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NRL hands Dylan Napa a big ban

Dylan Napa during his time with the Roosters. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
26th August, 2018
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The Sydney Roosters’ NRL title hopes have taken a huge hit, with enforcer Dylan Napa facing a ban of 3-4 matches which could end his season.

Napa has been handed a grade-three dangerous contact charge for the sickening tackle which knocked out Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough during the Roosters’ loss to the Broncos on Saturday night.

He can limit the suspension to three matches if he takes the early guilty plea, but risks being sidelined for four if he contest the charge and loses.

Depending on how the Roosters’ fare next week and during the finals, Napa’s earliest return could be for a grand final qualifer, or miss the decider altogether.

A base charge for the grade-three dangerous contact charge is 300 points, however two prior offences this year meant loading increased his punishment to 420 points.

It is the second time this year Napa has come under scrutiny for appearing to lead with his head in tackles that have gone horribly wrong, having broken the jaw of Broncos forward Korbin Sims in a similar incident in round 11.

The 25-year-old controversially escaped sanction from the match review committee for the Sims incident, with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg later saying he believed they got it wrong in failing to charge Napa.

League great Andrew Johns, who also works as a coaching consultant for the Roosters, said on Sunday there was a flaw in Napa’s tackling technique.

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But strangely he suggested the MRC – rather than Napa or Roosters coaching staff – was at fault now because it failed to charge him over the Sims incident.

“He’s been let down by the match review committee because I have no doubt if he got suspended then he goes away and changes his technique,” Johns said on the Nine Network’s Sunday Footy Show.

“If someone puts footwork late on Dylan, he just launches and he loses all sight of the target.

“But for me, they’ve set a precedent that they haven’t charged him in round 11. For me, they can’t charge him for that.”

McCullough, who was taken off in a medicab and failed to return, is understood to have only suffered concussion and facial laceration and is likely to be available for next week’s clash against Manly.

He revealed on Sunday that Napa had already apologised several times, and the hooker appeared to hold no grudge.

“Thanks to everyone for the amazing msgs I’m slowly getting back to each and everyone of you, Dylan has apologised numerous times amount of times,” he said on social media.

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“He’s a quality guy and I will be alright. Have a fantastic Sunday.”

Having been scathing after the Sims injury, Bennett was reluctant to discuss the latest incident after the match.

“I had a lot to say about it last time, it’s now up to the NRL. It’s got nothing to do with me,” Bennett said.

“I stood up for my player then. I made my feelings known to everybody. It’s up to the NRL to do what they’ve got to do.

Asked if the NRL could have forced Napa to change his technique after the Sims incident, Bennett said: “Don’t take me down that path.”

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