It’d be hard to find anybody who actually saw the great Dally Messenger play, his last season being in 1913, so the evidence of his prowess is anecdotal.
But I’ve read that, apart from kicking amazing goals and being a natural ball runner, he was also famous for stopping big wingers.
Hardly a giant – he was two inches shorter than Digby Ioane and six kilos lighter – he stopped those wingers by bumping them into touch, which was legal back then.
I know that this has been discussed on The Roar already, but every time I play back Rob Kearney’s hit on Rocky, I don’t see an attempted tackle, I see a Dally-style bump, which I believe is illegal these days.
That’s a shame. Among the rules the IRU could look at, even though they remain deaf to all entreaty, is the use of the shoulder in certain situations.
In general play, tackling front, without the arms wrapping, should remain illegal. But an angled shoulder bump when a runner is close to the touchline should be considered.
I’m sure Dally will agree if it’s halftime up in heaven.
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