South Sydney star Issac Luke has been found not guilty of a shoulder charge on Johnathan Thurston at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.
Luke was hit with the grade one shoulder in the Rabbitohs’ big win over North Queensland in Townsville last week.
But the panel of Don McKinnon, Bob Lindner and Mal Cochrane took 12 minutes to find him not guilty of the charge.
“It’s a big relief for me,” Luke told waiting media shortly after the verdict was laid down.
In giving evidence, Luke said it wasn’t his intent to put a big hit on Thurston.
“I was just coming out of the defensive line to put pressure on JT,” Luke said.
“I was trying to avoid contact. I stopped and he ran into me. I didn’t shoulder charge.”
Luke defence counsel Nick Ghabar argued there was separation between Luke’s arm and his torso, which wouldn’t constitute a shoulder charge, and contact was with his client’s forearm and torso rather than the shoulder.
“It was essentially a collision,” Ghabar said.
“(Luke) used his forearm as a bumper. “It wasn’t careless, but quite careful.
Judiciary counsel Peter McGrath said the tackle was an obvious shoulder charge.
“Player Luke made no attempt to use both arms, including his hands in the tackle on player Thurston,” McGrath said.
But that was rejected.
But Luke won’t play on Friday night against Canterbury after accepting a one-game ban for a dangerous throw, also against the Cowboys last week.
In a significant test of the NRL’s crackdown on the shoulder charge, Manly’s Jorge Taufua and Roosters star Aidan Guerra will also front the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night to challenge potential bans in regard to the controversial tackle.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
That's entirely up to the kickers where they want to stand, so how can they then complain?
3 Hats
Guest
All half backs get hit late. Adam Reynolds gets hit late all the time Bullgrub Ask Reyno what he thinks about that Grub James Graham
Parrafan
Guest
He appointed Greenburg to head of football. A man who has been in many controversy's and although was very good at running a leagues club, and shielding his club from media onslaughts has been found wanting in his new position. David Smith appoint Greenburg, so the buck ultimately stops with Smith.
Bulldog
Guest
Please point our which NRL kickers are 10m back from the line when they kick??
Bulldog
Guest
That is rubbish - so you are blaming JT for getting hit late and in the air because of his kicking style.... Seriously!! Also to pick you up - your comment states that JT deserves ALL he gets so I can only assume that you included all the late hits he has been enduring
Parra
Guest
Regardless of what has happened surrounding the shoulder charge incidents the message from NRL hq is clear and that is to tackle safely and correctly to avoid or mitigate injury. That is the message being sent to families with children who play rugby league. That is the whole point. Whether the NRL get it wrong or right is a side issue to the real message of safety. the news, forums and other discussions good or bad are helping deliver the message into homes over a week that this will remain in the spotlight. A good use of media by the NRL. I'm beginning to appreciate just how clever Dave smith and co really are.
Onballer
Guest
Oh have a cry. If the kicker kicks from 10m deeper no tackler can get near the kicker. His choice. Don't run to the defence and then try to get in a kick without expecting to get belted.
Onballer
Guest
Luke didn't "escape" anything. he wasn't guilty. Saying he escaped implies he was guilty but got away with it. Poor headline Roar. Poor.
3 Hats
Guest
Bulldog my comment refers to the one incident involving Isaac Luke on Thurston, regarding this case not other incidents. Any way why does Thurston always jump in the air after when kicking? He has a technical flaw with his kicking style. The non kicking leg should always be planted and stable on the ground for balance. Have a look at a goòd kicker Adam Reynolds, you will see what I am talking about.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
I don't want to see a terrible leg injury to the 'superstar' kickers but I don't expect legitimate defenders not to have the ability to put pressure on what is inherently an attack on their tryline. Not much to make a good kick go bad.
Bulldog
Guest
Define a "late hit"? people keep talking about it but nobody has explained the precise rule of late versus legal.
Bulldog
Guest
Explain to me how JT can throw a dummy and run when he is in the air after kicking? I know he is good but he is not that good. Protection should be given to kickers in the air similar to players fielding a high ball
Doc79
Roar Rookie
Take a few more steps back from the defensive line and hey presto, you can't complain about getting hit late or you have a chance of proving a late hit.
3 Hats
Guest
You don't know much about League and/or have played the game do you Freddo? Thurston deserves ALL he gets. It is very simple if you RUN to the line when kicking you get smashed. How often does he "Run to the Line", then throws a dummy and cuts through to score? Many times! So the defences of Every team cant take that chance.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The positive outcome is to not cite players for inconsequential, incidental contact, stop wasting everybody's tim and get on with the game instead of this mummer's farce.
3 Hats
Guest
What are you saying Jacksyd...do some research mate! Isaac Luke was FIRST UP mate, Guerra had nothing to do with it. Issac and the Jorge Taufua decision was correct... Guerra was bloody lucky, he should of been found guilty as he launched into it, Issac Luke and Jorge Taufua had braced for the contact.
Freddo
Guest
Still open season on Thurston it indicates ...
dayer
Guest
i thinks it was greenbergs idea, endorsed by the banker and approved by the commission. lol
Epiquin
Roar Guru
There was never going to be a positive outcome last night. If they cop bans, the game has gone soft and all collisions will be penalised. If they go free, the judiciary is a joke and too inconsistent.
Al
Guest
The ongoing issues with the shoulder charge shouldn't be a surprise - Sterling highlighted the huge grey area surrounding collisions when the rule was first introduced and wrote a few columns suggesting that the shoulder charge should just result in a much higher grading for existing penalties (most frequently, high contact). Start high contact with a shoulder charge at a Grade 3 Reckless High Tackle charge, and you'd only have blokes like Sandow attempting them, because anyone taller isn't going to want to risk 5-6 weeks.