Sydney Roosters prop Dylan Napa has accused the NRL of ruining the game with its crackdown on the shoulder charge.
Napa on Monday joined a chorus of concern about the crackdown after the match review committee handed down findings which have six more players facing suspensions for the no-arms hit.
It brings the total of players charged to nine – including three suspended last week – since the NRL made its hasty decision to toughen its rules after Roosters forward Kane Evans escaped sanction for flattening Sam Kasiano.
“Just saw the judiciary charges from the weekend, well done suits ruining the game,” wrote Napa on Twitter.
NRL elder statesman Corey Parker says the game’s powerbrokers have a lot to answer for after what he believes has been an over-the-top decision to change shoulder charge laws.
“The problem they get themselves into, with Kane Evans as an example, it was a classic shoulder charge (but) he got absolutely nothing (suspension) on it,” he said on Big Sports Breakfast.
“Then they make a big song and dance out of it a week later and now everyone is getting done.
The NRL’s crackdown showed no signs of slowing down on Monday with Napa’s Roosters teammate Aiden Guerra among six players charged with the offence this week.
There are now genuine fears the new interpretation will affect clubs’ finals hopes with some of the league’s key forwards – Manly’s Willie Mason and Warriors’ Ben Matulino – already rubbed out.
South Sydney hooker Issac Luke on Wednesday night will become the first player to challenge a shoulder charge at the judiciary since the new interpretation was introduced 10 days ago.
Automatic bans on no-arms, shoulder tackles “with force” were ushered in after Evans escaped suspension for his monster hit that floored Canterbury’s Kasiano.
Luke is already out for one match after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw on Cowboys’ fullback Lachlan Coote.
He faces another two weeks if he fails to defend his grade one shoulder charge.
Rabbitohs teammate Luke Keary also took the early guilty plea for a grade one shoulder charge and will miss one week.
Guerra faces two weeks on the sideline for a grade one shoulder charge while Manly’s Jorge Taufua could cop a one-game ban for his hit on on Canberra’s Jack Wighton.
Gold Coast’s Lachlan Burr and Raiders winger Jordan Rapana were also pinged for the controversial no-arms tackle and face one and two-week bans respectively.
Warriors’ prop Sam Rapira is the only other player that could be rubbed out from the upcoming round after being charged with a grade-one dangerous throw on Penrith’s Lewis Brown.
ChrisinMonaco
Guest
Is shoulder charging banned in AFL ?
The Barry
Roar Guru
No one has ever been taught to tackle with their hands. You have clearly never played the game at any level. How many of the Panthers casualty ward were put there by shoulder charges?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The shoulder charge has not had the emphasis on it ,as it has now.It is not a tackle never has been ,neither is a trip.You are taught to tackle with your hands.The shoulder charge is a lazy dangerous copout . The bootlace tackle by Sattler on a flying Todd Byrne in the grand final a few years ago,was more spectacular and actually in the rules. As Corey Parker stated today,he cannot see a problem with the banning of the shoulder charge,it is black and white,if you lead with your shoulder or up your should;der its a shoulder charge. Even SBW one of the best exponent on the SC,has agreed it has passed its use b y date and is too dangerous. And for people to complain the game has become soft,.have a look at the casualty wards such as the Panthers.Fair crack,some fans need a reality check. Get over it ,it's not coming back,don't blame Todd Greenburg,a recent tragic incident was the lever.I had a look on the sport news at an AFL player who had his jaw broken by an elbow,that's enough for me. Player welfare is the prime consideration,the game ignores it at their peril.
JayBob
Guest
Napa was pretty happy after the Evans hit. That's what started it all so it's sort of karma that it's making him unhappy now. It'd be better if more Roosters players were charged instead of other clubs like Manly copping it due to the NRL's initial mistake.
Mike from Tari
Guest
I didn't see Mitchell Dodds cited for his shoulder charge & his had more force than Luke's, Keary & Burrs, not a crackdown unless they get all of them.
Luke powell
Guest
Shoulder charge has been banned for close to three years, where are the stats showing how less injuries there are? There's just as many injuries all the nrl has done is deprive its followers of one of its biggest draw cards. No biff no big hits = small crowds and boring games. Todd Greenberg is killing our game