Fans have questioned whether St George Illawarra exploited the NRL's Head Injury Assessment (HIA) guidelines after Tyson Frizell was substituted for a head knock despite suffering an eye injury.
In the ninth minute, friendly fire forced Frizell off the field as Blake Lawrie accidently poked the Dragons second-rower in the eye region.
Blood poured down Frizell's face and his vision was clearly blurry as he was treated by the trainer who signalled for a HIA assesment, meaning his interchange was not included in the Dragons' limit of eight substitutions.
Panthers legend Greg Alexander pointed out that Frizell's injury was eye-related.
''That's in the eye. He's coming off for a HIA,''
''That's in his left eye. There's blood around that eye.''
Frizell was cleared to return to the field midway through the first half after passing his assessment with the nasty gash seemingly patched up.
Curious fans put the rule under the spotlight.
@NRL In no way possible is this a HIA #NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/sSDd8abhcy
— Peter Elder (@pelder90) May 5, 2019
How on earth is a poke in the eye by your teammate constitute a HIA interchange? #NRLEelsDragons
— Jono Maloney (@MaloneyJono) May 5, 2019
HIA for a finger in the eye? #NRLEelsDragons
— De Phantom (@DePhantom) May 5, 2019
