Grapple penalties 'stop the flow'
By Dean Ritchie
February 13, 2006
RUGBY league will become like stop-start rugby union if the grapple-tackle crackdown is not eased in the NRL's early rounds, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said yesterday.
More than 10 grapple-tackle penalties were issued during Melbourne's 38-18 trial match win over Parramatta in Ballina on Saturday.
Referee Steve Clark caned both sides in the opening quarter, awarding seven penalties for grapple tackles.
Although Melbourne is not condoning the grapple, Bellamy said: "I don't know what the exact penalty count was, but there was plenty and it made for a really stop-start sort of game. "I think if we see that in the opening few rounds it is going to make for some ugly games.
"We all agree that it is something we don't want to see in our game, but it is an area that is very hard to police consistently and the referees have a lot on their plate already.
"The real attractive thing about rugby league is its free-flowing nature. If we start having so many stoppages then it will become like rugby union."
Storm skipper Matt Geyer approached interchange referee Gavin Badger for clarification of the rule at one point.
NRL coaches demanded the NRL ban the contentious grapple tackle at a coaches conference last month in Sydney.
Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald however said the clampdown was necessary.
"The players must adjust and keep away from the head or neck and I agree with that policy," Fitzgerald said last night.
"Anything near the head was penalised but it was the first trial under the new policy so it was to be expected.
"Melbourne just take longer to adjust because they're not in mainstream rugby league."
One NRL coach said: "It does seem strange Melbourne are upset given they introduced the grapple tackle to the game."
NRL chief executive David Gallop was in Ballina for the match.
"Obviously there were a number of penalties for it, and I spoke to both coaches afterwards because I was keen to get their feedback," Gallop said.
"Clearly consistency is going to be the mission for the refs but there is no disagreement that we need to get defenders away from the head and neck.
"It is going to take some time for everyone to adapt, but I'm sure they will.
"I don't see it as a problem. The referees and co-ordinator Robert Finch are aware of the need to allow games to flow as much as possible and I'm sure that will happen."
About 25 penalties were awarded throughout the Eels-Storm match. There was no grapple-tackle drama during the trial match between Brisbane and North Queensland in Rockhampton in which the Broncos prevailed 36-4.
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