Monday brought us some major issues in rugby league, but the biggest talking point was most certainly the contrary conduct charge slapped on Cowboys, Queensland, and Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston.
To put it simply, the fact that Thurston could miss any football, let alone an Origin decider, for the incident in question is ridiculous.
I’m a New South Wales fan, and there is nothing more I would like to see than Thurston unavailable for the decider.
He is one of the best players in the world, and would definitely have some impact on the result.
But even I agree that the grade two contrary conduct charge which Thurston received for his contact with referee Matt Cecchin is ridiculous, and I think that the judiciary panel has no choice but to allow him to play for the Cowboys this weekend and then Queensland in Origin III.
Looking at the reputation of Thurston, I’ve seen and heard things about him that frame him as an unlikable person, both on and off the field.
He has an undoubted reputation as a whinger, and will do almost anything to win, within or outside the rules.
By the same token, I’ve seen and heard a similar amount of things that go completely against that reputation.
When I was ball-boy at the Tigers, we had to do the tees for the travelling Cowboys side. While many people may see it as a very trivial thing, the fact that he would hand a tee back to us and thank us every time it was brought to him gives the impression that he isn’t as bad as people think.
It’s something which I still see him do every time he is playing now.
But moving back to the issue, there has been vision of the only other person charged with this offence so far this season following the change of rule (which is an even bigger joke) to put the responsibility solely on the player to get out of the way of the official.
Now, in an environment with two referees trying to get the best possible position to make the decision, and the players trying to do their jobs as well, collisions are inevitable.
I also think that in most cases it is quite obvious when there is intent to make contact, such as the charge already laid against Raiders half Josh McCrone, where he clearly pushed referee Steve Lyons out of the way, albeit in a genuine attempt to prevent a try.
I think whoever has changed and approved this rule has clearly never played the game, or it would seem any sport at all, as it is an inevitability in most high level competitive sports that unintentional contact with officials will happen.
However, there is some overhaul needed in relation to mutual respect shown between refs and players.
Players obviously need to show refs respect, and by the same token, referees need to understand their place and respect the players to a degree.
The fact that the referee in question this time, Matt Cecchin, only a few weeks ago touched a player (not in any violent or overly physical manner), an act which sees the harshest of penalties if roles are reversed, is completely ridiculous.
For that reason alone, Thurston should not be suspended.
In a larger sense though, I think that this shows some flaws in the charge system at the moment, particularly when you look at the other charges laid this week, and the consequences of these charges.
This is viewed through unquestionable black and gold eyes, but how in the world do the two incidents involving Sika Manu not receive any suspension when the Thurston charge is worth two matches?
The first of the Manu incidents was dismissed by on-field referees as the captain whinging (another issue with referees and respect, but we’ll leave that), where Tigers second rower Gareth Ellis was left on the ground, writhing in pain after being kneed in the calf as he went to ground by Manu.
Such an action is extremely dangerous, and another tactic the Storm use (in fairness it is within the rules, but that is another argument) to slow down the play-the-ball.
It is something that they do very well and has attained much success, but by the same token it creates extremely boring games of football. I myself am not a fan of it, but unfortunately under the current rule interpretations it works.
The second incident was in the second half, where Manu performed an appropriately named ‘crusher’ tackle on Tigers fullback Wade McKinnon.
It was clear not only to the players on the field, but also the crowd that this was the case, yet it did take some time for the referees on-field to penalise the incident.
This comes down to the referees’ hesitance to over penalise the Storm for wrestling tactics fearing major criticism.
But this should not be the case, and these tactics should be wiped out from the game by penalising on-field, and suspending after the game.
In this case, Manu was not even charged for an action which could well have broken the neck of a player. This to me is an amazing decision, particularly when administrators are so worried about player welfare.
If the NRL were more worried about player welfare than nit-picking penalties and useless on-field incidents, then we may make some progress in this game.
But until this happens, then the frustration which has come since yesterday morning’s charges were announced will continue to fester in the heart of the game: among the fans.
mike from PNG
Guest
The Refs have a duty of care, in the case of Sika Manu carrying the Tigers player by the neck, not the jersey as the review committee said, he should have been suspended, In the case of players being held up & the player tackling the legs, how do you tell if the player is being held up or if he wont go down, very touchy this one as with the advent of locking the ball up the low tackle has gone out with the babies bath water, it is up to the Refs to call held in many cases the Refs wait too long to call "held", take the flack & call "held" early this will eliminate injuries, fights & scuffles & open the game up to be more exciting.
jamesb
Guest
Thurston is free to play
Mals
Guest
I think Thurston will get a 1 week suspension tonight due to the carry over points he currently has accrued. This will leave him right to play SOO3. The thing I like about JT the most is his sense of humour & his ability to laugh at himself. Off the field & when sober he carries himself well. Until he plays for Manly & not the enemy I can't like his footy ability ;-)
soapit
Guest
so because youthink a refs bad you can run into him? the thaiday and the other one were different as the ref was in the way of thaiday who was in a positio to make the tackle. thurston was nowhere near and was just being careless. we'll see how it plays out
Betty B
Guest
Thurston is a gentleman. You mention the tee, he also gives his headgear away to a kid in the crowd after each game. He plays hard and is the ultimate competitor - rightfully, he expects the same of the refs. Sadly, the refs show us week in and out that they're pretty average. You can't blame him - look at some of the decisions he complains to them about (but you'll never hear him ring it off the field). And the Cowboys (plus the other non-favoured teams like the Warriors) cop a lot of bad decisions. You don't hear them complain, but Thurston vents his frustration at poor referring, and good on him. Don't misjudge him. As for this latest charge, considering at least two similar incidents have gone un-charged this season, and let's not forget Uate, it's a joke. Sadly, the joke's on NSW based panel who no doubt think they're doing their state a favour for next week's origin. This is not unusual - there have been several like citings over the years of origin. I only wish these guys would grow up, and show a bit of balance and fairness in their judgements. And sort out the referring decisions that blot the game most weeks.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Bigger issue is that regardless of Thurstn's guilt or otherwise does anyone deserve to miss and Origin, semi final or a test match because of a relatively innocuous offence. If Thurston gets two games he misses and Origin, someone else does exactly the same thing later in the season and they only miss two club games - the penalties for the two offences are vastly different. I think that Origins, semis and tests should count as 3-4 or more games. So if Thurston does get two weeks he would miss the Cowboys games before and after Origin. If someone gets charged with a more serious offence that carries a 4+ game suspension then they miss Origin / test / semi. Lockyer has played 340+ club games and 34 Origins so you they only make up 10% of a players career (and Lockyer has been an automatic selection for most of his career, for most players it's probably more like 5% or under). While counting Origins as 10 games is clearly ridiculous they should be regarded as more significant than club games. Hopefully Thurston plays Origin III
Hoy
Roar Guru
Hang on a minute. "Could well have resulted in a crusher like tackle"? "what about the next time it happens and someone will get his neck broken because he panics and puts his head forward"? The tackle was not a crusher tackle. End of story. McKinnon's head was not forced onto his chest. So to worry about what might have happened or when the next person has his head in the wrong spot, the game will end up like touch football. You may think I am mad. But I can wear that. Anything that can be done to make the game safe, is good, but you can't keep football a contact sport and control everything. It can't be done. For example many people might think I am mad, but I personally think anyone that spears someone into the ground deserves time on the sideline to think about his tackling action. Not so mad? Wait there's more. I also believe that half the problems with spear tackles now going beyond the horizontal occur when the bloke getting tackled panics, and tries to twist out of it, over balancing the whole thing, and then normally ends up making it worse. If he took his medicine with a good hard tackle dumping him on his bum, then the tackle, on the law of averages, wouldn't go beyond horizontal. BUT... based on safety, I can see why all tackles like this should be treated the same and most are now reported. Does that make sense? You can't control what people do. "What about next time" when the offensive tackle in this instance isn't even a crusher tackle doesn't make sense. What about next time when a player is running and trips and falls into someones knee? Oh well, better make everyone wear padded knee pads to stop that happening. Or I am mad.
Jaceman
Guest
Perhaps Thurston was delerious from too many games in too short a time!!!
Adam
Roar Guru
Sika Manu's tackle was dangerous and reckless. THe tackle was completed and he continued it and could well have resulted in a crusher like tackle. The fact that it didn't was through sheer luck that the players head fell backwards rather than staying upright. I agree with the westling aspect that you present. No reward for good tackling, players in the NRL are not tackling well. No reward for good solid, clean tackles. Thurston hopefully won't be rubbed out. I don't mind watching the Cowboys lose without him but they shouldn't have to be without him.
oikee
Guest
But that is the point, Mackinnon did not get his neck broken, but what about the next time it happens and someone will get his neck broken because he panics and puts his head forward. Where i worked we use to have a Potentail accident walk, you would look for things that could be dangerous and fix them before anyone got hurt. Sika's tackle was, and is exactly that, a accident waiting to happen. If we cant get people involved in our game who cant find accidents waiting to happen, what hope rugby league. Third amn in around the legs is also a problem being raised, time to sort this whole mess out before someone gets seriously hurt. I can still see a third man in the tackle, but no diving at a players legs.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I do not see a problem with Sika Manu's tackle on McKinnon. McKinnon's head was not forced back onto his chest at all. I do not think that tackle was a crusher tackle. I agree the crusher tackle is not good for anyone's neck. I have no issue with third man in, in theory, because players are not tackling legs first anymore, they are sending two blokes in to wrestle the body, and then the ball carrier can still make foward motion with his legs. It goes more to my argument below. I think the whole wrestling thing has come about because good low shots were not getting paid their dues. The minute dominant and whatever else is not dominant tackles came in, then people started finding ways to be dominant. Can't it just be a tackle, and you have time to make the tackle and get off. Regardless of dominance? If you make a great low tackle at the moment, you have to release them quicker than if you wrestle them down with 5 in a tackle. That is crazy. Low clean taclkes should be rewarded just as much. When it is, more players will be encouraged to tackle properly, not wrestle players down to the ground.
oikee
Guest
Look, it is as plain as the nose on our face, there are 2 tackles at the moment that will eventually lead to a serious accident if the game does not take action now. Players coming down in the tackle like Sika is a no-no, it only takes for 1 player to panic and try to keep his head upright while the player is coming down on him then, SNAP. There goes the neck and we will all say, Well, you could see that coming. The other tackle is the third man in around the legs of players. Wont be long before a player stays down with a broken leg or back injury to end his season. Look, we can all see the problem, yet this panel is oblivious to these incidents. Get some women on this panel quick smart to sort out this mess the game has created for itself, before its too late. Common sense and rugby league have never met on the same page, we can all see this, look at this latest judgement by our glorious dinosaurs ruining, i mean running our game. Amen to the dinosaurs boys, i have been saying it for 5 years now, until the game gets rid of these people, the game cant move on. Get your banners out at the games, "Death to the NRL Dinosaurs".
Big Big Big
Guest
To the author of the article. You state "He has an undoubted reputation as a whinger" Yet you obviously are doing the exact same thing here in your little rant are you not? But anyway you fail to see the point. An incident has happened and it has to be investigated. The judicial process needs to run its natural course. The fact Thurston apologised straight away tends to support that it was accidental contact but you never know. I personally think he will escape penalty. If he has does done nothing wrong he will be free to play. Just let it pan out through the system and justice will be served. No need to get so hyper critical. Just relax and enjoy the show. Either way the judiciary will get this one right.