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.
matth
Roar Guru
Given how often coaches get the sack, they cannot be expected to be the champions of fair play and player welfare. They just won't. That's why they don't run the game.
matth
Roar Guru
Can't have a brain fade without, you know, a brain.
Kramer
Guest
The St George fan will give a St George player the benefit of the doubt. How noble of you.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think it’s started with Sims legs coming off the ground as he was unbalanced and being tipped backwards But he definitely lifted the knee as Liddle came in to make the tackle Not sure about this one but trainers are definitely manipulating the rules in bringing players off. They wait until the opposition has the ball before stopping there have so the player can come off. I don’t know that there’s much can be done about it Taking the guilty plea had more to do with the potential risk and sentence than actual innocence and guilt. Taking the plea or not Downey impact Sims integrity either way…
Tony
Roar Guru
As part of his punishment, he should have to repeatedly watch the Origin game and series he lost by not passing the ball to Brett Morris
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Tony. Another one of my analogies. The jails are full of innocent people. On that subject, Jarryd Hayne “reportedly” had his request for Foxtel to be set up on his TV declined. How else can he watch all the NRL games with just Free to Air service available? Quite a reasonable request unfairly turned down by prison authorities. Intentional sarcasm.
Paul
Guest
How is a shoulder charge hit by a defender ,just about an automatic suspension . However, a deliberate knee to an opponents head is just a fine? Even a swinging arm doesn’t seem worse than kneeing someone in the head.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Andrew, I think you've made a connection that I'm not sure exists. You've noted that Sims has said he "doesn't deliberately attack the head of opposition players". The fact that he's now been charged with a Grade 1 dangerous contact charge, doesn't change that view he has of himself. Only he can know whether he deliberately tried to knee Liddle and if he says he didn't, I'm happy to take him at his word. I don't see any evidence that suggests he's not telling the truth, so accepting an early plea and keeping a few hundred bucks in his pocket makes sense to me. It also means IMO, his self-styled reputation as a hard but clean player is also intact.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I don’t think Sims is that coordinated to have two players on him, bending and lifting him, going backwards and then be able to crack an incoming player with a knee whilst balancing on one leg. Someone at MRC is a martial arts fan.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Sure, I was more concerned about Sims’s hypocrisy, stating publicly he never intentionally attacks players heads then 2 days later he kicks Liddle in the head. Perhaps it was an accident? Hope he fights it, let the judiciary decide.
Tony
Roar Guru
John......I think it's when your memory gets a bit hazy :happy:
Andrew
Roar Pro
A brain fade is stating publicly that you never intentionally attack an opposing players head, then go out and intentionally kick an opposing player in the head. Brain fade.
Nat
Roar Guru
He says to the MRC for the 5th time...
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Good morning Tony. I need somebody to explain to me exactly what “a brain fade” is. My memory may be a bit hazy however I don’t recall the term being used when I was younger. Although if it was, I somehow think it wouldn’t have been accepted as a last line of defence prior to my teacher or father dealing out their respective forms of “punishment”. Teachers back then would have said to the students “You don’t have a brain capable of fading. Put out your hand”. You would then be the lucky recipient of between 1 & 6 “cuts” dependent upon the misdemeanour. The world is a different place nowadays.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
nothing wrong here
Tony
Roar Guru
Sims would never do anything contrary to either the rules or spirit of the game. End of story.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Can of Worms here mate. He’ll probably wait till Gus’s Monday Night Rant then make a decision.
Paul
Guest
I don’t know what incident you were watching? Sims was looking straight at Liddle when he deliberately lifted his knee , to knee Liddle in the head. You have to be a St.George supporter to not see it just as it was. Either that or completely blind. No, I’m not a Tigers supporter either. The trainer coming out to check their player was well merited.
Tony
Roar Guru
But he's certainly not Robinson Crusoe
Andrew
Roar Pro
The crackdown is meant to be all about player welfare, unfortunate this wasn’t on display from the Tigers. But what else would you expect? Coaches are looking for every advantage they can find but I thought this incident was a cynical abuse of the rules.