Try keep your arms up and you’ll be sweet.
That’s how Canberra behemoth Shannon Boyd sees it as confusion reigns about the NRL’s definition of a shoulder charge.
Eyebrows were raised last week after Boyd’s teammate Jack Wighton was charged by the match review committee with making the banned tackle then quickly exonerated by the judiciary.
It cleared the way for Wighton to play in the Raiders’ 16-14 qualifying final loss on Saturday.
Cronulla’s Michael Ennis wasn’t even cited by the match review committee for a hit many deemed similar that same weekend.
Boyd, who copped a one-week suspension in June for a late shoulder charge on Manly’s Jake Trbojevic, said the recent furore hadn’t brought any clarity to the rule.
“Who knows what’s going to happen with it and who’s going to get charged and who’s not,” he said on Monday, ahead of his side’s sudden-death semi-final against Penrith at GIO Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s all over the shop at the moment.
“I’m not really too worried about it to be honest with you. I’m not getting in trouble for it.”
Asked whether the confusion had made him think twice about how he tackled, Boyd said: “Just try and get your arms up mate, and you’re pretty sweet.”
Raiders prop Junior Paulo admitted it was a tough issue, particularly at this time of the season when intensity levels are high.
“We get taught to hit with our shoulders and follow through, but use our arms as well,” he said.
“At times, especially in big games like this week when you feel like you need to pull a shot off, you’ve always got to wrap your arms. So it’s as simple as that.”
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