I sort of blacked out

Luai’s concussion confession

THE NRL will review the head-injury assessment that cleared Jarome Luai to return to the field after the Penrith five-eighth said he “blacked out” during the incident.

Luai was running the ball in the 32nd minute of Saturday night’s 10-6 preliminary final win when he was tackled by Storm’s Harry Grant.

As Luai was falling to the ground, Cameron Munster collected the playmaker across the back of the head. Luai appeared dazed and was taken off by a trainer to be assessed.

“Nah, sort of blacked out quick in there, was sort of dizzy, but I sort of hit the switch and I was sweet,” he told the ABC after the game.

Later that evening Luai said: “I was a bit dazed but I came to light. I switched back on pretty quickly. I passed the HIA pretty easily.”

Under the NRL’s categoryone symptoms, confirmed loss of consciousness automatically rules a player out of the game.

But a category-two symptom like “possible” loss of consciousness requires the player to be taken off the field for an assessment. If the player passes the HIA, he can return.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley said the inciinternational dent, like every other head knock, would be reviewed.

“The NRL reviews all HIA cases in every game to ensure compliance with our rules and procedures,” Annesley said.

“These are complex medical issues that often require further information from the experts who conduct the clinical assessment of players during the game.”

There is no suggestion Penrith did not comply with the rules but if Luai is found to have had a concussion, he will have to enter return-to-play protocols in the lead-up to Sunday’s grand final against South Sydney.

The Luai incident wasn’t the only head knock to attract controversy on the weekend.

Storm forward Christian Welch stayed on the field for seven minutes before being taken off for an HIA. A trainer stopped the match after two minutes to conduct initial tests on Welch, who got the all-clear.

And on Friday night, it took 40 seconds for referee Ashley Klein to stop play for Sea Eagles forward Sean Keppie, who was heavily concussed.