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Dylan Napa’s recklessness must be punished, accident or not

Dylan Napa during his time with the Roosters. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Expert
26th August, 2018
73

How is it reasonable for respected commentators to argue Dylan Napa has no case to answer for what was effectively another reckless flying headbutt?

Yet, that is exactly what’s happening and their misguided sentiments must not be allowed to hold sway.

The NRL must take a firm stance on his serial recklessness or they will put every ball carrier at serious risk through their negligence.

Further, they’ll also damage the grassroots of the game because parents like myself will actively discourage our kids from playing rugby league if Napa’s brand of recklessness can be excused as accidental.

Here are the facts: twice this season – both times against the Broncos – Roosters forward Dylan Napa has performed reckless tackles that have seen his head brutally impact an opposition player’s head horribly.

In Round 11 at Suncorp Stadium, the impact from Napa’s head broke Korbin Sims’ jaw. On Saturday night Andrew McCullough was lucky to escape with only severe lacerations inside his mouth.

Andrew McCullough of the Broncos lies injured on the ground after a tackle by Dylan Napa.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

In both cases, it meant Brisbane went a man down for the entire match while the Roosters only lost Napa for ten minutes.

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Lots of those who have seen the tackles have speculated that he is deliberately leading with his head with the intention to injure, but with protection from sanction as the likelihood was that the incidents would be justified as accidental head clashes – which is exactly what the match review committee decided after the incident in Round 11.

This isn’t a new issue either. Richard Villasante was accused of doing it to Brad Fittler in the 2002 grand final

Nate Myles was often accused of leading with his head.

And some think James Graham deliberately lined up Sam Burgess in 2014.

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However, there is no proof that those were anything other than accidents.

And here’s the thing: you can’t prove that Dylan Napa intentionally lead with his head. Unless you find a secret recording of Napa either planning or admitting to deliberately doing it, you can’t know what the intentions inside his flame topped melon were.

However, that is totally irrelevant.

When was it ever the case that a high shot, spear tackle or crusher had to be intentional before it was punished? I reckon around 80 per cent and up of all such offences are accidental or reckless. Yet we see those actions receive suspension commonly.

Why on earth shouldn’t that logic apply to incidents where there are head clashes due to recklessness?

In both incidents, Dylan Napa is clearly going for a big hit and it all goes horribly wrong as a result of his recklessness. History repeated on Saturday night and it’s clear that Napa must change his tackling style.

If something is reckless and high impact then the game’s administrators have a duty of care to the players to deal effectively with the risk, and to put in place measures and deterrents to help mitigate and reduce that risk.

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After Napa’s Round 11 hit on Sims was found to not be deserving of charge, Todd Greenberg even said as much on NRL 360.

“My personal view is player safety always comes first, and if you’re going to err on the side of caution, I thought it warranted a charge.”

News flash Todd: you are the CEO OF the NRL. It’s your job to run the game. If you think something is warranted then you should probably make it happen.

Todd Greenberg

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Otherwise, the exact same thing might happen again. So much of the problem to this point is that NRL HQ has not properly assessed the risk and as a result, failed to put an adequate treatment in place.

A further part of the problem is that we have some of the games most respected commentators trying to pass the incidents off as unfortunate accidents that shouldn’t lead to Napa being sanctioned.

When Andrew Johns expresses an opinion we pretty much all listen. The problem is he said this:

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“He’s not looking, it looks awful and I really feel for Andrew McCullough, but there’s nothing illegal in it because it’s an accidental head clash.”

Then Wally Lewis chimes is as well:

“It was absolutely identical [to the tackle on Korbin Sims]. He’s tried to smash his opponent. He did the best dive forward possible and it’s not a great way to promote rugby league, but he’s gone in there and timed his defensive play very poorly.”

Both these comments acknowledge the devastating high impact and yet still end up basically defending the bloke who careened in and smashed them.

Even the team who lost the player appear loathe to call out the recklessness and demand action. Darius Boyd was very reserved in his comments on the matter.

“I don’t want to comment on it too much, but he’s an aggressive player. It probably has something to do with his technique, definitely. It doesn’t happen by chance a couple of times. It’s probably something he needs to look at,” said Boyd.

Even the bloke Napa smashed, Andrew McCullough, came out on twitter in support of his Origin teammate.

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Quality bloke or not, the incidents – Napa’s tackling style – can’t go unaddressed.

Andrew Johns was of the opinion that the Match Review Committee had shown their hand in Round 11 and that the hit would again not garner a charge.

However, the MRC – very likely at the instruction of the CEO given his previously stated sentiments – have charged Napa with a Grade 3 dangerous contact charge that will see him out for three weeks with an early plea. While I still think this penalty isn’t quite enough, it’s a step in the right direction.

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After all, just because it is an accident, doesn’t mean it wasn’t reckless.

And recklessness shouldn’t have a place in our game.

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