Mental scars can last a long time, it was an absolute 'car crash' of an impact (it wasn't a tackle), one that can and does end a career, the ref doing nothing pretty much led to how that game unfolded.
Not sure how much it afffected Shaul for similar scenarios since, but even if we don't consciously think about it in the moments leading up to similar, if it's in the back of your mind, you're more likely to change how you aproach that same scenario from a self preservation POV, even if the liklihood of it happening again is extremely unlikely.

Can you point specifically to when this is noticeable and what exactly what we're loooking for?

Might be just me, but I think he is less direct when he takes and then returns the ball. He appears to me to be reluctant to run it in and dances across the line a lot. I realise he has had concussions as well which may affect his game.

Might that not be that in some circumstances he's looking for a gap to break through instead of just running into two/three defenders and in doing so not only loses any potential avenue but also because of his stature means he gets pushed back.

Could that actually be he's thinking more about finding the gap before going into contact as well as not wanting to be pushed/lifted back in the tackle losing ground.
The last few years we've not been pulling up any trees and the overall team performances have been at times diabolical, the overall impact of that can also influence how a player might perform, particularly if they feel under pressure from the coach or pressure from themselves due to their afiliation with the coach.

I understand what you're saying and it's something that can weigh on people's minds after traumatic events, but even the person who has had that event happen to them might not realise they've changed specifically because of that, or even admit to doing x or y differently. And correlation isn't causation, what I said above could also be valid.

either way, I hope he gets back to full fitness and can be allowed to prove himself in whatever position that might be, I think we've missed his explosiveness in open field play and his ability to track back for kicks quickly and get us on the front foot, something that Connor doesn't do, mostly because he ambles back for kicks and is never in a hurry to take the ball up.

Might that not be that in some circumstances he's looking for a gap to break through instead of just running into two/three defenders and in doing so not only loses any potential avenue but also because of his stature means he gets pushed back.

Could that actually be he's thinking more about finding the gap before going into contact as well as not wanting to be pushed/lifted back in the tackle losing ground

Possibly, but I think he does it more now than he used to.

[either way, I hope he gets back to full fitness and can be allowed to prove himself in whatever position that might be.

Me too

I agree.

To be fair most Full Backs return the ball by running across the line and looking for the gap. Not many have the strength to run hard and straight at the oncoming defence and risk being lifted back over the in-goal line.