) made an NRL record 81 tackles against the Panthers

‘The higher the dose, the more likely the damage.’

It comes as rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis recently confirmed an expert told him he probably has the deadly concussion-related brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to head knocks from his playing days.

McInnes’ teammate Braden Hamlin-Uele labelled the forward’s herculean  performance ‘insane.’

It was also the first game this season the veteran forward has played 80 minutes.

‘It is a testament to his character. He turns up week in and week out and is ready to go,’ Hamlin-Uele told NRL.com.

‘We got off at full-time and I heard someone say ’81’ and I was like ‘is that how much possession they had?’ and they said, ‘no that’s how many tackles Cam made.

‘The acceptance to lay it all out on the field … I love him for it.’

Given his inspiring effort against the competition favourites on Saturday night, fans could be forgiven for thinking McInnes enjoyed a sleep-in and had a lazy Sunday.

In reality, the rugged lock was at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo at 9.30am, as he promised his two young children, Noa and Mia.

The McInnes family did consider venturing out to the zoo in Sydney’s west, but decided against it as it is based ‘near the Penrith area’.

Always a team first player, McInnes declared he ‘wasn’t proud’ of the tackling record, he was instead elated at the collective effort his team showed, despite the heavy defeat.