Queensland back rower Sam Thaiday has been charged after a first half spear tackle on NSW captain Paul Gallen.
Thaiday, with assistance from retiring Maroons lock Corey Parker, upended Gallen in the 13th minute of Game 2, which the Maroons went on to win 26-16 at Suncorp Stadium.
There were plenty of fans in blue, not to mention a few neutrals, calling for Thaiday to be sent off after the tackle. The NRL has come down hard on those deemed guilty of lifting tackles since Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon was partially paralysed after a spear tackle in 2014.
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Gallen could also consider himself lucky after emerging from the tackle unscathed, going on to play the remainder of the match.
While Thaiday remained on the pitch, the tackle was not seen with the same leniency by the match review officials as it was by the referee during the game. Thaiday was charged with a grade two dangerous throw.
Thaiday is unlikely to take the field in Game 3 due to the seriousness of the charge. While the former Broncos captain has no carryover points, he is likely to accrue 243 points if he takes an early guilty plea, which will equate to a two-match ban.
If he decides to fight the charge and loses, he is likely to pick up 325 points, which will rule him out for a minimum of three games.
With his club side Brisbane locked in a tense battle for the top four and with Origin already wrapped up, Thaiday would be wise to take the plea in order to get himself ready for the run towards the finals.
Although referees are known for being reluctant to pull out the red card in Origin matches, Thaiday – and Queensland – could consider themselves lucky that one of their main enforcers managed to stay on the pitch.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's a shocking tackle. Forget NSW v Queensland, it was as bad as it gets. Hands between the legs, Gallen completely 180 degrees upside down and head first into the turf. There doesn't need to be a driving motion for it to be a dangerous tackle. I'm amazed that's only two weeks. The games gone topsy turvey. You get binned and suspended for a punch but only get two weeks for a spear tackle. As rough and ready as the 80s were Thaiday would have copped six weeks for that. If Gallen did it Queenslanders would be screaming blue murder...
Emcie
Roar Guru
There were rules in the eighties?
Mike Dugg
Roar Rookie
Luke O'Donnell did a terrible spear tackle on Boyd about 5 years ago in origin and followed that up with a punch and head butt on Dave Taylor. He was only put on report. Precedent has been set
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
No way this is a sin binning or send off offence, especially with the amount of leeway players get in club footy. Report was all that was necessary. There's no drive action in the tackle. Looked spectacular due to Parkers actions up top who luckily realised what was happening and for the most part let gal down easily. All in all I've probably seen worse get less and not as bad get more. Grade two seems right to me.
Jono
Guest
This type of tackle should get a sin binning. Surely if a punch is worth it so is this.
Noel
Guest
Thankyou, Flat White. Woods in those last 3 tackles was atrocious. And Bird stomping on Oates, the Smith's hands was also poor. There was a lot of niggle, and it got much worse after QLD had the game in the bag.
aussieabroad
Guest
The NRL really needs to clarify and let fans know what is a send of offence. This to me was clearly a send off offence. But what do i know. I played in the eighties when there were rules, not the crap they have now.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
Definitely deserves a few weeks but couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke. Will the MRC look into the Blues tactics of stomping on hands, forearms across the face, and Woods' knees in his last three "tackles"? None in the spirit of the game, but that's the legacy those players will leave.
Buttery
Guest
Who gets the benefit of putting the Thaiday on report, in fact who gets the benefit when any player is put on report, only the teams that benefit are the ones who follow in the draw so to be fair a player put on report should be put in the bin for 10 minutes.
Chui
Guest
the only thing missing was the drive into the pitch. Grade 2 is about right
Jimmmy
Guest
Bad tackle. At least he did let go at the the last minute but it was a bit too late by then. He should go for a few weeks for sure.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Grade two sounds right. Looked pretty spectacular but there was no driving in the tackle which is what usually ends up being the difference between a scary moment and a broken neck.
WQ
Guest
This should get a suspension, it was ordinary and careless. Having said that both Greg Bird and Josh Reynolds got nothing more than a smack on the hand for exactly the same tackles only a few origins ago.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
If Gallen had been injured Thaiday would be sitting out the season for that tackle.
Mals
Guest
Third Man is the opposite of a real enforcer. Grabs the smallest man on the field Reynolds nuts. Why didn't he try those grubby tactics on Fifita or Gallen I wonder? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.