It is amazing how many people, when they see a shoulder charge go right, forget how many of them have gone sickeningly wrong.
The perfectly executed shoulder charge by Sydney Roosters forward Kane Evans on Canterbury rival Sam Kasiano was spectacular, but it is no reason to review the outlawing of that kind of tackle.
It was at least as much good luck as it was good skill that Evans made contact with Kasiano’s chest rather than his head.
Let him go out in his next game with the freedom to try it as often as he likes without fear of punishment as long he doesn’t knock someone’s block off and see how long it is before he does knock someone’s block off.
There is simply too little a margin for error with the shoulder charge and that will never change.
That is why the league outlawed the tackle in the first place – there is too big a risk of it going wrong and the tackled player being knocked out and/or suffering a facial fracture as a result of being smashed in the face by a tackler’s shoulder or head.
There has been speculation Evans, who was penalised and reported for the hit in Friday night’s game, could avoid being charged by the match review committee because he didn’t make contact with Kasiano’s head and the penalty to the Bulldogs could be deemed sufficient.
I can’t see that happening – and nor should it happen.
Evans should be charged. There should be a deterrent – even if it is a low-grade charge that wouldn’t result in a suspension on its own.
I don’t need bell-ringing shoulder charges to increase my viewing pleasure and in these days of much tighter concussion protocols it is hardly the sort of tackle that should be championed.
The Roosters-Bulldogs game was a sensational contest on its own. It was the closest game I’ve seen to a finals-quality match this season in terms of the speed and intensity of it.
That might seem strange if you look at the scoreboard and see there were 66 points scored in the 10-point win to the Roosters. If you didn’t watch the game you might ask: “Where was the defence?”
But there was great defence at times – just like there was great attack.
The defensive set in which the Bulldogs held out while the Roosters attacked their line midway through the second half was magnificent, because the Roosters weren’t making it easy – they were asking the most difficult of questions.
It looked like the Bulldogs were about to complete another stunning defensive rally a few minutes later until the Roosters went wide right in an attempt to find a way through. Blake Ferguson did brilliantly to fight his way across the line for a try.
The Roosters established a big lead, gave it up and fell behind and then came again to win. It was a tremendous contest.
North Queensland did it the other way around on Saturday night, falling well behind in the first place and roaring back to win. Like the Roosters, the Cowboys have huge assets in the key positions.
Most notably, of course, there is Johnathan Thurston at halfback, but fullback Lachlan Coote, five-eighth Michael Morgan and hooker Jake Granville complete an All-Star quartet. What a revelation Granville has been recently!
The live television coverage of the game on Fox Sports cut to the North Queensland dressing-room at halftime and showed Thurston in animated conversation with Cowboys coach Paul Green.
North Queensland trailed 18-4 at the time, but neither man’s body language suggested the slightest hint of distress. They were clearly plotting the way back into the game and the look on Thurston’s face made it clear he believed that way back genuinely existed.
Brisbane just failed to turn up against Manly on Saturday night.
Well done to the Sea Eagles for being right on their game, but the Broncos provided little opposition. It was a strangely insipid performance from them, but it is a long season and as well prepared and as professional as players are it is possible to come out one week and simply not produce.
They’re only human.
Judge the Broncos on what they do next weekend, now that they have had that sharp reminder that you can’t just waltz through a game in the NRL and expect to win.
The other top-four team, South Sydney, had to work hard to beat struggling Penrith on Sunday, but did show plenty of character in coming from 12-0 down.
The Rabbitohs don’t look to be quite as good as they were last season, but they are the premiers and should be in a position to strike if they can find that little bit extra come finals time.
I think the current top four will be the top four going into the finals and that the premiers will come from there. It is a really solid top four and should produce both grand finalists.
I don’t think any team – including Canterbury – will make the grand final from outside of the top four.
Adam
Roar Rookie
Now we go forward a week and Willie has a 2 week holiday....hmmmmm! Has the NRL lost the plot?
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Inglis' hit was always illegal and always has been. Young a much shorter bloke was always going to cop it unless Inglis considerably lowered his body height. The chasing tackler that slowed Young up does nothing more than give Inglis - Future Immortal a split second longer to line him up. His body height was barely lowered from normal when Inglis smoked him. It was always outlawed!!!! Why did we need to go and ban the shoulder charge? It was a head high tackle and already illegal. I would have been happy for them to double load shoulder charges that make contact with the head. It was the definition of a knee jerk reaction to one of the ugliest tackles you'll ever see. Kind of reminds me of Port Arther. Bloke that under the law should never have been able to obtain a firearm goes nuts. Instead of heavily investigating why the laws that were already on the books failed. They come up with new laws.
Ian
Guest
It's not coming back. No administration in its right mind is going to reinstate what it banned over injury/liability concerns. Imagine the field day the lawyers would have when, inevitably, someone gets injured by a shoulder charge.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Don't bother pointing that out, as it doesn't fit in with "Won't someone please think of the children" motif, as eloquently described by CC above
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Shoulder charge never in the rule book.It may look spectacular ,then again so do car collisions at the races. The point of the shoulder with the bone mass is hardly soft tissue.And if a smaller guy gets hit, what chance has he got. The head is sacrosanct,and that means no shoulder charges,biff or head highs ,if players don't get the message then they will enjoy holidays on the sideline.I want to see the Thurstons,Johnsdons etc able to weave their magic without the fear of some lazy opposition player executing a shoulder charge yet missing and hitting the guy's head. If the tragedy of what happened in Queensland ,as a result of the use of the shoulders doesn't get the message through to players,fans and indeed commentators like Gould,then we may as well drag ourselves back to the 20th Century. Players' welfare is paramount,not the dollar notes we fling across the counter to gain entry. Young's father was one of the toughest forwards going around ,and he was appalled at the tackle on his son. If you want to grow the grassroots make the game as safa as possible,not leaving the door open for horrendous results. I sometimes shake my head when I hear Gould's comments .
Alvin Purple
Guest
James Ackerman died due to a shoulder charge - live in the bin with spear and head high tackles The game is tough enough without someone having to die playing a sport they love
Alvin Purple
Guest
Rubbish It is clearly more damaging and has the potential to be lethal I hate to bring it up but James Ackerman died as a result of a shoulder charge. Enough said.
Little Red Rooster
Guest
Inglis went for the head on Young. He's a grub. He goes for the neck when he's fending. Ask players.
Birdy
Guest
Couldn't agree more, Smith is on his way to a $1.5b deal and still has critics.
Emcie
Roar Guru
The biggest problem with that shoulder charge was that young was tackled from behind just immediately prior to Inglis making contact which changed the whole dynamic of the tackle
Ginger Meggs
Guest
A major incident that lead to the banning of the shoulder charge was a tackle by Inglis on Young. A tight forward in the open galloping towards a fullback. Young headed for the defender to give his support room. Inglis advanced on the attacker to cut down his think time and went for the chest to prevent the pass. There was no malice intended but the collision was horrific. Inglis hit him high in the chest and Young's body stopped dead and his head kept going then whip-lashed. Young was badly damaged even though they were just executing their respective roles. Inglis was suspended more because of the consequences than his actions. Shoulder charges are dangerous and should remain on the banned list.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Nrl has been led by ex players for 100 years and it got so bad there was an actual civil war in the code.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Tell me more about shoulder charges on 103kg little men...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well done
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Nonsense, who wants different things? Just give me jumper grabbing tackles without any variation for 80 minutes, and I'm glued to the TV.
littleredrooster
Guest
The Barry...master tautologist.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's the million dollar question and I agree the soccer mum myth is thrown around willy nilly but it doesn't make sense...any mum that thinks league is too violent for little Billy won't give a toss if there's shoulder charges or no.
Ra Bro
Guest
Haven't u done that in yr skillssessions.
Chris Love
Guest
Then why are these ass clowns ruining our game? Go back to every bit of commentary when something got sanitised the soccer mums are what get mentioned. Same with the biff and the lifting tackles.
Bonza
Guest
More concerning is no punching. When Smith/Greenberg are finally moved on someone with some sense can take over and use clever lawyers to get the punch back. Reword the rule as in "Punching, professional fouls etc will all result in 5 minute sin bins..." Lump it in with other indiscretions that will always take place. This will mean sometimes players will belt another player and cop the 5 minutes for the greater good of the game. By this I mean cheap shots like Taupau on Maloney would be dealt with by Roosters forwards or probably wouldn't happen to start with. Kasiano and Warea Hargreaves actually SLAPPED each other on Friday. NRL to be led by ex players with common sense please. See you Smithy and Toddles.