https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/paulo-denies-he-made-hip-drop-tackle-despite-match-review-charge-20200919-p55x8f.html

 

Parramatta powerhouse Junior Paulo maintains he did not make a hip-drop tackle on David Fifita on Friday night and knows the controversial tackling technique "is something we're trying to scrap out of our game".

Around the same time on Saturday that Fifita was being told he would require ankle surgery and had played his last game for Brisbane, Paulo was hit with a grade-one dangerous contact charge by the match review committee.

 

The charge sheet would have stunned Eels coach Brad Arthur and skipper Clint Gutherson, who were already bemused Paulo had been penalised in the first place for his second-half defensive effort.

Paulo can take the early plea and still play against Wests Tigers next Saturday night, but will walk the NRL finals' tightrope with 75 demerit points hanging over his head.

 

Five demerit points are deducted each game, but the slightest hiccup will mean Paulo faces an automatic spell on the sidelines.

Parramatta might be tempted to fight the charge at the judiciary, especially if Canberra lose to the Warriors on Sunday afternoon and next Saturday's clash against the Tigers suddenly has no bearing on a top-four finish.

Paulo made a point of apologising to Fifita after the 26-12 victory, but was adamant he had not made a hip-drop tackle, which involves a player dropping his full body weight on to the back of the attacking player's legs.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley was so concerned by the increasing prevelance of the tackle that he fired off an email to all clubs in July about the need to eradicate it.

 

Paulo knows what they are because he was on the receiving end of one earlier this year, which led to St George Illawarra forward Tyrell Fuimaono being suspended for two matches.

"Obviously there's a duty of care, [but] I had no intent to go in and drop at the knees – that's something we're trying to scrap out of our game," Paulo said.

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It was unfortunate to be in that position. I went in with the intent to tackle around the legs, not to drop on to his ankles or knees or whatever it was."I'll prepare like I'm playing next week and whatever happens happens.

 

"I ran over to him straight after the game, told him I'm sorry for the tackle and there was no intention to do that. He was all good about it.

"I heard a scream straight away. It was unfortunate to be caught in that position. I tried to roll out of it quickly."

Fifita signed a $3.5 million deal to join the Gold Coast Titans and was meant to farewell Broncos fans on Thursday night. The syndesmosis injury will also means he misses Queensland's Origin campaign.

 

Arthur was certainly unimpressed with the bunker sending the message down to referee Henry Perenara for Paulo to be placed on report.

"There's nothing in that, is there?" Arthur said after the game. "It shouldn't have been a penalty. From that penalty we defended three or four sets on our line.

"What's he supposed to do? That's not the description of the hip-[drop] tackle. No way.

"I thought [the ruling] come from the bunker. I think they [the bunker] need to stay out of it. Just get the rulings right on tries."

In what was a controversial night for the officials, a certain Eels try was ruled out for a knock-on after Perenara decided Gutherson had knocked the ball on when batting the ball on to winger Blake Ferguson. Gutherson was able to challenge the call because Perenara had ruled it a knock on, rather than a forward pass, despite the ball not touching the ground or an opposition player.

 

The bunker would not have been able to overrule a forward pass ruling. The try could also not be awarded because Perenara had blown his whistle before Ferguson planted the ball. The referee apologised to Gutherson and the Eels in the aftermath, with the play restarted from the previous ruck.

Paulo has been brilliant for the Eels and made an immediate impact when coming off the bench against the Broncos.

The Eels defeated the competition's worst team but will need to lift again against the Tigers as they try to farewell club favourites Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence in style.

Gutherson was certainly aware of Paulo's importance when he said: "When he came on [against the Broncos] it gave us an extra leg; his ball skills and the way he plays is outstanding."

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  • Contest this BS and GO HARD!

    Can't remember the other match this weegend (Cows or possibly Moanly) but a player was assisted from the field with ankle injury from a similar tackle and it was "Play on."

    Match Review CLOWNS should be punted.

    • Mushy, have said elsewhere if the club does not contest it, I am finished with the game overall.

      I have watched the video of the tackle and no way was Jnr responsible, and so called hip flop, part of his upper leg appears to have been over Fifita's leg for a short period prior to his crying out. 

      • STOOPIDITY runs deep in the NRL colin, and we all know.......................

        7947803453?profile=RESIZE_400x

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