The Game Judiciary & Match Review charges - 2022 season

[betcats]

He got off light, it was pretty deliberate if you ask me, Finucane obviously trying to make everyones ears look as bad as his.

 

[Frailty]

This weekend we had Klemmer intentionally headbutt a player - was not penalised or cited.
We had Kikau throw an intentional shoulder charge - Not penalised and was fined.
We had Maumolo shoulder charge (granted more of a bracing than charging) to the head of a player - penalised, sin binned, and fined.

Somehow, the head clash, which we have seen plenty times this season not be a problem, gets a player charged with a Grade 3 and manage to get it to Grade 2 to get two weeks suspension.

The frustrating thing is that it can be linked to the complaining by Cleary in the post-game. There is a track record for coaches complaining and getting an outcome. Teig Wilton was suspended for a week for dangerous contact on a kicker after Moses and the Eels complained - yet no other player has been suspended for dangerous contact on a kicker despite worse hits.

Leading with the head is not a charge mate.

They both got done for dangerous contact.

The reason he got done was because he lead with the head, Finucane didn't.

They should both have been penalised.

Like I said elsewhere, if there's an accepted duty of care to avoid the head, and if we've banned shoulder charges, then there should also be a duty of care to tackle properly and stop blokes racing out with no technique and no intent to do anything except the hardest possible body on body contact.

It's the only way the game survives with what we now know about CTE etc.

Equating that with hurr durr penalty for tackling too hard is just thick. Finucane never made any effort at a tackle (bar the swinging arm that missed) but plenty of guys can fold pricks without needed to play human cannonball

There is technique. Have a watch of a lot of Finucane's tackles (and why he is an effective defender) - he contacts with shoulder/chest and wraps his arms in a bear hug manner. You watch that tackle and you can see Finucane's right arms is wrapped directly on contact. Chricton drops so the left arm can't wrap (and it's not a swinging arm).

The irony is Finucane got suspend for making an attempt at a tackle. Kikau deliberately doesn't attempt a legal tackle and got fined.

 

[Valheru]

This weekend we had Klemmer intentionally headbutt a player - was not penalised or cited.
We had Kikau throw an intentional shoulder charge - Not penalised and was fined.
We had Maumolo shoulder charge (granted more of a bracing than charging) to the head of a player - penalised, sin binned, and fined.

Somehow, the head clash, which we have seen plenty times this season not be a problem, gets a player charged with a Grade 3 and manage to get it to Grade 2 to get two weeks suspension.

The frustrating thing is that it can be linked to the complaining by Cleary in the post-game. There is a track record for coaches complaining and getting an outcome. Teig Wilton was suspended for a week for dangerous contact on a kicker after Moses and the Eels complained - yet no other player has been suspended for dangerous contact on a kicker despite worse hits.


The reason he got done was because he lead with the head, Finucane didn't.


There is technique. Have a watch of a lot of Finucane's tackles (and why he is an effective defender) - he contacts with shoulder/chest and wraps his arms in a bear hug manner. You watch that tackle and you can see Finucane's right arms is wrapped directly on contact. Chricton drops so the left arm can't wrap (and it's not a swinging arm).

The irony is Finucane got suspend for making an attempt at a tackle. Kikau deliberately doesn't attempt a legal tackle and got fined.

When you come out of the line like that you are responsible for what happens IMO

 

[Eion]

Leading with the head is not a charge mate.

They both got done for dangerous contact.

But that’s what he did and that’s why he was charged. This one against Dale is fundamentally different and dumb. It has significant ramifications for the nrl

 

[Frailty]

When you come out of the line like that you are responsible for what happens IMO

But coming out of the line like that isn't in itself against the rules.
If you are suggesting that it adds to the tackle, than that explains the grade and all head clashes still receive a grade.

So here are the options:
- All head clashes are now charged - Grade 1 for the general head clash, and Grade 2 when they rush out of the line, and grade 3 when they lead with the head; or
- Accidental head clashes aren't charged.

I'm fine with either one to be honest, but I find it out that they've decided this in Round 19, was cleared on review of the game and was only charged after Cleary has a cry in the press conference.

 

[BWNB]

Had Finucine knocked himself out would he still be charged?

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I like to see what happens next time a bloke makes a similar tackle and see what the MRC comes up with

 

[mave]

I like to see what happens next time a bloke makes a similar tackle and see what the MRC comes up with

The MRC are well known for their consistency.

 

[ColdWetPanther]

But coming out of the line like that isn't in itself against the rules.
If you are suggesting that it adds to the tackle, than that explains the grade and all head clashes still receive a grade.

So here are the options:
- All head clashes are now charged - Grade 1 for the general head clash, and Grade 2 when they rush out of the line, and grade 3 when they lead with the head; or
- Accidental head clashes aren't charged.

I'm fine with either one to be honest, but I find it out that they've decided this in Round 19, was cleared on review of the game and was only charged after Cleary has a cry in the press conference.

You are being deliberately obtuse; just like all contact with the head in tackles are not treated as penalties or chargeable offences, neither are all head clashes.

Dale was charged with dangerous contact because his technique (which was careless at best, reckless at worst) meant he made forceful contact with another players head. I am fine with that being a penalty and suspension going forward.

 

[Smug Panther]

Had Finucine knocked himself out would he still be charged?

No chance

 

[Stinkfinger]

Was this careless, reckless, or intentional?
View attachment 64190

Very hard to tell from a still, hard to tell even who is receiving the hit. Someone posted a vid the other day of Leniu hitting someone with his head, he was lucky to get away with that if in fact he did get away with it.

 

[Someguy]

Had Finucine knocked himself out would he still be charged?

Cam Murray Origin wrapped with right arm and went for the shoulder to head with his left. KO’d himself and not charged for dangerous contact so I’m guessing it would have been similar result. That said no one whinged and pressured the MRC on that one

 

[Iamback]

Very hard to tell from a still, hard to tell even who is receiving the hit. Someone posted a vid the other day of Leniu hitting someone with his head, he was lucky to get away with that if in fact he did get away with it.

It is from 2020.

Different rules then

 

[lockyno1]

At the end of the day the game cannot be seen as one that is permitting anything with head knocks. As a defender it’s your duty to not cause damage to opponents head. Whether it’s accidental is beside the point. This is the landscape we have right now, it is only going to take one past player to hurt the game massively. The game has to show its rectifying it’s past errors.

 

[pims]

When you come out of the line like that you are responsible for what happens IMO

yeah no matter if you obliterate your own head or give yourself MND in the process

 

[Valheru]

But coming out of the line like that isn't in itself against the rules.
If you are suggesting that it adds to the tackle, than that explains the grade and all head clashes still receive a grade.

So here are the options:
- All head clashes are now charged - Grade 1 for the general head clash, and Grade 2 when they rush out of the line, and grade 3 when they lead with the head; or
- Accidental head clashes aren't charged.

I'm fine with either one to be honest, but I find it out that they've decided this in Round 19, was cleared on review of the game and was only charged after Cleary has a cry in the press conference.

Yes it adds to the tackle.

There is already an element of carelessness IMO coming out of the line like that. Coming out of the line hard isn't against the rules and nor should it be and if he got the hit right then good luck to him. He very clearly didn't though, the blokes ear was nearly ripped in 2. He clearly had no regard for his own well being let alone his opponents. Next time if he just puts his head to the side of his opponents body that won't happen.

You can't grade all head clashes. Most are true accidents and happen after initial contact or due to a 2nd/3rd tackler as opposed to initial contact.

 

[yobbo84]

I see a lot of similarities between Finucane's tackle and Latrell's tackle last year. Both players reckless rushed towards their opponent and lost control of their bodies in the process; both players 'hit' their opponent high (Latrell with his shoulder, Dale with his head); and the key thing for the NRL PR machine - both opponents suffered significant facial injuries.

Latrell got more because he hit him with his shoulder but it was the same attacking/reckless motion IMO.

 

[Iamback]

I see a lot of similarities between Finucane's tackle and Latrell's tackle last year. Both players reckless rushed towards their opponent and lost control of their bodies in the process; both players 'hit' their opponent high (Latrell with his shoulder, Dale with his head); and the key thing for the NRL PR machine - both opponents suffered significant facial injuries.

Latrell got more because he hit him with his shoulder but it was the same attacking/reckless motion IMO.

In both cases if the defender stops and braces themselves, even a few metres from the ball runner. The tackle has more control in it

 

[Eion]

And it’s taken less than 1 half of footy for this to rear it’s ugly head.

Collins rushes up, heads collide. He must get charged.

 

[BWNB]

And it’s taken less than 1 half of footy for this to rear it’s ugly head.

Collins rushes up, heads collide. He must get charged.

Should be a grade 3 charge but should be downgraded to 2 weeks given he was injured.