South Sydney's Chris McQueen has defended the referees after Canterbury coach Des Hasler criticised them for stopping play as the back-rower lay concussed during the Rabbitohs' 21-14 win on Thursday night.
The decision was pivotal. Canterbury halfback Trent Hodkinson was kicking the ball out on the full from a slow restart while his side hung on to a 14-12 lead.
The tide then turned and South Sydney scored the match-winning try. Hasler was critical the Bulldogs were not allowed to play on and capitalise on a quick play-the-ball to end their set.
McQueen, who sported a closed eye when he spoke with Fairfax Media, did not return to the field because he was concussed.
"Whenever a player is down their welfare is the issue," McQueen said. "It's a big issue. If one of their players were down I'm sure they'd want the game to be stopped.
"It is what it is. [My eye] is a little bit sore but I'm feeling all right. I had a chat with the doctor and he didn't want me to go back on."
McQueen is one of several players in doubt for the Rabbitohs' clash against the Roosters on Thursday night.
John Sutton (knee) hopes to return while Sam Burgess (knee and ribs) might not play. Issac Luke and Adam Reynolds are also facing one-game bans.
The Rabbitohs were below par in their come-from-behind-victory over Canterbury on Thursday night, completing 68 per cent of possession in the opening half.
"I dropped a couple of balls but on a whole the team didn't have the discipline," McQueen said.
"We had to do too much defence and couldn't match their big men. We had a chat at half-time and we rectified that in the second half.
"It's a good feeling to know we played poor but were still competitive. In the second half we played a lot better.
"[Carrying injuries] is across the board. Everyone in the NRL is carrying niggles and little injuries."
As they ready to play the Roosters the Rabbitohs are sidestepping the hype which surrounded the corresponding game last year, when both sides battled for the minor premiership.
The match on Thursday could again decide first place at the end of the regular season. South Sydney are keen to secure their first minor premiership since 1989.
"We do talk about keeping our heads out of the papers," McQueen said. "I don't know if some of the boys did get distracted [by the build-up to the game last year] ... Something we did talk about is not getting caught up in that.
"All the build-up is external to our footy club. We have to focus on what we do. We'll have one or two training sessions and a captain's run on Wednesday."
