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Opinion
Rugby league is a sport that regularly dishes up strange incidents but on Friday night we saw a particularly strange chain of events.
Right after halftime while charging the ball into the Tigers’ defence, Dragons second-rower Tariq Sims pivoted in an awkward tackle and while facing his own try line Sims looked to lift his knee and connected with Tiger hooker Jacob Liddle in the face. The contact rattled Liddle, who was stunned. Liddle passed the initial HIA check from the trainer and play moved on without further incident.
Minutes later while the Dragons were attacking the Tigers’ try line, inexplicably the Tigers trainer chose that moment to stop play and replace Liddle for an HIA.
During the pause in play as is today’s custom, I assume that the bunker checked the contract looking for foul play. No penalty was given and Sims was not placed on report.
The play was replayed a number of times during the TV coverage but the commentators couldn’t determine if the contract was deliberate or not.
When the NRL charge sheet was released on Saturday Tariq Sims has been cited with a Grade 1 Dangerous Contract (head/neck) charge. An early guilty plea will see Sims $1900 poorer or a loss at the judiciary will see $2550 go into the NRL Christmas Party fund. There won’t be a suspension or carry-over points either way.
What has made this incident even more interesting is that Sims was returning from a one-game suspension. In a video interview published midweek on the Dragons’ official website Sims made the point that while he plays the game tough he never deliberately attacks the head of opposition players.
This poses a dilemma.
If Sims accepts an early guilty plea he’s in-effect admitting he deliberately kicked Liddle in the head. Which would obviously contradict his statement that he made in the Dragons interview.
This has painted Sims into a corner. I believe Sims is obliged to defend the charge at the judiciary and prove his innocence. A loss would cost Sims an additional $650 but it would maintain his reputation.
The elephant in the room here is the gamesmanship used by the Tigers to halt the game for Liddle’s HIA when the Dragon’s where on the attack. Coach Anthony Griffin was asked about this in the post-match press conference and he refused to be drawn into a comment but he didn’t look impressed.
I think it would be very unfortunate if clubs starting using HIA replacements as a tactical ploy. Surely player welfare is the primary concern.
As a rugby league fanatic and Roar contributor I think perhaps the staff at the Tigers have a bigger case to answer than Tariq Sims.
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