When Jordan McLean joined into that tackle on Alex McKinnon, few realised how the two men’s careers would change forever.
One is in hospital and may never walk again.
The other has been handed a seven-week suspension and lumped with the sole responsibility for the tackle.
The judiciary and match review committee were both handed the unenviable task of grading and then hearing the defence of McLean. He was going to be suspended, of that there was no doubt.
However, the severity of that suspension was not foreseen. Personally I had assumed he’d either be handed a grade one or grade two dangerous throw charge, served one week and be back playing.
In my honest opinion, the judiciary has made an highly emotional judgement based primarily on the result of the tackle, rather than the tackle itself.
I saw the tackle as it happened, there was no malice and no intent to cause harm. In fact, it looked as though the Melbourne players were trying to get McKinnon to ground as soon as they realised they had him in an awkward position.
I have seen many worse spear tackles handed lesser suspensions. Richie Fa’aoso’s dual tackles on Greg Inglis netted him less and Luke O’Donnell’s tackle on Darius Boyd in State of Origin was also deemed less malicious.
I would also like to add that Jordan McLean was not the only player involved in the tackle. The Bromwich brothers were both involved and not charged. Essentially, the NRL has singled out McLean as the only factor involved that created the dangerous position.
I am neither a Storm or Newcastle fan, I am a fan of rugby league. I do not believe that McLean has been given a fair hearing in this case. There was a range of factors that led to McKinnon’s injury and Jordan McLean has been singled out for it.
The game has let McLean down in this instance and the judiciary has made a judgement, more on emotion and subjectivity, rather than the objectivity and transparency that they are supposed to represent.
turbodewd
Guest
7 weeks needs to serve as notice. No more lifting in tackles. its as simple as that. These tackles are dangerous, if we get another neck injury like this in the next 12 mths there will be hell to pay.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Clark Bill Harrigan is THE best ref the game has ever had and is the former refs boss and he said:"Harrigan said an on-field penalty wouldn't have been warranted had McKinnon emerged from the tackle unscathed. "In my opinion, the judiciary got it wrong," he said: "It was a tragic accident. What price do you put on that? No single person person is to blame – not Alex, in the way he tried to duck his head, not the two blokes up top trying to pull him down to the ground, and not Jordan when he pulled the leg thinking he would fall down. "Because of the guilty finding, they are now saying [McLean] is solely responsible for the injury to Alex McKinnon. He wasn't. The kid, on his own, doesn't have a case to answer."
uPelican
Guest
The problem will disappear if we deal with it at the level where we should do - and that's with the coaches. Say to a coach - mate, you can't have any direct or indirect involvement in NRL, and nor can anyone involved in the game have any direct or indirect involvement with you for anything relating to a club for x period of time, then we won't see any more of it.
ray hira
Guest
I have been involved in rugby league at both club and provincial level in New Zealand for 44yrs. Over this time I have seen changes to the rules to make the game safer. Getting rid of the shoulder charge. spear tackle, grass cutter and canon ball was the right call. However, no matter what rules are bought in, some one will always get hurt. I have seen injuries from tackles where there were no malic by the tacklers. I think any sought of lifting should be banned but will this stop injuries? I feel sorry for both players involved, one carrying the burden of what happened the other may not walk again. I can only say kia kaha to both. Be strong.
Clark
Guest
That just proves that the suspension given is wrong.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
The issue with that is guys like Watmough, JWH, SBW all have a late offload and never stop struggling or pumping their legs. The game then continues to get faster. IMO they need to revisit the cannonball rule because at the moment if the third man so much as touches below the knees it's a penalty. In McLean's case, is he's allowed to make first contact below the knees, McKinnon is worked onto his back, no harm done. The rule needs to stay, but maybe look at how it can be better applied.
Brendan
Guest
I don't think every lifting tackle should be given 7 weeks, but i do believe this is how they should have combated the whole brain damage situation. Instead of getting rid of a shoulder charge, any hit on the head (shoulder or not), should be at least 7 weeks. They would work it out of their game quick smart. I do think they need to start penalising a lifting tackle more heavily, possibly 4 weeks minimum for a grade 1, etc. You would have the same result i.e. the players would start to stop that type of play. Also, a colleague of mine brought up an interesting point. If the refs would call held faster (when the players stop moving forward), instead of waiting for them to struggle for 2-3 seconds while defenders try to get them to the ground, you wouldnt see as many oppertunities for the defenders to grab at the legs and put them in a dangerous situation.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
If the NRL gave every player 7 weeks for every innocuous tackle like Jordan McLeans we would not have enough players to run a competition.
Clark
Guest
I guess one positive is it now should establish that players risk a long ban if they run the risk. Every lifting tackle on report now should also be 7 weeks.
Gayle
Guest
I agree Up In The North. In this case the penalty was too severe. Jordan has been made a scapegoat. A severe overreaction by the Judiciary and Match Committee.
up in the north
Guest
But the penalties are not consistently applied. That's what gives people the $hits.
turbodewd
Guest
The 7-week suspension is reasonable and appropriate. Lifting tackles must be completely eliminated from rugby league - they are dangerous. Jarrod McCracken's career was ended by one in 2000.
Clark
Guest
The fact is that no amount of suspension could ever make it right. Jordan is probably shattered at being caught in the middle of this. I think the support is what he needs the most. We don't want to see two players dramatically affected by this. (With the utmost respect to Alex of course).
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Maybe this is the start of a no tolerance view of the spear tackle and we willl see more severe sentences being handed out in future.
Ronald M
Guest
I could not agree more.