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Slater doublethink highlights shoulder charge ban absurdity

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Roar Guru
25th September, 2018
24

As you may know, Billy Slater has been given the all clear and avoided suspension. He is going to retire after the grand final. Whether or not it will be in a blaze of glory remains to be seen.

I’m not going to act like a ‘Slater hater’ because truth be told, I’m not. He revolutionised the fullback role like no other and when he retires, he’ll be my dream team custodian. I personally believe he did it and yes he had his hands up but he could have wrapped his arms around Sosaia Feki.

However, this isn’t intent on just talking about Billy Slater.

This is more so to talk about the shoulder charge ban. The controversial decision to rule it out began in 2013 and many to this day still question it. Do I agree with it? Not at all.

Now this will begin a cycle. In any situation a player is about to score a try, an opposing player will then use the shoulder charge to stop it. Put on report and at the judiciary “Billy Slater did it and he didn’t get suspended.”

That will become a problem and we all know that saying about how every problem has a solution. That’s completely correct as I have the solution. Remove the ridiculous ban on the shoulder charge once and for all.

I get it not everyone is a fan of it and player safety is important but let’s make it simple, a shoulder charge is fine but if you hit someone in the head, a send off no questions asked.

See? That was simple, understandable and straightforward.

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This leaves us with two questions.

1) Should use of the shoulder charge be reinstated? Yes
2) Should Billy Slater ended up getting suspended? Yes.

I’ve had my say so now it’s your turn my fellow Roarers. What do you think? Also, feel free to answer the two questions above before.

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