Commission to outlaw 'shoulder charge'

[mattystans000]

At best unproven, at worst entirely false. Even the bullshit, dubious statistics provided by ARLC to justify this rule didn't lead to this conclusion.

All i'm doing is re-telling the story as told to me by Casey Badger to me & the rest of the people in the course. This was a long time (1-2 years) before banning the shoulder charge by the NRL (at the time) was even on the agenda. In addition, the shoulder charge (and even just jersey-sling tackles) have always been banned under the Safeplay Rules of junior rugby league (up to u12/u13 level), just to point out that it didn't take an ARLC ruling to ban the shoulder charge by young kids who are playing the game.

And insofar as your unproven vs false comment, I don't have banks of research data on the matter, but common sense does dictate banning shoulder charges (which most often make contact at chest level, and less often push up into the head or make direct contact with the head) means that you have a greater chance of avoiding the negative effects of contact to the head as a result of any & all attempted shoulder charges - simply because no player is allowed to use them any longer.

Of course: "not allowed" does not equal "will never", but does mean: "not allowed" thus "less chance of happening". And in my opinion, it's better for the safety of all players to have it banned, regardless of who said what at the ARLC, and I don't think it will detract in any way from the "toughness" the game portrays.

 

[thorson1987]

Shoulder charges were banned until U/18's already.

 

[Springs]

Fully agree, Matt Groat was out for a number of weeks and his parents were extremely concerned with the continuing self effects of his concussion (Ben Teo shoulder charge).

I was at a function with his parents that night and although they were concerned, they knew it was footy and it happens.
I've seen him since then and he's fine, no worse than I am with mycontinuing concussion effects (from a perfectly legal tackle, we need to ban them too obviously).

mattystans, in your story the fatality clearly came from his decision to keep playing against orders. If I went back on the field after my concussion last year and got hit in the head again it's not the fault of the previous tackle, it's because I madea stupid decision. The shoulder charge is not to blame for that, if it was a concussion from any other tackle the result would be the same. It doesn't mean that the tackles should be banned.

The whole thing about common sense banning shoulder charges because the possibility of connecting with the head is removed is flawed. It applies to every tackle. The only way to remove the risk is to ban tackling, or ban the sport altogether. The shoulder charge ban is just a knee jerk reaction to two or three incidents last year and some irrelevant NFL studies.

I just run that report for you, sir; you wanker.

What? Is that supposed to be a list of injuries from legal shoulder charges?

 

[Chainshada]

Dallas Johnson. Knocked out countless times, always making tackles around waist, never a shoulder charge.

Actually pretty sure he has been knocked out more times then everyone who has been knocked out by shoulder charges.

Damn, really trying to remember a player's name..Prop for the Knights that would get himself knocked out every 2nd game. Every time I saw him play I'd think "Retire, before you kill yourself.".

 

[Masoe_eats_babies]

This story proves nothing. Of course, it is a tragedy that this kid is dead but if what you said is true, he was a massive idiot. he was told TWICE to not play by doctors and he still did anyway and didn't even tell anyone he was concussed. That's not the dangers of the shoulder charge, that's f**king natural selection.

All these anecdotes are hilarious. Like freak accidents and serious concussions don't happen in rugby union, where the shoulder charge is already gone. I could find examples of these freak happenings in all sports. Shit happens. In one of the anecdotes part of the story is that the boy played a game of rugby union and got hit in the head and concussed. How did that happen. Rugby doesn't have shoulder charges. Yet he got hit in the head and knocked out still? The argument is almost self defeating because of that. I really don't accept that shoulder charges are a notable source of concussions. I reject the notion. We aren't going to see a decrease in concussions in the next few seasons, sadly.

 

[Masoe_eats_babies]

Damn, really trying to remember a player's name..Prop for the Knights that would get himself knocked out every 2nd game. Every time I saw him play I'd think "Retire, before you kill yourself.".

Josh Miller and Nate Myles concuss themselves every second game too. Josh Miller has retired on advice from the Dragons doctors which is good to hear because you do really worry about these concussion prone players.

but it shows something I've had an issue with for a while and that's the politics and corruptibility of these so-called impartial doctors.

Do you think star players like Myles and Johnson were and are being pressured to retire? It's politics. A Josh Miller is dispensable, the other two examples aren't.

We're supposed to respect and revere what NRL doctors are saying on the shoulder charge debate, but they'll green light concussed players to play on, don't you worry about that. Next year will be the same as any other year, they'll be letting players stay on the field injured. They've mastered the art of hypocrisy. They present themselves as impartial moralists who're focused on the bottom line of player safety, in actuality they're dollar chasing mercenaries. That's not an opinion, that's a guarantee. Players will be taking to the field concussed and in no fit shape to play, just as they've always done.

The best move there could be in promoting player welfare and tackling concussions is to bring off concussed players and, if required, sit them out for a few games. But doctors and NRL people don't have the balls to take that measure. So instead they go after the shoulder charge to give the impression that they're doing something, to appease the media.

It wouldn't have happened on Gallops watch :sarcasm:

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

It's a collision sport - it's inevitable, and I agree that an enforced layoff of a couple of weeks (based on a proper medical examination) could well be the best course of action.
By that same token, have a look at 'non contact' (ha ha) sports like soccer, hockey netball or basketball. Bodies in motion makes contact a matter of not if but when, and if concerned parents can't deal with that, they may as well strap their kids to the bed until they leave home...

 

[Chainshada]

Damn, really trying to remember a player's name..Prop for the Knights that would get himself knocked out every 2nd game. Every time I saw him play I'd think "Retire, before you kill yourself.".

Ben Cross! That was it..been driving me crazy all morning. Guy would always get his head in the way when he tackled.

 

[some11]

This kid, turned out for his school in a match on Friday, suffered concussion from a shoulder charge. It knocked him out, told not to play again for a while and see a doctor as soon as he could. Next day, doesn't tell his parents or anyone outside his school, plays for his club in Union that Saturday. Gets hit in the head, knocked out again, same thing happens (told to see a Dr. not play, etc). Come Sunday he hasn't told his parents again or anyone else, turns out for his League club, gets hit with contact to the head again, this time he... well is no longer alive as a result.

To use a computer term, sounds like user error to me.

 

[some11]

Yes or no?

 

[East Coast Tiger]

If it does I'm not sure I will. The people who made this decision should be booted from the game forever. And shot.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

f**k no. It'll be gone by the beginning of the finals series at the latest. Now that I've seen it in practice on George Rose, I have no doubts left that it's a disgrace. G.I got away with one so there's the inconsistency.

 

[natheel]

They will figure out a way to rule it properly. The rose hit on Morris was awesome and a pretty safe hit. But the inglis one on young was dangerous

 

[Meth]

I know we all blew up about this last year, but actually seeing Rose penalized tonight made it real. What a joke.

 

[some11]

Honestly, they just need to be consistent in penalising contact with the head but we all no there's no consistency with the judiciary and it's too hard for them.

 

[Dragon]

The ruling can f*ck right off, as can the new CEO

 

[CrazyTiger]

The NRL has to cover themselves with regards to high impact collisions for when they get sued at a later date. I think it is here to stay. Hope not though.

 

[KiamaSaint]

I am against banning it but I think the League will stick to their guns.

 

[user_nat]

I think it will last. Would be pretty embarrassing for them if they backed down, since their reasoning was player safety.

I hope it doesn't.

 

[Diesel]

I'd say by round 8 it'll be back, it'll keep the judiciary busy this year for sure