It's a trait rugby league is often defined by.

But the long-running rugby league administrator says those days have "been wiped out" and belong in another era, declaring the standard of Group 10's duty of care of players in the region among the leaders in Country Rugby League.

Concussion and its affects on rugby league players is again in the spotlight after a recent study pointed to a "significant share" of former players living with a degenerative brain condition.

Concussion Legacy Foundation warned that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) would be found in many more ex-NRL players after two deceased first-graders had been found to have suffered from the condition.

Head safety is a current and important issue in all sports, with rules in place to treat incidents of injury and concussion seriously.

The NRL have concussion rules in place, which are the same ones used by Group 10, the Central West-based competition played in Bathurst, Blayney, Cowra, Lithgow, Mudgee, Oberon and Orange.

Players who are suspected of having a concussion are to be removed from the game and be assessed by a sports trainer and if it is confirmed they have suffered one, are not permitted to return to the game.

McDonald said there hasn't been too many major concussion issues in recent times, however, he said clubs are well aware of the rules.

"We don't have a great deal of issues but our blokes are pretty well refereed by tough referees," he said.

"Group 10 is probably the leaders in Country Rugby League [when it comes to looking after concussed players].

"Going back years ago, when big forwards were playing, there were plenty of [concussions] going on then. It's been wiped out now though, as far as we're concerned."

Former NRL player Peter Sterling recently said he'll donate his brain to science for research into the effects of concussion, with premiership-winning teammates following his lead to donate their brains as well.

Current St George Illawarra forward James Graham said he'll also donate his brain to science.