I will be the first to admit, I do not possess the same level of rugby league knowledge as Ricky Stuart.
I never played or coached at the highest level, and I bow to both his incredible achievements, and his depth of understanding of the game.
But I have been watching rugby league for a while – in fact my love of the game began around the same time Ricky switched over from the 15-a-side code – so I think it could be said that, while not at the Stuart level, I do know a little bit about it.
Which is why I have to sadly take issue with the Canberra coach’s declaration that “whoever thinks it’s a spear tackle does not know the game of rugby league”.
Because Ricky: it was a spear tackle.
Let me be perfectly clear: I don’t say it was a spear tackle because I think Nick Cotric intended to seriously injure Tim Lafai. I don’t say it was a spear tackle because I think it was in any way intentional. And I certainly don’t say it was a spear tackle because I think Nick Cotric is a dirty or malicious player.
I say it was a spear tackle because it was a spear tackle: Cotric lifted Lafai, turned him upside down, and dumped him on his head. That’s a spear tackle to me, and it has been since those glory days of the Eighties when both Ricky Stuart and I were new to the game.
Nick Cotric was sent off for this tackle on Tim Lafai. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
But whether you call it a spear tackle isn’t really the point. Whatever terminology you want to use, to tackle someone like that is horribly, terrifyingly dangerous, and the aim of everyone involved with rugby league should be to get to the point where those tackles never happen at all, accidentally or not.
And that’s why referees have to be willing to send players off, and that’s why Nick Cotric needed to be sent off.
I’m going to say again here, this is not because I think Nick Cotric is a bad guy. The most tiresome thing about any controversy regarding foul play, send-offs and suspensions is that whenever a player commits a dangerous act on the field and is rightly called out for it, an army of apologists will rush to his defence, claiming he’s not a dirty player, that foul play isn’t in his game, that he’s a great bloke and does wonderful work for charity and so on.
It’s irritating that this keeps happening, because all that doesn’t matter. To say that a player is guilty of a dangerous tackle is not to say he’s a terrible person. It’s not even to say that he’s an on-field thug.
Good men and clean players have always, on occasion, committed unfortunate deeds on the field, whether by bad luck, bad timing or a rush of blood. The fact they did wrong doesn’t stain their entire character, but neither does their good character excuse them from the consequences of their actions.
In this case, the consequences of Cotric’s actions were a send-off and a three-week suspension, and he’s lucky not to get six.
We know exactly how tackles like Cotric’s can turn out. The dreadful case of Alex MacKinnon is our stark reminder of it. We know that a man can be paralysed for life on the footy field. A man could even die.
We know, too, that other kinds of tackles carry frightening potential consequences. If the sight of players staggering around near-senseless after copping a blow to the head isn’t enough to convince you, the news that the late great Steve Folkes was suffering CTE when he passed away should be.
Rugby league is a dangerous game, a game of violent collisions, but it doesn’t have to be a game of life-altering head and spinal injuries, or a game of reckless disregard for players’ welfare.
That’s why, ideally, we wouldn’t just see the send-off return as an option for referees: we’d see instant dismissal for anyone who attacked the head with a swinging arm or forearm, and anyone who lifted a ball-carrier past the horizontal.
Nick Cotric of the Raiders. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The risks are that serious, and the remedy is that necessary. If players know they’ll spend the rest of the game in the dressing room if they insist on tackling a player such that his feet end up above his head, or swinging their arms around their opponents’ heads, then maybe they’ll stop sailing close to the wind.
If coaches know they’ll be down a man, maybe they’ll issue strict instructions to their men: stay away from the head, and don’t even think about lifting tackles.
It was a spear tackle, Ricky, and the reason your man had to go wasn’t that he’s a bad bloke: it’s that the stakes are too high to let that kind of thing continue.
CoastalRaider
Roar Rookie
Unashamed raiders fan here, but thought I should throw my 2 cents in. This was a dangerous throw, a tackle gone wrong, the player was put past the horizontal put in an exceptionally dangerous position, a lifting tackle, and one that Cotric deserved to be penalised, and miss weeks for. At the ground I immediately through he would/should be sent, and I actually have no issues with the send off (other than the fact it was not a premeditated act to injure, and other intentional acts such as eye gouging are not receiving send offs or sin bins). I also have no issue with the 3 weeks suspension, as while while it was accidental, and a fairly obvious dominant tackle gone very wrong, it is something that needs to be heavily penalised and has no place in the game. But that doesn't make it a spear tackle, as the age old definition of a spear tackle has intent to lift, turn and drive the player into the turf. This started going wrong when Lafai attempted to step inside Cotric, and Cotric did not adjust in time. Cotrics force was headed diagonally to Lafai's left, creating the momentum to rotate Lafai in the air. Cotric is 100% to blame for this tackle, but it was not premeditated, and the fact he had released Lafai prior to contact removes the 'driving' motion associated with a genuine spear tackle. To understand why Sticky commented the way he did, you have to look deeper than the press conference, and understand that good coaches use these opportunities to shape media commentary to their benefit. He was well aware that it would be the main talking point of the match, and given situations in the past - this year even- where he had players receive punishments exceeding the norm (Hudson Young vs multiple Josh McGuire eye gouges for example) he was bracing for an exceedingly heavy MDR charge. He was getting in early, prior to punishment handouts, and getting the points across that I have mentioned above. He was essentially declaring - 'if you come down heavy on us, we have our defence ready to go, and we will challenge it'. Common sense has prevailed and a fair punishment handed out. But I can very well understand why he would position himself and the teams views this way.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Not a spear tackle ,but a careless dangerous tackle nonetheless. ,which could have been serious in term so finjury.They should never be part of the game. The sooner (and I'm repeating myself),the clubs get rid of wrestling coaches and ensure tackling is chest down, the game will be still tough, but a hell of a lot safer.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Ricky loses the plot around a half-dozen times per season. We should stop caring what he says
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
elvis they were not allowed but they did it ...it has always been considered foul play....The game was played far tougher and harder years ago in harder tougher post war years. The game has changed considerably in some ways for the better and in other ways not so.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Ricky was just trying to limit the damage and the number of weeks the judiciary would hand out. Whatever you call it it was bad. I had to turn away after a couple of replays and couldn't watch it anymore just how he landed on his neck and the consequences of it going wrong made me feel sick.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Agreed, the people who complain about the refs having a lack of consistency in there calls also use that argument to excuse indiscretions made by their players. You can't have your cake and eat it too! Consistency has to start somewhere.
Farkurnell
Guest
The Ricky rant is exactly why Refs are reluctant to send players off.Self interested coaches cast doubt over there decisions. “So n So didn’t get sent,and So n So got a lettuce leaf slap at the Judiciary,and my man’s was an accident and my man’s a choir boy compared to all those others “. Please Refs ,ignore the Ricky’s n the Gus - send players off for horror tackles!
Objective
Guest
I'm sure someone like Alex McKinnon couldn't give a rat's what it's called. There's no place in the game for a tackle like that, and the fact Stuart et al think otherwise speaks volumes about them.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Question. If people were allowed to spear tackle like that, why weren't more players injured? Were they expecting it and more likely to roll into or something?
eels47
Roar Rookie
Agreed. There is no such thing as a spear tackle in the rules, so the match review panel cannot rule it as one. They could have graded higher, but the term spear tackle should never come into it. See, not just here to pick on you lol....
Insider
Roar Rookie
Tackle was at the high level dangerous “Spear tackle” is a term that doesn’t exist, never has in any official rugby league rule book The term “spear tackle” is media owned
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
that is just your opinion I hold a different point of view to what is a "spear"tackle so we will leave it at that.
Paul
Roar Guru
exactly right Adam.
Adam
Roar Guru
I do hope that this can be a catalyst for the NRL to take a stand for the benefit of the players. But I have the feeling that it won't be. The situation for the game allowed for the send off without too much concern that it will be affecting the result. I have my doubts that this would have happened with only 20 minutes gone in the game (even though it really shouldn't come into it).
Bill
Guest
All a bit disingenuous, the tackle was dangerous, Ricky didn’t say otherwise but it’s not a spear tackle by the definition of what we all know is one, go watch some old footage from the 80s. Anyway the real issue that’s upset Ricky is the lack of consistency, Crocker cops a late dangerous high shot to the head while about to score, what happens ... just a penalty. Not saying he should have been sent off but a yellow card for that wouldn’t have been unreasonable. Also all the other dangerous and dirty play from attacking the eyes and late high hits on players - almost nothing has happened in the game no send offs and seldom even a yellow. I think you’ll find Ricky would have less to say if the NRL was consistent, but on their form their knee jerk only and that’s unlikely isn’t it. I for one hope this is a consistent new standard, and that all dangerous play is dealt with consistently the same way. I think you’ll find Ricky won’t have a problem with that either. Bill
Adam
Roar Guru
It basically came across as because he knows more about the sport than others that he can never be wrong.
Adam
Roar Guru
But both oranges and bananas are fruits. Sticky is simply playing semantics with his diatribe about it not being a spear tackle. Yeah there was not as much force as the "good" old days but gravity is still a force and he's hitting the ground like a spear - so it's a spear tackle.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
well if they want to call a banana an orange then they have not seen a spear tackle
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Mate I do not think that Ricky thought it was a good tackle by any stretch of the imagination what he and others like me including Geoff Toovey and Steve Roach are saying is that you cannot call it a spear tackle. As Blocker said it was a tackle gone wrong and was not a good look and that he should do some time for it. yes a dangerous throw which deserved what it got but do not call a banana an orange and I believe that was what Ricky was getting at....it was not a deliberate act to maim an opposing player. it was a tackle that could have injured both players therefor yes it was dangerous and that even Ricky cannot deny
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm not condoning Poppa Clay, as I too know about some of his antics. I simply saying Ricky is not keeping up with the times. He thinks because Cotric didn't do what Clay did, then it's not a spear tackle, but obviously a few thousand fans and the NRL think differently in 2019.