Australian captain Cameron Smith has delivered a stinging rebuke to critics of the NRL’s crackdown on the shoulder charge, telling players to “pull their head in”.
Legendary halfback Andrew Johns on Monday night poured fuel on the fire when he said the game’s governing body was “lost” and their efforts to rub out the technique had been an “absolute debacle”.
South Sydney stars Issac Luke and Luke Keary and Sydney Roosters’ representative back-rower Aidan Guerra were among six players cited for shoulder charges over the weekend’s fixtures.
And while some have lambasted the NRL after nine players were charged in the fortnight since they announced their intention to stamp it out, Smith delivered a sobering reminder of what was at risk.
In June, Queensland Cup player James Ackerman was killed after being hit with a shoulder charge while playing for the Sunshine Coast.
The father of two’s death had a deep impact at the Storm, who share a feeder arrangement with the Sunshine Coast, and many Melbourne squad members knew Ackerman.
While Smith did not comment on any of the six charges over the weekend, he said the shoulder charge needed to be eradicated from the game.
“I think the NRL are making a stance on tackles that can be quite dangerous,” Smith said.
“I know there’s a lot of debate about the shoulder charge and whether it is dangerous or whether it’s not. To me it’s pretty clear cut.
“A footballer lost his life as a direct result of a shoulder charge. So if there’s six incidents in those six charges over the weekend, players have got to get it through their heads that they can’t put that tackle on. Simple as that.”
Johns slammed the NRL Match Review Committee for the the recent crackdown, particularly the charge handed to Manly winger Jorge Taufua for his hit on Canberra fullback Jack Wighton.
The former Newcastle, NSW and Australian No.7 said he supported the eradication of the “traditional” shoulder charge but argued Taufua and Wighton were simply bracing to protect themselves while attacking a loose ball.
“We’re lost. It’s turned into an absolute debacle,” Johns said on Triple M radio on Monday night.
“That Jorge Taufua one on Jack Wighton, that wasn’t a shoulder charge, it was two blokes going for a 50-50 ball and Jack Wighton gets the ball and Jorge pulls out.
“If he doesn’t pull out and brace himself, do we need a player to lift his hands and expose his face and to break his own jaw on an opposition player, for us to go `hang on, something’s wrong here’.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
Union banned the shoulder charge...they didn't suspend blokes for running into each other. The reason for banning the shoulder charge was completely different as well. In rugby a forward doesn't (or shouldn't) hit the ball up one out. You move forward as a pack. A shoulder charge was dangerous and banned not because of the contact but because of the tackled player careening backwards into his own players. That doesn't happen in league. So it's not like for like and rugby isn't somehow ahead of the game.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Of course they use the shoulders...every tackle in the history of rugby league has used the shoulder. You're taught from age 5 to put your head to the side and make initial contact with the shoulder.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
One thing I do agree ,union did get it right,and we took too long to follow suit.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I've seen the tackles,they use the shoulders.That I can understand.It appears some of the players don't know the difference between the use of the hands and the shoulder regardless of its position. Parker stated its back and white to him.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Can't you understand...there's a difference between banning shoulder charges and suspending blokes for non shoulder charge, harmless tackles? I realise the shoulder charge is not coming back and I can live with it if not love it but the Taufua / Wightin collision was not a shoulder charge. I need to remember you're the bloke who said that you tackle with your arms not your shoulders.
Michael
Guest
Not only that but they also think they can change and bend the rules at will. I'm sick of it, they should just stick to one set of rules and let it be. Speaking of which who makes the decisions at the NRL?
Ra
Guest
Union got it right. Should and no arms, not a tackle - penalty, or worse - simple really. the rugby league coaching speak use to be lead with the shoulder, wrap with the arms, slide and squeeze, but they do things different these days I guess
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If there is no shoulder charge and players get the message,then players may actually benefit in the long run. Concussion rules,no biff,no shoulder charges ,bout time.We are living in the 21st Century in competition from other codes ,litigation and player welfare a major concern. To continue to believe this should remain part of rugby league ,is living with the dinosaurs. Smith is probably just as attuned with modern society's needs as wee are." Head up his a*se" ask Albert Young and the parents of the poor player in Qld. Some people who want things to remain as in the past,have developed the ostrich mentality. The NRL IMO has got it right,and that will encourage more kids to take up the game down the line. Even SBW now sees the merit in having it banned.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Jack Wighton nearly died after Taufua's shoulder charge on Sunday. Or at least he fell to the ground, which is pretty such the same thing according to The Roar's league savants.
At work
Roar Rookie
At least half the guys that have been charged from this weekend were merely bracing themselves or at a minimum weren't doing anything remotely dangerous to the opposition player. This has turned into an absolute joke. I think the NRL take the whole "any publicity is good publicity" too far
At work
Roar Rookie
Nope, I also see it as a gummy, toothless baby drooling all over the rulebook
eee
Guest
SEems to me to be teething problems
parra
Guest
Any measure/rule change introduced or tweaked to improve player safety (that attempts to mitigates injury) has my support. Timing is unimportant. I would rather see football skills than dangerous tackles. Well done NRL.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Tackles like that brutal shoulder charge from 80kg Luke Keary are ruining the game and endangering player safety. They must be eradicated before rugby league turns into MMA. Thank you NRL for protecting me and my children from this scourge. My only complaint is why stop at one week – rub this grub out for the rest of the season before he maims someone - most likely himself based on what I saw.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Mate - that's not teething problems - it's the complete absence of anything resembling a strategic approach to an important issue. There's no teeth here...just a gummy, toothless, idiot baby drooling all over the rulebook....
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Exactly. Teething problems.
Christian
Guest
%100 Smith and Bellamy are a disgrace to the game
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sleiman - it's a debacle. Instead if a well thought out system to deal with shoulder charges and player safety we once again have a scattergun, policy on the run approach that is satisfying no one.
Samtwocan
Guest
Ive long thought Cam Smith is an awesome player but he is also an awesome manipulator of officials and the press . This is classic Cam Smith getting in the heads and pockets of the refs just before the finals. Its been proven in the past he is prepared to cheat to win so his input should be taken with a grain of salt. Yes the full on shoulder charge is dangerous but not unlike some of the lifting charges its just a result of momentum and player reactions. Mr Smith may be a good negotiator etc but his head is in his arsse when it comes to the actual game itself. Tweeting rule changes ...is he 14 yrs old ?
The Barry
Roar Guru
And goody two shoes Cameron 'chicken wing' Smith can STFU. He didn't seem so interested in player welfare when he was trying to twist peoples heads off.