The NRL will investigate whether Melbourne back-rower Ryan Hoffman was allowed to return to the field prematurely on Monday night, just six-and-a-half minutes after he was taken for a concussion test.
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The Dragons are seething that they were forced to play the final 88 seconds of Monday's match at AAMI Park with 12 players, while Hoffman was able to return to the park and throw the final pass for the controversial match-winning try, despite stumbling around the field midway through the second half.
Hoffman was left dazed after copping a head knock attempting a tackle in the 55th minute, and despite rejoining the Storm defensive line, was consequently taken from the field by the club medical staff for a SCAT test.
Hoffman was reluctant to leave the field and made no secret of his dismay about exiting the game, with officials and players from both clubs hearing the former Blues forward argue with the Storm club doctor on his way back to the sheds.
However, the 30-year-old had no choice but to make his way up the tunnel for proper examination, only to return to the field in the 61st minute.
Despite my insistence at the time I was ok, our club dr had me undertake the full SCAT concussion test as per NRL regulations (1/2) — Ryan Hoffman (@RyanHoffman12) April 16, 2014
The NRL are aware of the incident and will investigate whether the necessary procedures were taken to ensure Hoffman should have been allowed to return to the field.
It's understood a SCAT test usually takes between eight and 12 minutes, however Hoffman returned to the field quicker than most anticipated, given he was struggling to stay on his feet after the tackle.
I passed the test and was cleared to go back on the field. Any notion that our Dr acted outside NRL regulations are false. (2/2) — Ryan Hoffman (@RyanHoffman12) April 16, 2014
The Dragons paid the price for using up all their interchanges and having to remove a player from the field when Joel Thompson's 15-minute concussion test window – which gave the Dragons a free interchange – expired with 88 seconds remaining in the game.
The Dragons had used up all of their 10 interchanges and were hoping the match would finish before the 15-minute window that gave them a free interchange for Thompson, who left the field in the 66th minute, expired.
But stoppages of the game clock for a video review and scrums meant the Dragons were forced to remove Dan Hunt from the game in the 79th minute.
However, Hoffman's return didn't have as big an impact on the match, given the Storm still had five interchanges remaining when the back-rower left and returned to the field.
Bryan Norrie replaced Hoffman when he left the field in the 55th minute, while Tohu Harris was the man to make way when Hoffman was cleared to return in the 61st minute.
