Greg Bird and Cameron Smith could be ruled out of the State of Origin opener following incidents from round nine of the NRL.
NSW enforcer Greg Bird is squarely in the sights of the NRL’s crackdown on lifting tackles after being placed on report by referee Ben Cummins for a 60th minute effort on South Sydney’s Bryson Goodwin in the Rabbitohs’ 40-18 win over the Titans on Saturday.
An incident involving Queensland captain Smith and Manly hooker Matt Ballin wasn’t noted by the referees but is sure to draw the interest of the NRL’s match review committee
Midway through the first half of Melbourne’s 22-19 win over Manly, Storm skipper Smith was caught in a tangle at the play the ball with Ballin on the Sea Eagles goal line.
Manly were penalised for slowing the play, but replays appeared to show Smith striking Ballin and the Sea Eagles’ hooker came out of the incident with a head wound that required assistance.
With one NRL round remaining before the teams are named on May 20 for Origin I in Brisbane, a two-game suspension would rule Bird or Smith out of the reckoning for the Suncorp Stadium encounter on May 28.
Canterbury have surged to the outright lead of the NRL competition on the back of six successive wins, following their 38-6 thrashing of St George Illawarra on Sunday at ANZ Stadium.
Dogs back-rower Josh Jackson has been one of the form forwards of the NRL over that period. Country coach Trent Barrett last week suggested Jackson could be a bolter for the Blues side and if Bird is ruled out that could open the door for the 23-year-old.
Hasler also suggested he could be close.
“We still have to get through the rep period yet, we a few incumbents there in (Josh) Morris and (Josh) Reynolds, there could be a a smokey or two as well but I’m not going to name them because I don’t want to jinx them,” he said.
Halfback Mitchell Pearce’s participation in Origin I is also in doubt following a late-night incident at Kings Cross on Sunday morning.
Sydney Roosters made light work of an injury-hit Wests Tigers 30-6 at Allianz Stadium on Friday, with Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Moa starring, while North Queensland playmaker Jonathan Thurston steered the Cowboys to a 27-14 win over Brisbane in Townsville.
Canberra had 50 points racked up against them for the second week in a row at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday with halfback Shaun Johnson contributing 26 points in the Warriors’ 54-12 win.
Newcastle centre Joey Leilua produced two of the biggest gaffes of the season on Sunday to consign the Knights to a third straight defeat, a 32-10 hiding from Penrith, and anchor them to the bottom of the NRL ladder. Blake Ferguson was on Sunday linked to a return to the NRL with the Roosters, but an NRL spokesman said a contract had not been registered with the game’s governing body.
Parramatta host Cronulla on Monday night to conclude round nine.
up in the north
Guest
What's really the most important for NSW, is the abbsence of Bird important. ?? Um yeah.. Greg Bird has been a mainstay of the NSW team for the last couple of years. So who is going to replace Bird & young Mitchell? Does anyone think Dave Taylor will be selected for tbe maroons?
Big Show
Guest
If Bird was a Queenslander he would have ruled out for the entire series. That's a dead set Gee up Cameron Smith getting suspended for what he did, you guys are clutching at straws, GROW UP AND WAKE UP TOO YOURSELVES.
V.O.R.
Guest
...yer Manly have shown how to push a team back legally with their defense..far more effective than lifting. The driving back gang tackle seems to be one of their trademarks. I think you see it more with Manly than other teams. Maybe that style of tackling should be rewarded/encouraged by referees rather than calling held before the tackle ends with natural momentum. Standard mode of refereeing during Origin. This driving defense can still be achieved without lifting and in my opinion is an exciting part of the game that has been controlled too closely.
V.O.R.
Guest
I don't think we are going to see this become a big issue in the game. I agree that nobody should be free to attack the head of an opposing player regardless of the circumstances. What did Gallen get for king hitting Nate Myles...1 week? Maybe not citing Smith is the tribunals version of consistency. ;) Still think a proactive approach would be to clamp down on the strategic giving away of penalties when under pressure. Sin bin needs to make a comeback.
eagleJack
Guest
Well Cam Smith didn't get anything. So basically the NRL are saying if you are being held down in the tackle you can elbow the guy in the head. Wonder how long that will last? Won't argue with the Bird decision. They have to stamp lifting out of the game. Which will basically kill the Storms defensive plans cause that's all they seem to do.
V.O.R.
Guest
Something from the archives. http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/06/28/taylor-out-of-origin-decider/ Bird deserves to miss origin one. Had Ballin not been committing a professional foul and holding Smith down I'd say Smith would have something to answer. I think the refs have to take some responsibility here. For far too long players have been intentionally holding the opposition down near the try line, giving away a penalty as a tactic to regather their defensive line. It makes the attack disjointed and on occasion gets them a breather. Roosters have been notorious for this...Maloney particularly comes to mind. When players slow down the play the ball in the middle 3rd the way that commonly happens on the try line a penalty is given every time. A lot is let go on the try line. The officials should think about resurrecting the sin bin then perhaps players from the attacking team would not have to vent frustration on the perpetrator as has become more common lately.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Bird just did what, until a few weeks ago, was considered a normal League tackle. Even after the changes, though it did deserve a penalty, his arm was not between the legs. Smith smashed a bloke twice in the face and split him. And yet, if one of them is to get two weeks what's a bet it's Bird.
The Koomz
Guest
Its highly likely they both won't play
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Smith and Bird getting suspended? I highly doubt that.