http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2015-live-coverage-of-issac-luke-jorge-taufua-and-aidan-guerra-shoulder-charge-hearings/story-fndujljl-1227490280339
As of right now, 8:33pm, both Issac Luke and Jorge Taufua have been let off from their respective charges opening up a whole horrid can of worms when it comes to the shoulder charge and the possibility of a player serving time on the sideline from a suspension.
Now, while I was one of the many voices who doesn't like the shoulder charge being taken out of the game, with the recent death of Queensland Rugby League player, James Ackerman, I have found myself taking a new stance on the shoulder charge.
I do applaud the NRL for wanting to take a stand on ridding the shoulder charge from the game, but when Willie Mason was suspended for what would have been considered a real marshmellow of a contact, the I started to worry that the NRL was going too far.
BUT, the press releases all said that if we DON'T rid the game of the shoulder charge, it's only a matter of time before we have another incident like what happened to Ackerman.
So, like the faithful NRL follower I am, I thought "if this is the line the NRL are going to take, then we need to accept the new reality"
THEN THIS HAPPENS .......
While, at the time of writing this blog I do not know the fate of Aidan Guerra, what's disappointing is that is that we are seeing the start of what COULD be the new "scrum feed penalty" when it comes to who they are going to be hard on.
For those who are not old enough to remember, years ago when scrums were contested, a half had to feed the ball in the middle to give both hookers a fair chance to "hook" the ball. Now most half backs would do as all half back do .... they push the limits, feed the ball in an angle instead of straight or into the second row (which is what we see all the time now). The referee had the power to penalise whomever they felt they could. We all saw games where a halfback would constantly feed the ball in at an angle or in the second row, yet would virtually never get penalised (from a Parramatta perspective, penalties, scrum penalties cost us the 1976 grand final. We scored two tries to Manly's one).
Could this new so called "hard line" on the shoulder charge be the new "scrum feed penalty"?
Taufua certainly did seem that his shoulder charge was closer to a simple body clash, BUT he still turned his body to hit the Canberra player with his shoulder. Luke contended that he led with the forearm not the shoulder on Thurston ...... tho really .... is leading with the forearm any better??!!
These two avoided a penalty.
What will we see in the weeks to come?
What players will be suspended in the lead to the finals?
What players will escape suspension when they SHOULD be suspended?
Love to know your thoughts.
Replies
there's a clear definition already?
The game of League has existed for over 100 years with much more violent tackles than what is permitted now.Maybe someone can do a statistical evaluation of the millions of huge hits to the percentage of deaths caused,or even extreme injuries.People make a choice and are well rewarded for participating in the sport.This constant fear of injury and prosecution is destroying the game.Why not eliminate all body contact and just make it touch footy?No possible chance of injury then.Not unless someone trips on a blade of grass and sues the greenkeeper.
Current players are well paid for the risks they take.Unfortunately shit happens,you cannot wrap yourself in cotton wool.Life is pain and life is risk.
I'm happy Taufua isn't missing this weekend. I was worried Taufua was out because next choice is Turbo (Trbojevic) and he has absolutely showed why he deserves to play NRL.
I personally didn't see a shoulder charge from Taufua, all I saw was his right arm going in for a big hit on Williams (if I remember correctly). Luke's hit deserved the suspension and Guerra's hit was definitely a shoulder
According the the NRL .... yes there is !!
here's a cut and past from the NRL website -
Shoulder Charge
Is where a defender, without attempting to tackle, grab or hold the ball-carrier (or any opposing player) using the arms or hands, makes direct physical contact using the shoulder or the upper arm (tucked into the side).
It will be considered misconduct, if any player affects a tackle in the manner as defined.
The indicators will include:
1. Rotation of the defenders hips and shoulders
2. Defender has ‘tucked’ his arm into his body.
and here's the link -
http://www.nrl.com/laws-of-the-game-shoulder-charge/tabid/10874/new...
the concern with now ALL THREE escaping the shoulder charge penalty (while Willie Mason copped a suspension for the softest body contact I've seen in years!) is the inconsistency here.
Not only in the handing out of "what is a shoulder charge" , but the penalty attached to it.
Taufua, his was closer to being just body contact than a shoulder charge. It was a fine line between bracing his body for the impact with the Raiders player and using the collision as an opportunity to effect a shoulder charge . But he still tucked his arm into his body as defined by the NRL.
I thought that Luke's was closer to the definition (while skating on thin ice!), while Guerra's was close to a classically defined shoulder charge.
Yet ALL THREE escape the charge (Luke is still out because of a dangerous throw charge leveled against him).
While this rounds charges hasn't effected any Parramatta players (there's a pleasant change), I still believe it's a concern that players appear to be being handed out different disciplinary actions for what is , to all intents and purpose, the same infraction.
Perhaps I am being a "captain obvious" here, but I don't think last nights judiciary results will be the last time we have confusion with regards to the outcome of shoulder charge transgressions
The only reason why Luke and Taufua where let off is because of the teams they are playing this weekend.
The NRL board are nothing more than a JOKE and the sooner they start looking at the game as fans and not a business the sooner people will come back to watching and loving the game again.
Yes how does Guera get off? He purposely used his shoulder; but this is the NRL; and the idea of fines being floated for grade ones has come up again....