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.
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.
“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.”
Womblat
Guest
This is the second time I've heard this ridiculous comparison. Hurrell deliberately picked his knees up into a tackler with very little chance of being hurt himself. This isn't "bad technique". This lynch mob is out. There are enough of them squealing hysterically without a panting line-up desperate to join for spurious reasons.
Roger
Guest
I'm pretty sure I can headbutt you into next week without having my eyes on you STD...
Big daddy
Guest
And he blamed Brisbane fans for media sway. If it was a Penrith player he would be blowing up. Blaming Greenberg doesn't help. If he says nothing he gets criticized. At least Greenburg has backed up his original thoughts and he's not a Brisbane supporter.
Forty Twenty
Guest
If Napa was too dopey to wake up to himself when he mauled Sims and broke his jaw recently, at what point was the coach going to step in with a few wise words. It was only a matter of time until he mauled someone again and what did Robinson think the NRL was going to do this time.?
3 recalcitrant monkeys
Guest
Yes I was kidding but sam has already been to the judiciary 3 times this year so if your serious about head knocks he is in the same league but unlike Napa he does it consistently . In the end Napa will have to change his tackling style Like GI did .I sure miss the break the line and you are going to hospital thing he brought to full back though.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Careless, reckless and intentional apply to high tackle charges, not a dangerous contact charge.
Peter
Guest
So Gus Gould is chucking a wobbly because the League, just for once, didn't meekly accept His Lordship's directions. So, just for once, good on the League.
Rod
Guest
You must be kiddding about Sam, yes he does get it wrong from time to time. Napa is in a different universe to Sam with regards to head hunting. Napa is in a league of his own. The guy no doubt is not doing it on purpose .but what he has done in numerous occasions is dangerous and plain wrong. He is lucky that the injuries have not been worse. Next incident he sits on the sidelines for 12 weeks, next one he is out for the season
BennO
Guest
I have no idea how you can defend this. It doesn't matter if it's unintentionall or not. Add to that, he failed to use his arms so it's no different from a shoulder charge... Also illegal. Beyond that, remember those coat hangers in the 80s when a bloke would stick his arm out after a last minute step? He didn't mean to knock the attacker's head off, but if he did, it was illegal. This is no different.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Couldn’t agree more, if McCulloch plays next week that will be a total farce. If the NRL don’t implement a serious mandate on concussions, then the NFL type lawsuits will start coming thick & fast in the future. As for Napa, he hs terrible technique and have no issue with the suspension. He needs to seriously adjust his technique or he will spend plenty of time off the field then on it.
3 recalcitrant monkeys
Guest
Sam burgess clobbers some one in the head every second game TB it's a 2 -4 careless or reckless . with the bin I thought it was worth 2 but apparently he was off side so it was a bit cynical and reckless compared to the hit on Corbin . 3 is not much different and he will probably cop it for a chance at the grand ,do the crime do the time
Adam
Roar Guru
Well that's obviously no good. He should automatically miss a game, that said why doesn't the Broncos take a common sense approach and give the man a week off
Adam
Roar Guru
Does that mean you haven't watched footy in the last 10 years? You might remember when dangerous contact wasn't a charge but it's not a particularly new thing
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
It depends how old you are Dan, if you are a 19-year-old then a charge of Dangerous contact by a head clash may well apply but when you are North of 50 plus then I can guarantee you I have never ever recalled any player being charged with Dangerous contact at all. Dropping your knees is a separate charge as is using your foot ala Billy Slater style. We didn't have charges of throwing water bottles either.
Greg
Guest
Nate Myles lead with his head his whole career.
Val
Guest
I read that McCullough should be right to play next week. He was knocked out cold - concussion. Surely the Broncos can't be serious about him playing next week! Every other contact code takes this problem seriously except the NRL and in this case the club. What about player welfare?
Big daddy
Guest
This is not double jeopardy. He chanced his arm(head,shoulder) and probably got off on a technicality. New charge - different result.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Grade three dangerous contact has nothing to do with intentional. The careless, reckless and intentional charges only relate to high tackles. In both the Sims and McCullough tackles Napa was trying to make tackles with his left shoulder for players on his right side. It’s under 6 level stuff. It’s terrible technique and it’s creating these extremely dangerous situations and horrible injuries. He deserves this suspension. We can’t have someone charging around and inflicting bad head injuries on players because of terrible technique and there not being a price to pay. I think that 3-4 week range is about right. If he doesn’t fix his technique and hurts someone else badly he should go for 8-10 weeks.
Lewl
Guest
This is in line with the punishment handed out to Konrad Hurrell 2-3 years ago when he also injured a player with bad technique rather than intent.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Massively !