Richie Barnett: Former Kiwis Captain on the teen who died playing a Run it Straight game

There's a belief official 'Run it Straight' events are trying to mitigate head injuries, but has risk written all over it. 

Ryan Satterthwaite —a 19-year-old— has died after suffering a serious injury during a private version of the aggressive tackling game in Palmerston North on Sunday. 

A championship league final has been blocked from Auckland's Trusts Arena. 

Former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett told Mike Hosking the official events are a controlled environment, but heads can end up in the wrong space. 

He says it's still impact, which is the problem, as you don't need to have a concussion to have a brain bleed. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the run at straight phenomenons produced as first tragedy.
It was a copycat type events Sunday palmits to North.
Of course, nineteen year old Ryan Satisfac suffered a traumatic
brain injury died as a result. So what to do
with anything about this? Richie Barnett, of course, former keiwi's
lead captains back with this morning.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good morning mate.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Obviously this is a tragedy, but I am always very
wary of grabbing headlines and people going nuts. Is this
any different to what you and I did as kids?
It's bull rush, it's it's lack of front quartal development,
it's boys being boys, and what do we do about it?
Why is it different now?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, I guess it's been. I guess with the media
the way it is now, I think it's highlighting certain
things that we've never seen before. And this is no
different to what we've done when we're young. And you know,
sport as risky sport and activities that were seen today
in the world that we live in. There are so
many other sports and activities that were seen in today's

(00:55):
world that are sore, so much more dangerous than what
we've seen today. But it's tragedy and respect goes out
to the family.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Of course, before this tragedy happened, when you looked at
Run It Straight, did you form an opinion on it
in any way, shape or form.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Oh oh, and you've got to be nuts to be fair.
I yeah, I mean, I mean, I'm a I get it,
and there is some some safety around it with what
they're doing currently in an enclosed environment, but you know,
it's still head trauma. It's still it's still got risk
written all over it. And unfortunately for me, I've I've

(01:32):
had a number of friends who have passed away with
CTE Paul green back in the day, modor and neuron
as well. I've had two players that have passed away
with motor neuron. So you know, it sort of sits
close to my heart as well. So I'm I'm on
that to a few concussions as well, so I'm mindful
of it.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
Well, that's the do you think things that see I'm
watching Fisher Harris. When you go see Fisher Harris coming
at your full tit or Bunty are fower? I mean,
that's league All that Run It Straight is is just
an organized form of what happens on a legue or
a rugby field on any given Saturday or Sunday, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, it's minimized, it is, and it's controlled and they
show them the technique and you're running straight, so but
it's still the impact, but it is controlled, so you
can then line up and you don't have any issue
with putting your head in the wrong space, although it
can happen. So yeah, but it's still impact. It's not
concussions that are the problem. It's actually the impact on

(02:28):
your brain. And you don't have to have a concussion
to have brain bleed.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
No, do we need to change things? Are things changing
or is this just a discussion that will lead nowhere
and things will continue the way they do.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
I think it's just going to continue on. There's not
much it's going to happen. They're in the rules of
they're lying and the rules of play. There's many other
things that are more dangerous than that. You know, base
jumping to riding horses, to bike riding, you name it.
There are so many more dangerous sports out there that

(03:04):
don't get the highlight at the moment because of the
death that's happened. Unfortunately.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Richie appreciate it Richie Bonnett, former league great, of course.
For more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
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Speaker 2 (03:16):
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