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Opinion

Does Dylan Brown deserve a lengthy stint on the sidelines?

Roar Pro
7th May, 2021
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Roar Pro
7th May, 2021
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Over the past two or three weeks, the NRL have really started to crack down on accidental or intentional high tackles and I totally agree with it.

But I need to express my opinion after watching the Roosters and Eels game.

I understand that this was not a high tackle but Roosters five-eighth Drew Hutchison was in the action of scoring a try against the Eels and during his dive to the line, Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown came in with the knees and made heavy contact with Hutchison.

No on-field action was taken, which meant that the Roosters couldn’t swap Hutchison off with a free interchange. The Bunker – with all of its camera angles – couldn’t find anything wrong with Brown’s contact but we later found out that Hutchison suffered a broken rib and punctured lung.

During halftime, Hutchison was escorted to hospital. I hope he is okay but the alarming part of all this was that Brown was not sent off or sin binned. Rather he was put on report when both teams were running out for the second half.

Dylan Brown of the Eels passes the ball

(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

So it took the Bunker and the officials 20-30 minutes to figure out that it was illegal contact and very dangerous contact yet it was only a reportable offence, which is very unprofessional.

Now I’m going to explain why I mentioned the NRL cracking down on the high tackles.

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Two weeks ago Josh Curran was sin binned for very minimal contact to the head of Melbourne Storm winger George Jennings, which was put on report and Curran had a ten-minute rest. Now if that gets sin binned, then how is Brown’s illegal contact on Hutchison not a sin bin?

The NRL needs to hand Brown a lengthy suspension but unfortunately the NRL won’t give him a long suspension at all. That’s because the NRL judiciary in its current state cannot come to an agreement on suspensions and fines, so who knows what will happen.

Too many players are being put on report. For example, Roosters forward Siosiua Taukeiaho was put on report against the Eels for once again very minimal contact.

I understand the NRL is intent on cracking down on contact with the head and it may never be perfect, but during the off-season they need to sit down with all officials and the judges in the judiciary and sort out what is a reportable offence and what should be a sin bin or send off and what shouldn’t.

Hopefully we get to see Drew Hutchison back playing in the NRL as soon as possible. The Roosters’ injury list continues to grow.

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