ARLC boss Peter V'landys wants players to stop boxing in the off-season

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys wants players to stop boxing during the off-season.

In the wake of the game's crackdown on high shots, some questioned why former NRL player Paul Gallen was celebrated for withstanding a brutal beating from Justis Huni on Wednesday.

Gallen was courageous in the fight, which was eventually stopped in the 10th round, but took plenty of punishment in the bout.

As a retired player, Gallen isn't under the control of the ARLC, but a number of active players have had off-season bouts in recent years.

In February the All Stars Fight Night took place in Townsville, featuring current players such as Junior Paulo and Josh Papalii.

Paulo also stepped into the ring with Paul Gallen in 2016, a night that also saw former players Chris Sandow and Todd Carney do battle.

"If they're boxing in the off-season, that is a concern to us, because they shouldn't be doing it," V'landys told Radio 2GB's Ben Fordham.

"You can't stop an individual's right to do what he wants to do, but for their own welfare and their own health they have to consider that, they have to consider that playing rugby league and then doing boxing as well could have lifetime ramifications."

V'landys said players need to understand how serious the issue is.

"It worries me considerably, people believe it's got to be concussion, it's not, it's any hit to the head," he said.

"If you get hit to the head consistently it will cause lifetime damage, and that's the problem that the neurologists are telling me. It doesn't have to go to the stage of concussion, it's just a constant hit to the head.

"That's proven in other sports where kids aren't allowed to head the ball in soccer until they're a certain age, and they're even looking in England at not heading the ball at all because you're consistently doing damage to your head."