Rabbitohs prop Tom Burgess has rejected an implication from Raiders coach Ricky Stuart that he laid down to earn a penalty in his team's 42-22 win over Canberra at Gosford on Saturday.
Burgess was down for some time after being hit late and off the ball by Elliott Whitehead in the 49th minute. He was taken from the field for a concussion check but later returned to the field.
Speaking to media after the game, Burgess said he was troubled by whiplash from the hit which caused a burning in his neck and arm, but the sensation eventually passed.
"It's all good, it's a contact sport, he was getting his body in front of me, a bit of whiplash there but it's all right," Burgess said.
"It was into the back a bit but no love lost."
He said he had encountered similar whiplash injuries before.
"Whiplash. Trapped my nerve in there, I've done it before, it was pretty sore," Burgess said.
Match Highlights: Rabbitohs v Raiders – Round 7, 2018
"Just all the neck and stuff goes numb. It's part of the game. It's just painful, like a burning sensation in your arm and neck and stuff, it's still numb now, it will be all right."
Told about Stuart's accusation, Burgess wasn't biting.
"It's all right. It's his comment. I'm not a player to lay down," he said.
"It was burning so as soon as that got off I got up.
"If your neck goes backwards you do get whiplash, you get trapped nerves in there, I've had it before but if your head goes backwards like that it hurts."