Every half gets hit late but to me if the player can't pull out of it and was totally committed to the tackle it's fair game.
Absolutely agree;
if the player can't pull out of it and was totally committed to the tackle.
Pressuring the ball player when he is kicking or passing in the line is part of the game and it's perfectly fair to put a big hit on as they get rid of the ball. Sometimes it is misjudged a little or the ballplayer passes a little before expected and they get hit a fraction late. So be it.
Unfortunately it has been a growing trend for the last couple of years to line up a halfback and follow through with the hit well after they have passed/kicked the ball. Several times every game you see Maloney, Reynolds, Thurston, Cleary or Cronk smashed a second or more after the ball is gone and they have relaxed. I don't think anyone with half a brain (so that rules Skeepe out) could argue that Soliola didn't have plenty of time to pull out of the Slater hit.
I think that's what Thurston is saying, and I thoroughly agree.
