Penrith Panthers Reagan Campbell-Gillard hospitalised with suspected back fracture
Penrith coach Anthony Griffin was in no mood to celebrate after the Panthers cemented a NRL finals berth, with key forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard taken to hospital with a suspected back fracture.
A furious Griffin has urged the NRL to review Gold Coast prop Ryan James' 59th-minute tackle on the front rower in Saturday night's game at Cbus Super Stadium. It was not penalised at the time.
News Corp Australia is reporting it was contacted late on Saturday night by Griffin who expressed his disappointment.
"They've stood Reg (Campbell-Gillard) up and then Ryan James hits him in the ribs while he's unprotected," Griffin said.
"He's gone to hospital and they think he's got a broken disc in his back.
"I'd really like the NRL to review it. I'm not happy with how Reg has ended up injured.
"I watched it at the time and thought it was a bit crook, so they need to look at it.
"He can't move. They had to stretcher him out of the sheds," Griffin told News Corp.
The Penrith prop was held by Chris McQueen and Nathan Friend when James came in as the third man and made contact using his right shoulder.
James, only two weeks ago, avoided suspension for breaking the jaw of Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco.
On the match itself, Griffin was also unhappy about Penrith's "dumb" first-half performance which allowed Gold Coast back into the contest.
The game seemed to be heading into golden point after Tyrone Roberts kicked a penalty goal four minutes from time following a high tackle by Penrith's Chris Grevsmuhl - ironically on James.
"It was terrible the way we let them back into the game," Griffin said.
"It was a very dumb half of football.
"It's nice to know that we're definitely there (in top eight), but it's going to have to be a lot better than that if we're going to do something with the (finals) spot."
Griffin praised Tyrone Peachey, who made the crucial line break, bringing the ball to within 20m of the tryline and allowing Moylan to kick the one-pointer to snatch the game.
In Jarryd Hayne's first match at fullback for two years, he was outshone by his opposite number Moylan, who scored the Panthers' first try in the eighth minute.
The lead was doubled in the 17th minute when Waqa Blake dived over wide.
Hayne had a chance to score the first try of his NRL return just before the break after an offload from Leivahu Pulu, but the Panthers' No.1 stopped him close to the line.
Just after halftime, the Titans were back in it when Pulu was fed by Greg Bird 5m out and he carried three defenders over the line for his first NRL try.
Bird set up a dramatic finish when he stretched out over the line to make it a two-point game.
The Titans need to beat North Queensland in Townsville next week or hope other results go their way.
Coach Neil Henry will keep an eye on Sunday's Warriors-Wests Tigers clash, but backs his team to get a result next Saturday against the Cowboys.
"It's not over. The destiny's in our own hands," Henry said.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-past-gold-coast-titans-20160827-gr2qyu.html
Second time in three weekends that this players has maimed a fellow player.
See what happens when the NRL does not do their duty to protect other players when they don't punish the shitty players accordingly?
