Only the fans can flip the bottletop
Andrew Webster | September 25, 2008
EVER since a defender wrapped his forearm around the neck of a ball-carrier a few years ago and applied subtle pressure to his trachea, the game's obsession with grapple tackles has been only surpassed by an obsession to name them.
The choker. The crusher. The ripper. The pinner. The corkscrew. The chicken wing … After watching endless replays at the NRL judiciary last night of the moment when Cam Smith grabbed Sam Thaiday's third chin and tried to twist his ample head like so, it's clear a new term must be added to the vernacular.
Ladies and gentleman, please welcome … The Bottletop.
Smith was adamant he was attempting a classic "ball-and-all tackle" on his Maroons teammate during Saturday night's epic semi-final. He released as soon as he knew what the hell his right hand was doing. Yet no matter how Smith or his lawyer, Geoff Bellew, tried to spin it, his effort looked suspiciously like the sacred practice of screwing the top off a stubbie, placing one's feet on the coffee table and settling in for a night in front of the footy.
Smith will have plenty of time to do as much for the rest of the finals series after he failed to beat his grade-one contrary conduct charge. The Storm must defend it without him, unless they are granted leave to appeal and somehow overturn the ban.
When the verdict came down, Smith was motionless. When he fronted the cameras outside, all he would offer was: "I play the game, the game that I love, with the utmost integrity."
The Australian, Queensland and Melbourne captain's integrity has never been in dispute. It's just his tackling style that confounds. In the minds of rival coaches and players, he's the chief offender when it comes to the dirty science of the grapple; as much to do with a body type so unexceptional his teammates call him "the Accountant". His is a technique created out of necessity.
When the Broncos had the defending premiers on their knees on Saturday night, and the end of their title defence was imminent, they were frustrated and flustered into reverting to what they know best. Storm boss Brian Waldron reckons such notions are a "northern media conspiracy" - for a change, he had nothing to say after the hearing - and even yesterday big Storm prop Antonio Kaufusi was insisting his side did nothing wrong.
"We don't do wrestling drills," he said. As one NRL coach remarked upon reading the quotes: "And that's an outright lie."
Under heavy questioning from NRL prosecutor Peter Kite, the truth came out and it came from the skipper's lips.
"You're dragging him by his head," said Kite. "Would you agree that is the method you are using?"
"Yes," Smith replied. "But that wasn't my intention."
Time and time again, Kite asked Smith if had hold of Thaiday's head. Smith could do nothing but nod in agreement, providing little resistance. He effectively hung himself.
Does the verdict mean the grapple is forever dead? Unlikely. Dragons coach Nathan Brown was calling for mandatory two-match bans for the practice two years ago. Earlier this season, he was suggesting players lash out.
As Smith met his fate, those who have been around long enough might have cast their mind back to 1969 when Arthur Beetson was suspended for two matches for punching Souths lock Ron Coote in the major semi.
Beetson watched from the stands as Balmain won the preliminary final and then the grand final, against Souths, without him. "I was a bit of a sook afterwards," Beetson said. "But I didn't feel a part of it and it's something I regret … And it still hurts."
