The shoulder charge rule

[catweasel]

Ok, so last night Trent Merrin dropped a blatant shoulder charge without penalty? What about today's that were put on report in the Sharks game?

Bring it back for f**ks sake, make contact with the head & then penalise. It's not that hard!

 

[Bronxnation]

Sorry mate I disagree, merrin's arm was rising to wrap and it was just a good hit which forced dallin down before he could wrap, not a shoulder charge

 

[davi]

New guidelines brought in by the NRL for the shoulder charge after some inconsistent contentious decisions by the judiciary last year.

"SEPARATION, thankfully, is dead.

The NRL will has announced significant changes to the controversial shoulder charge laws, which include bringing an end to the “separation” interpretation.

Under the new rule, a shoulder charge has been simplified to include any tackle where a defender uses “force” without attempting to use his arm.

The positive amendment follows a series of contentious incidents in 2016, including Cronulla hooker Michael Ennis escaping suspension for a hit on Melbourne five-eighth Blake Green.

The NRL was heavily criticised for its policing of the shoulder charge last year, with Penrith supremo Phil Gould, NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley and Kangaroos star Johnathan Thurston heading criticism of the way the illegal tackle was being judged.

The match review committee was condemned for not charging Ennis yet sending Canberra fullback Jack Wighton to the judiciary — where he was cleared after a hearing which lasted only five minutes.

Ennis was not charged because MRC co-ordinator Michael Buettner said his arm was not braced against his side.


The Saturday Telegraph understands that under the revised interpretation, Ennis would have been suspended.

Under the new rule, a player will be guilty of a shoulder charge if:

● The contact is forceful; and

●The player did not use, or attempt to use, his arms (including his hands) to tackle or otherwise take hold of the opposing player.

The following base penalty points system will now apply:

● Grade One Shoulder Charge: 200 points

● Grade Two Shoulder Charge: 350 points

● Grade Three Shoulder Charge: 500 points

NRL head of football Brian Canavan said the amendment clarified and simplified the definition of a shoulder charge.

“This change will make it easier for everyone involved in the game to understand what does and does not constitute a shoulder charge,” Canavan said.

“Clearly there were instances in 2016 when the match review committee and the judiciary had differing views of whether or not a shoulder charge had been used, and that made it difficult for players, clubs and our supporters to understand the guidelines around the offence.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/a3949ce2d6fb9b51231a4a2b8207a07c

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Necroposting a catweasel thread. That's a paddlin'

 

[steggz]

But the change to the definition is a good move. Separation was a silly aspect to it

 

[East Coast Tiger]

So this is what they're spending their time doing at NRLHQ.

Same old shit.

 

[Exsilium]

It's a quiet way of bringing back the hits. So long as an attempt with the arms is made and it's not high, it's not illegal.

Fair play.

 

[DiegoNT]

Think the opposite. Separation, as in your at least attempting to put your arms up, was fair play. Plenty of times people led with the shoulders, put because the hit was so hard and/or timed perfectly that the opposition dropped quickly before you could wrap your arms. Also a lot of tackles were reactionary, as in the players weren't ever going to get their arms around, but because they didn't tuck their arms it wasn't a shoulder charge either. I fear that these new rules opens it up to the refs interpretation, and more of these tackles will be penalised meaning less hits

 

[adamkungl]

Yep, the rule is clearer now but is yet another attack on big hits in RL. Now a front-on, stand-your-ground-but-dont-grab kind of hit could be a 2 week suspension.

Very sad direction for the sport to keep going in.

 

[Pete Cash]

2 weeks for what could be an unavoidable incident yuck. Id rather they cut the loading on grade 1 not increase it.

I like the fines but shoulder charges are still have too much loading

 

[yobbo84]

If they're still suspending shoulder charges that don't even make head contact then the rule remains stupid.

 

[umina panther]

If they're still suspending shoulder charges that don't even make head contact then the rule remains stupid.

Yep its ridiculous

 

[adamkungl]

2 weeks for what could be an unavoidable incident yuck. Id rather they cut the loading on grade 1 not increase it.

I like the fines but shoulder charges are still have too much loading

Agreed. Overall good improvements to the system, but a shoulder charge and striking being weighted the same as a spear tackle is just silly.

 

[POPEYE]

Intentional shoulder charge 10 minutes in the bin, one that causes game ending concussion should be a send-off stay off and that's it . . . why should the team playing next week gain the advantage when the 'victim team' still faces the culprit

 

[DiegoNT]

Intentional shoulder charge 10 minutes in the bin, one that causes game ending concussion should be a send-off stay off and that's it . . . why should the team playing next week gain the advantage when the 'victim team' still faces the culprit

So a shoulder charge is done, player goes off for concussion test, player os sent off.
15 minutes later player comes back passing a concussion tests, us sent off player allowed back on?

 

[POPEYE]

So a shoulder charge is done, player goes off for concussion test, player os sent off.
15 minutes later player comes back passing a concussion tests, us sent off player allowed back on?

No, he stays off until the victim comes back on, unless the ref thinks the intent warranted the rest of the game off . . . coloured cards should suffice

Problem with concussion is that smart players, again Graham would be up to it, only have to feign the hurt if they're s/charged knowing they'll pass the test . . . just a way of circumventing 'interchange'

The ref would have as much trouble discerning real and pretend as you are gauging how much I'm taking the piss. What isn't fair about suspensions is the fact the wrong team/s benefits by them

 

[umina panther]

Or a more simple solution is any tackle using shoulder/body/arms is fine unless you hit the head

 

[muzby]

Have those players who want to play with shoulder charges sign a consent form acknowledging the risk of brain damage in later life and absolving the NRL of any liability..

Those said players then wear a yellow arm band and are fair game for each other only..

No armband, can't put on a shoulder charge and can't get one put on you..

 

[betcats]

We won't even know what it means until we see it in action because these muppets could 'interpret' it a thousand different ways. Shits a cluster f**k.

 

[muzby]

Shits a cluster f**k.

I recommend you try some Metamucil or perhaps some iron supplements..