Jason Taumalolo risks an added one-game ban for a shoulder charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night, his North Queensland side rolling the dice as they battle dwindling forward stocks.
Taumalolo pleaded not guilty to the first-half front-on hit on Brisbane’s Alex Glenn on Friday night, which appeared to involve very little arm movement in the contact.
It also means he will become the first player to test the NRL’s new simplified shoulder charge rule.
Previously, players had to have their arm tucked into their body for a hit to be deemed a shoulder charge.
Under the new rules, a player will be charged if the contact is forceful, and the player did not use, or attempt to use, his arms (including his hands) to tackle or otherwise take hold of the opposing player.
Taumalolo would have missed the Cowboys’ home clash with Manly on Saturday night had he accepted the grade-one charge, but will risk another week on the sideline in fighting it.
If the charge is upheld last year’s Dally M medallist will also miss the Queensland derby with Gold Coast in round four.
However the Cowboys may have deemed the move a necessary risk, given they are already without front-row leader Matt Scott for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
North Queensland’s pack was also their biggest concern heading into the season, following the departure of James Tamou for Penrith and the retirement of Ben Hannant.
Taumalolo has also been one of their best in the opening fortnight of the season.
He ran a whopping 289 metres against Canberra in the Cowboys’ first golden-point win, before charging down a Broncos’ field goal attempt in extra time on Friday.
The Cowboys will also be missing fullback Lachlan Coote (torn calf) and Antonio Winterstein (broken arm) in the backs for at least the next few weeks.
Scott will also contest his one-game ban for a separate shoulder charge incident in the 21-20 win over the Broncos.
Even though he is poised to miss the match regardless, he will keep his 25 per cent discount for a seven-year clean record in tact for future charges if he wins the case.
Elsewhere, the Warriors’ Charlie Gubb and Canberra’s Sia Soliola each escaped bans after pleading guilty to dangerous contact charges.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Search Matai on Tyrell and Taufua on Walker.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Fair result. I was worried because it was a star that the judiciary would find a way to get him off. Still think it's overkill. I take your point about the extra force in a shoulder charge but you can't compare it to a 'normal' tackle. Players only go the shoulder charge when they have the chance to put on a big hit. So a normal tackle isn't a like for like comparison. Tetevano's hit on Hopoate is an example. I reckon in days gone by Tetevano would have put on a shoulder charge in that situation nine time out of ten. The force of the shoulder charge would be no higher than the hit he put on and certainly not 76% higher. Plus because he was trying to put on a big hit and get his arms in position, there is a far higher risk of head collision. I don't have any data to back this up but my gut feel is that we're seeing head clashes occur more frequently and I think they're occurring when players are going for the big body check tackles where in the past they may have put on a shoulder charge. I'm far from definitive on this but I think the Tetevano hit and the Burgess hit on Elijah Taylor are examples.
Aaron
Guest
JT2 has been found guilty of a Grade 1 shoulder charge and will be sitting out the next two weeks. On the matter of whether shoulder charges that don't make contact with the head are dangerous, the NRL cracked down on them due to the 76% greater force compared with a normal tackle, as well as the greater likelihood for it to go wrong. Shoulder charges are gone, and have been for some time now. Players should know better.
Rob
Guest
Absolutely agree. I would prefer a penalty and maybe 10 in the bin if a player has made little effort in wrapping his arms or belts a player off the ball. Two weeks is ridiculous for a high impact sport like rugby league where players make split second decisions based some times on self preservation. Punching is different because it's something a players thinks about and feel they have a right to do. Attacking the head of an opponent is not part of Rugby League and the damage caused by a serious head injury can be life changing. Head slams are just as dangerous and nothing is done. The culture behind punching gives the game a black eye if you know what I mean.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
He's wrapping his arm, problem theres a 100kg person running at it. Its looks better from that angle, but I am just not sure he will get off.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hard to imagine him getting off...is it a carry over points play? These bans for shoulder to shoulder charges are ridiculous. We're losing quality players for nothing hits that aren't dangerous in the slightest. Meanwhile tripping doesn't even get you a week or an appearance at the judiciary. Or punching. Shoulder charge someone in the shoulder and get two weeks. Punch them straight in the face and you get a fine and no suspension.
Aaron
Guest
Except he has his fist clenched and doesn't even attempt to wrap his arm.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
From that angle it just looks like a tackle.
chump
Guest
There's different angles which make it look better/worse than it is. https://imgur.com/E6141or Not so bad from that angle.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Yeah I don't know what their argument will be. Bracing? Barely. I mean it was kind of front on contact but he still had his arm tucked and you may be right, they are probably just banking on no one really having any idea what they are do.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I could understand fighting a Grade 2 to get it downgraded. But a Grade 1? It means that the Cowboys are saying it wasn't a shoulder charge at all? When it was a classic one. Looked absolutely beautiful live. But unfortunately you can't do them anymore (to the detriment of the game IMO). So it's a big test for the judiciary. If they downgrade it then confusion will reign once more. And the NRL judiciary will be labelled a joke for the umpteenth time in its history. I'd say Cowboys management are punting on the huge disconnect between the MRC and the judiciary. And the fact it's a circus. Why not.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Understand Scott rolling the dice, he has nothing to lose. JT2 is playing a risky game but I dont think the HQ would be playing this risk if they didn't think he could get out of it. Can imagine Manly fans screaming if he should get away with it, but neither of those charged last week challenged and they accepted their 2 match bans with early guilty pleas.