Rangi Chase punisment just as disgraceful as the crime itself

[Ireland_RL]

Rangi Chase gets just 3 week ban for his "assault" on Tangi Ropati in the Challenge Cup. Ropati was left with a jaw broken in 2 places needing 15 pins to rebuild it (to see the pictures just go google images and search tangi ropati broken jaw)The hit itself is despicable. it is the definition of a cheap shot. The intention was not to stop or tackle the player or even stop momentum. The intention was clearly to hurt his opponent. At the point of impact both Chase's feet are off the ground. It was intentionally high, aimed at the head. The look from Chase and his body language said a lot too about his intention. (see hit on you tube)
Chase was just p*ss*d because he had a sh*t* game and was succesfully halted at every turn by Feath, and given no space all day.
How or why this is only a grade 3 offence getting such a small ban is beyond me.
The other thing to consider is what effect this has on bringing young kids into the game. Our Sky Sports commentators mentioned several times the excellent communtty work done at Feath and it must have been just as undone by this act. What mother wants her kid to fave this thugery.
Trust me, I'm all for big hits and massive tackles and a hard collision sport, but this was an intended assault.
Feath have started a financial support fund for Ropati as he cannot get paid if he doesn't play due to his work permit.
Would Ropati be better served taking a civil action against Chase, so as the real culprit pays his lost wages rather than the fans and team mates?
Did Chase's place in the England team have any baring on the limp 3 week ban (England v Exiles on 16th June)?

 

[aargon]

you can thank Sonny Bill Williams who started all this shoulder charging nonsense. Does someone need to be comatised or possibly killed (smash their neck in 1/2?) before officials do something to outlaw such a "tackle"?

 

[Jankuloski]

That was nowhere near a shoulder charge, as shoulder charges should include.. hmm.. a shoulder. Chase hit him with his upper arm swinging. And it is a disgrace they let him off that easy.

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

Ban zbout right IMO, the ball carrier has some responsiblity aswell to keep upright, instead of crouching that the last moment. Sidestep if you don't want to be shoulder charged.

 

[Ireland_RL]

Ban zbout right IMO, the ball carrier has some responsiblity aswell to keep upright, instead of crouching that the last moment. Sidestep if you don't want to be shoulder charged.

You are entitled to your opinion and it's great to get differing views but I challenge your thinking. For a start, freeze frame the film and you will see Ropati's body position IS completely upright. AND, he had already side stepped another Cas player. So I do not see the relevance of this argument.
Beside this. The responsibility is all on the tackler (actually it is wrong to call Chase the tackler because this implies a tackle attempt was made which it was not). Unless a player jumps/hurdles a tackle and puts himself at risk, the onus is on the defender to be safe.
A flying elbow to a man's jaw is just assault. he may as well punch or kick the guy in full flight. It was no where near a shoulder charge.

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

Of course it was close to a shoulder charge, that's what Chase intended. He got the timing wrong, and was careless, which is a Grade 2 or 3 offence.

Also you're wrong, Ropati's body was at quite an angle, his face was lower than it would be if he was standing upright, quite a bit lower. Chase was coming up, Ropati was coming down, a bit like Dwyer on Waerea-Hargreaves.

 

[Didgi]

I was hoping this issue would never reach the histrionics that undoubtedly surface on this forum.

It was a shitmerkin act, yes. It was deserving of a lot longer than 3 weeks, yes. But all the nonsense about how he could've killed him and should be charged with assault and pay Tangi's wages and spoon feed him until he recovers Is just that, nonsense. I've posted lengthily on other forums condemning him so I won't bother repeating it here. He went in to iron him out and hurt him, legally, as most proponents of the shoulder charge do. It went horribly wrong and he should be suitably punished, which he wasn't.

 

[deluded pom?]

Look at Chase's response after the hit. Says it all for me. Intended to hurt Ropati and hurt him he did. Illegal use of the elbow. He should be looking at ten to twelve matches.

 

[Ireland_RL]

Look at Chase's response after the hit. Says it all for me. Intended to hurt Ropati and hurt him he did. Illegal use of the elbow. He should be looking at ten to twelve matches.

Exactly my point. 10 or 12 weeks MINIMUM would be more in keeping with his obvious intention. Do you think the England game on June 16th (which he would miss with a 10 week ban) had any bearing on things?

 

[deluded pom?]

Exactly my point. 10 or 12 weeks MINIMUM would be more in keeping with his obvious intention. Do you think the England game on June 16th (which he would miss with a 10 week ban) had any bearing on things?

Who knows in the weird and wonderful world of rugby league.

 

[innsaneink]

Dunno what Ropatis team mate at dummy half was doing, shooing a fly away?
Mate....harden up

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

Chase reacted as if he had not intended to do it, if he had intended to do that he wouldn't have stayed in that area, instead he would have been running back. It stunned him, meaning he didn't intend to do it. I can almost certainly say also that Chase isn't a psychopath.