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The NRL has issued the NSWRL a warning after determining Boyd Cordner should not have been cleared to return via concussion protocols in State of Origin I.

NSWRL have been issued a formal warning by the NRL after an investigation into a HIA on Boyd Cordner found the Blues captain should not have cleared concussion protocols.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon the NRL said the 28-year-old Cordner should not have been allowed to return to the field in the State of Origin opener after copping another troubling head knock.

Seen stumbling to his feet in the 18th minute before he was guided to the sideline, Cordner then passed the SCAT assessment administered by the NSWRL medic, Dr Nathan Gibbs, in the dressing room at Adelaide Oval.

He returned to the field to play an additional 48 minutes in the 18-14 loss to Queensland.

However, the NRL determined that since Cordner showed signs of motor incoordination it was a 'category one injury' and he should have been immediately ruled out, regardless of the results of the SCAT assessment.

The NRL said it had considered the subjective nature of classifying symptoms and acknowledged the professionalism of all medical staff involved.

"In our view Boyd should not have been allowed to return to the field," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

"Our chief medical officer spoke directly with both NSW and Queensland medical staff prior to Wednesday night's game and reminded them of our high expectations in this area."

The Blues have previously insisted Dr Gibbs followed NRL concussion protocols and Cordner passed all tests to return to the field. They have strongly denied putting the player at risk.

"We respect that the NRL had an obligation to raise the issue and we responded," said NSWRL boss Dave Trodden in response to the NRL's determination.

"We are comfortable with how it has been dealt with by our staff and how it was dealt with by the NRL.

"As far as we are concerned the matter has now concluded."

The NRL's verdict comes after Cordner ruled himself out of the final two games of the Origin series to focus on his health and recovery following the head knock.

There are growing concerns for the Sydney Roosters captain who has suffered multiple concussions and spent seven games sidelined this season as a precaution.

One of those was a five-week break following a head knock at training, from which he had ongoing concussion symptoms.

Meanwhile, on Friday NSW named an unchanged team from Origin II to play Queensland in Wednesday night's decider at Suncorp Stadium.

It is the first time since the final two matches of the 2017 series the Blues have not made a change to their line-up in back to back games.

NSW 21-MAN TEAM FOR ORIGIN III

James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Clint Gutherson, Jack Wighton, Josh Addo-Carr, Cody Walker, Nathan Cleary, Daniel Saifiti, Damien Cook, Payne Haas, Angus Crichton, Tyson Frizell, Jake Trbojevic, Dale Finucane, Junior Paulo, Nathan Brown, Isaah Yeo, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jarome Luai, Cameron McInnes, Nick Cotric.