At the outset I’ll admit I never tried to make a shoulder charge tackle in my life. I was hit by one or two in my career – yet I believe they should remain a part of rugby league as we know and love it.
The fans love the big collisions, and most of the players relish the thought of putting an opposing ball-carrier to ground in this most spectacular fashion.
More often than not, shoulder tackles inspire teams to fire up and put more sting into their defence.
Your teammate has put his body on the line to put a full stop on the attacker’s momentum – I think it’s an exciting element that should remain a part of rugby league.
But the NRL has handed down its edict and I don’t think the guys at League HQ will bend in the slightest. The shoulder charge is banned – and probably banned forever.
Having said that, I believe the code’s ruling body made a king-sized hash of outlawing this aspect of our game with a mere click of its fingers.
League has always been a high collision sport and you cannot make such a drastic change to the rules without giving its exponents a fair degree of leniency.
Perhaps it might have been wiser to give players warnings for shoulder charges during the course of this season with a view to policing it strictly from next year onwards.
Players cannot change their on-field habits in an instant. And besides, many shoulder charges happen out of pure instinct, the tackler hasn’t got time to gets his arms in place to halt the charging ball carrier so he uses his body as a makeshift barrier,
Sure, the results can be spectacular and often very painful for the ‘victim.’
Of course, I realise that some shoulder charges go horribly wrong and fall into the ‘illegal contact’ category. The perpetrators should receive stiff suspensions to keep them on the straight and narrow and deter them from a repeat performance when they return to the field.
There are so many grey areas that the shoulder charge issue is bordering on pitch black.
Players and coaches are going to start screaming about it and the referees are going to be in two minds about their on-field reactions.
Manly’s Richie Fa’aoso hammered Titan Ashley Harrison late and will probably do some time for his indiscretion.
After watching the video closely, I say it was an accidental head clash that did the damage and caused the Harrison knockout – not the shoulder charge itself.
Richie will probably get a few games penalty, but mainly because his tackle was late.
I now ask about Parra’s Chrissy Sandow. In my view, he did three shoulder charges in the game against the Tigers yet he faces… nothing.
Is that because he’s a little guy and the match officials think his rivals are bumping him off?
As I said earlier, too many grey areas and I think 2013 should have been a season in which players were warned that all forms of shoulder charges are going to be outlawed and that they had six months to get it out of their system.
Anyway, what about the Gold Coast? They have had a fantastic start to the year and when you look back to their narrow two-point loss to the Sharks in Round 1, they could easily be riding high with Melbourne and South Sydney as unbeaten leaders.
I really liked the grit and composure they showed to topple the Sea Eagles. Young halves Albert Kelly and Aiden Sezer have been standouts over the first few rounds and the team has a heck of a lot to offer.
The form of big names Jamal Idris and Dave Taylor has also been very encouraging. John Cartwright’s men were hardly thought of as a top eight team in the pre-season predictions but they have the talent and momentum to really go on with it.
They are a good team to watch – I hope the Titans convert their early promise into a finals appearance.
Recently retired Bulldogs winger Steve Turner joins The Roar today as an expert NRL columnist. Over a 10 year career, Turner played 164 first grade matches, including 105 for the Melbourne Storm.
steve
Guest
The problem I have with the shoulder charge ban is that it's basically banning hard hits. How long until someone gets penalised for a tackle that uses the arms, is below the neck, fulfills all the criteria of a legal tackle, but still knocks the other bloke bandy? I'm from the UK, where League is not really a big deal outside small pockets of the north of England. What attracts newcomers to the game is the spectacular collisions, the most spectacular of which has now been banned. In Oz League is a far bigger deal (one of my favourite things about Oz - no wall to wall soccer coverage), but it does seem to be horrendously badly run, especially compared to AFL. Do a quick YouTube search - I reckon that vids of hard hits, basically shoulder charge compilations, outnumber other highlights vids. Realistically, I think that the shoulder charge is dead and gone. Once something has been banned on legal and H&S grounds, it becomes almost impossible to reinstate. I really hope I'm wrong, and that the shoulder charge does return, but unfortunately I think they've killed off one of Rugby League's greatest selling points. Before anyone retorts with stats showing how few shoulder charges were made, and getting stroppy that I'm not acknowledging the handling skills etc - I realise that comparatively few charges were made, and that there are other aspects of the game. It's just that the charge provided the greatest "oh my God" moments, and it's sad they've removed it from the game.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
the NRL is only worried about being liable for damages should players sue them for negligence. They have obviously been watching the NFL in the US where ex players have been suing the league because of later life health problems due to head knocks and assorted other injuries. To me the way the NRL is going, its going to be touch football in a decade. Fans love the collisions, and players know going into this choice of career, they risk being hurt which could affect their later life. That's a reason why they get paid so much
Kazzie
Guest
The shoulder charge has never been needed. More often than not it goes wrong, with a bad result. League is still a tough sport, going by some of the hard hitting legal tackles I saw in the knights cowboy match, which I find more spectacular than a shoulder charge but also no footballer was left concussed or unconscious as a result. The NRL is legally liable as an employer if they breach their duty of care. There is sufficient evidence that there is an issue with the shoulder charge. The medical personnel also employed by the league are legally liable if they do not act on this evidence. Sometime you have to protect people from themselves. Footballers have the same lifespans as the rest of us and I for one would hate to see them suffering issues with their memory due to concussion, but sadly this has been happening here and in the NFL. The problem I see is the inconsistency in the rulings. No surprise there. This is something the NRL needs to work on. Regardless of what the attacking player is doing it is the responsibility of the defending player to reduce the risk of going high.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
There was nothing wrong with the shoulder charge. Of course the doctors are going to say the increase of injury is higher, but the reality was in had always been part of the sport, and should continue to be. League isnt like Union where you tackle and then jump on each other, it has far more collisions, and the shoulder charge sometimes is needed rather than the traditional shoulder and arms tackle.
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
Hi Steve, certainly respect your views, just suspect with the latest medical evidence that came in over the last year that the Commission had no choice. Admit that the Merritt tackle looked good, but again, given undeniable risks, that's the way it is. One of my good friends played a few first grade games in the 70s, (mainly reserve grade). Today He can cop the arthritic knees, but the possibility he might lose his faculties down the track from all those knocks is a sobering thought. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Naught
Guest
Well said Steve. You echo what most of us fans are thinking. Shoulder charges should be fine. High or late shoulder charges should be punished with extra demerit.
JayBob
Guest
Just read that again and it doesn't make sense. I meant the dangerous tackle, not illegal.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
I think you are completely wrong about the shoulder charge but there is no way I am going to say that because OH MY GOD IT'S STEVE TURNER WRITING ON THE ROAR!!!!! Love your work Steve!
JayBob
Guest
Agree. And on top of that, you are penalised when it hits the chest and doesn't cause any damage, then when you git them directly in the head while leaping off the ground(Slater) you don't get penalised at all, plus the charge is so minuscule you can play the next week. It's ridiculous. They should have kept it in and had more severe punishment for any contact with the head(like the end of last year). Fa'aso would be included in this though because the illegal tackle(shoulder charge) resulted in damage to the head of the opposing player, a lot lesser grade though.
JayBob
Guest
If anyone would care to look at the two incidents where Slater got a grade 1 and Fa'aso got a grade 3. I understand Fa'aso was a bit late but that is the only thing I can see that is worse, and it wasn't very late at all in normal speed, halfbacks get hit that late all the time when taking the ball to the line(albeit usually not a shoulder charge; just pointing out the timing). Slater made direct contact with the head, whereas Fa'aso made contact with the shoulder chest area and there was a resulting head clash. I can't understand why direct contact with the head is not worse, anyone?
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
Hey Steve, Congratulations on a great career and welcome to the team. And I agree 100%. The shoulder charge is a great aspect of the game, one that should never have been outlawed. Hope to see some more posts soon
eagleJack
Guest
Good to see Fa'aoso pleading guilty but disputing the grading. Will be a pretty easy defence I reckon. Evidence A: Billy Slater on Antonio Winterstein. Received a Grade 1. The MRC shot themselves in the foot by setting the precedent by not charging Slater correctly. I imagine Fa'aoso will get the grading reduced and spend a couple of weeks (deservedly) on the sidelines. But definitely not a month.
turbodewd
Guest
I suspect Fosa'aso, when he said he forgot about the rule, had in fact been on the receiving end of too many shoulder charges to the brain :^)
oikee
Guest
Warriors Cows and Knights, at a push i will go for the Storm as well. I still like the Broncos, just not now. I really am against Sydney teams looking at that, ok i am biased but i plead innocent as i did not know i was guilty. What does that make me, ? a honest crook. hehe
planko
Roar Guru
Btw Oikee I am done on this who are your other teams don't tell me it is SOUTH and EASTS ?
oikee
Guest
Harrison was turning to pass the ball, he should never have been hit with a shoulder charge. First rule in rugby league is obey the rules. Second rule is trying to make a wrong right wont work. When your wrong your wrong, i am here to right wrongs. Fa'aoso was wrong, your wrong trying to right wrongs. There is a time and place to right wrongs, this is not the right time or the right place. I do hope that confused you, it all makes sense to me.
eagleJack
Guest
Very good point TB in relation to the Rose hit on Morris in the All Stars. Purely instinctive after being wrong footed by a quicker man. Not pre-meditated as people are saying all shoulder charges are. Now as players over time make adjustments in techniques due to the new rules, the Rose tackle will result in him throwing out his arm and smashing Morris across the chops. And that will do far more damage.
Dragons Forever
Guest
Straight forward I believe, no attempt to make a tackle, all shoulder with no attempt to wrap the arms. Blind sided Harrison with a dog shot, IMO he is lucky its only 4 weeks. The end!!
planko
Roar Guru
First rule you are taught playing rugby league is where to put head in a tackle. Second do not turn you back on the defence. Harrison broke rule no 2.
oikee
Guest
Your still not understanding, when you come in with a shoulder charge your also making your own head a weapon. This is why it is now banned. The g-forces from sudden impact are what is causing players to be knocked out. It is not so much the shoulder charge itself, it is the fact your head keeps going while your body suddenly stops. Mate they have done tests on this, testing after testing, and the results are not good. The bigger problem is the fact they know about this, if you dont do something about this, well then it is called neglect, and then you open yourself to lawsuits and litigation. Surely you dont need more convincing.