Calls for more playmaker protection have not been coming from coaches, NRL match review co-ordinator Michael Buettner says.
But the issue does not look like going away, with Parramatta forward Pauli Pauli set to escape suspension for a late hit that injured Penrith pivot Jamie Soward.
League great Andrew Johns has renewed calls for the league to do more to protect playmakers, describing Pauli’s hit that left Soward nursing a shoulder complaint a “cheap shot”.
Soward left the field after the hit but returned thanks to painkilling injections however is yet to prove his fitness for Saturday night’s clash against Melbourne.
But Pauli will avoid a ban with an early plea after being cited for a grade one dangerous contact charge on Monday.
The charge’s grading and Pauli’s previous good record ensures he avoids suspension with an early plea.
The likes of Johns may be upset but Buettner claimed NRL coaches had no complaints despite the issue raring its head as early as Round 2.
Cowboys coach Paul Green appeared livid over Newcastle hardman Beau Scott’s manhandling of his star half Johnathan Thurston who was left with a black eye.
But Buettner claimed every coach had been satisfied with how incidents had been dealt with so far this season.
“What we have done is run some of the issues that happened earlier this year, some concerning acts, the Beau Scott one in particular, run those by the coaches and got their opinion and thoughts as to how they thought the referees handled it and how the match review handled it,” he told NRL HQ on the NRL website.
“They were all in complete agreeance that they were comfortable with that process.”
But Buettner admitted drawing a clear line on what constituted a late hit was “probably the hardest thing we are coming up with”.
“We are trying to assess that and trying to get that right,” he said.
“I think we are going about that process and ensuring that playmakers will go to the line and players will try and put them on the deck.
“But we do need to ensure that duty of care from the defending player isn’t breached.”
Australia captain Cameron Smith was outspoken on the issue after Thurston’s Round 2 treatment.
And Penrith skipper Peter Wallace on Monday echoed Smith’s plea, saying it was “unfair” that they had lost their playmaker to injury.
“Something has to be done before someone gets too seriously hurt,” he said.
“The worst thing is we lost a player and nothing happened to them.
“He (Pauli) got put on report and that’s it.
“I think that’s pretty unfair.”
Meanwhile, Gold Coast forward Ryan James will also escape suspension with an early plea after being charged with grade one dangerous contact for his crusher tackle on South Sydney captain Greg Inglis on Saturday.
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