Outgoing South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has called on the NRL to reassess their treatment of head injuries after Jai Arrow was temporarily allowed to play on despite being "knocked out".
The Rabbitohs forward copped a high shot from Viliame Kikau in his first run of the NRL grand final on Sunday.
At the time, Arrow was allowed to leave the field as a free interchange rather than a HIA and returned to the field in the first half.
South Sydney medical staff ultimately did check him for delayed concussion at the break with Arrow subsequently failing the HIA and unable to return to the game.
After seeing his side lose 14-12 in the decider, Bennett was quick to stress the importance of player safety and feels the NRL needs to look at how they treat head injuries moving forward.
“It’s something the game needs to look at. We haven’t got this part right and I’m not sure where it’s got to go," Bennett said about the Arrow incident post-match.
"He was obviously knocked out in the tackle – he was still conscious.
"I’m making a general point here, you don’t want your players to lay down and you want your players to get up - but he was a lot worse off than he would let anybody know.
"We knew when he went back on the field that his timing was way out with his defence. We got him in at half-time and the doctor checked him again and that was the end."
Arrow was praised for flagging the eventual effects of his head knock with the NRL Physio posting on Twitter: "Have to commend Jai Arrow who experienced delayed symptoms after his head knock in the 1st half, so reported them & came off for a HIA. Has now been ruled out for the game.
"With the messaging surrounding concussion symptoms being muddled lately, great to see."
Kikau was placed on report for his high shot on Arrow with Andrew Johns noting in commentary that the Rabbitohs forward let the Panther know he wasn't happy about the contact.
"There is plenty being said by Jai Arrow, he was screaming at Kikau, so keep an eye out when he comes on the field," Johns said on Channel Nine during the match.
"I think Kikau was just nodding, saying a prayer for him. Jai Arrow might have been aggressive, but Viliame wasn’t."