‘Obviously concussed’ Panthers star reignites NRL’s HIA farce

It wouldn’t be the NRL without an off-season rule change that’s left coaches, players and everyone else completely baffled by its implementation.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary considered the Dragons lucky to only lose two players to the sin bin during their Friday night win over the Dragons. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has put the NRL’s new concussion rules into the spotlight once again.

While the reigning premiers went on to defeat the Dragons 20-16 on Friday night, the majority of the post game discussion revolved around a controversial moment in the 28th minute where Dragons forward Jaydn Su’A was sin-binned for a late shot on Panthers’ halfback Sean O’Sullivan.

After the collision O’Sullivan stayed on the ground for more than a minute before being assessed by a Panthers medico and then taken off by the independent NRL doctor.

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Either way the 23-year-old made his way back into the game after passing all tests, however Griffin believed O’Sullivan shouldn’t have returned to the field as he was “obviously concussed”.

While the Dragons coach had no issue with Su’A being sent to the bin, Griffin wanted clarification on why O’Sullivan was not forced to sit out of the entirety of the game.

“I’m still confused,” Griffin said.

“Young O’Sullivan laid on the ground for a minute, I thought that was a straight Category A.

“That was my understanding. And that he wouldn’t return.

“I thought that’s what we were there to protect.

“That’s just me with the rule. So I’ve got to find out. But if someone is obviously that concussed, I’ve got to find out why that happens.”

Jayden Su'A was given his marching orders. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

In the Panthers’ press conference Ivan Cleary said George Burgess was lucky not to join Jaydn Su’A and Zach Lomax in the sin bin after his high shot on Jarome Luai, moments after Su’A was given his marching orders.

Jaydn Su’A has narrowly escaped receiving a charge from the NRL, however teammate George Burgess wasn’t as lucky getting charged with dangerous contact on Jarome Luai.

“I’m not sure about the Burgess one. But I guess couldn’t do two (sin bins) in a row could he?” Cleary said.

“But we knew they were going to come at us. It wasn’t like it was a shock.

“They play aggressive. Have some guys who fly close to the wind but that’s all good.”

Despite his frustrations with the latest concussion rulings and the independent NRL doctor Griffin did concede that his side simply had, “to be better”.

“We have to learn to be better,” Griffin said.

“We played 20 minutes with 12 men, that killed us.

“With the Su’A (sin bin), if they’re the rules then they’re the rules. That cost us.

“Then the George Burgess penalty on the last play … we invited them down to our end far too many times before they had earned it.

“It should give our side a lot of belief.”

Originally published as ‘Obviously concussed’ Panthers star reignites NRL’s HIA farce