Australia’s leading sports concussion expert believes the Storm clearly breached the NRL’s HIA protocols with match-winning hooker Harry Grant against the Roosters last night.
Grant suffered a head knocked in the 66th minute but did not leave the field for nearly 10 minutes, staying on and scoring one try and setting up another as the Storm outclassed the Roosters.
Social media went berserk after the match, with angry fans demanding why Grant was not immediately taken from the field to undergo an HIA test.
Dr Adrian Cohen, who has written several papers on sports head injuries as well as done many case studies, says the Storm clearly breached HIA rules.
Harry Grant was knocked out and then went on to score a decisive try for the Storm. (Getty) (Getty)
“In incidents such as this, we are looking for clear indication of loss of consciousness,” Dr Cohen told Wide World of Sports.
“This can include a player being immobile on the ground, the player’s neck flopping on way to the ground or the player not protecting himself on way to the ground – that is not putting an arm out to break the fall.
“All three of these were present in the Grant incident and I can’t believe he wasn’t taken off for assessment.
“The NRL is failing to adhere to its own rules. One might ask what’s the point of having them?”
Canterbury were fined $20,000 last week for a delay in taking a dazed Lachlan Lewis from the field.
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