The NRL judiciary has handed down heavy sanctions for Wade Graham and Jordan Rapana, after a pair of heavy hits on Saturday.
The Sharks veteran and Raiders winger were both hit with four-match suspensions for the incidents, with an early plea to reduce the sanction to three weeks on the sidelines.
Rapana controversially only conceded a penalty for a brutal shoulder charge on Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater, the winger appearing to make little effort to wrap his arms and following up with a swinging arm on the prone fullback.
The charge is Rapana’s second already in 2023, having copped a $3000 fine for a high hit on Tigers five-eighth Adam Doueihi during the trials.
Graham, meanwhile, was sent to the sin-bin for a colossal shot on Davvy Moale in the Sharks’ 27-18 loss to the Rabbitohs, which Fox League commentator Greg Alexander described as “the biggest hit I have seen for some time”.
“My god. That was one hell of a shot from Wade Graham,” Alexander added.
The incident divided the NRL world, with some fans calling for Graham to be sent off after making contact with Kaufusi’s head, while others labelled the hit fair play.
Speaking after the match, Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou took the latter stance.
“He [Graham] shot out and it’s risky now when you shoot out like that,” Demetriou said. “I don’t think there was any intent in it, though.”
Graham’s co-captain, Dale Finucane, said his fellow forward was trying to bring his team back into the contest with the hit as they trailed by eight points heading into the final stretch.
“Obviously with the type of game that it was and the points we needed to make up,” said Finucane, who was suspended for dangerous contact in similar circumstances last year.
“Wade was looking to change the momentum and cause a collision to get the ball back for us. I think any player in any team would want to be doing that.”
Cronulla second-rower Briton Nikora was charged with a grade-one shoulder charge but can accept a fine and play next week.
Sharks forward Braden Hamlin-Uele and Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt were the other players charged out of Saturday’s games, with both able to take fines.
Earlier in the round, Knights forward Adam Elliott and Storm forward Eliesa Katoa were hit with dangerous contact charges but will also only receive fines for their indiscretions.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah once you leave your feet and jump into contact it’s hard to say it’s not reckless at least and borderline intentional. You’ve made zero effort to tackle low.
Mossy
Guest
Exactly Felise Kafusi showed how it’s supposed to be done yesterday.
astro
Roar Rookie
Exactly...he leaves his feet and makes forceful contact with the head. I was actually amazed the commentators didnt say more about how reckless the tackle was!
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
OK. But the other two by the Sharks were worse. Hamlin-Uele compounded the damage and doubled down on his high shot on Cody Walker by dropping down with a forearm to the head of Walker. It was a WWE move. The only difference is that Hamlin-Uele made contact.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Wade's punishment is fine. Rapana should be getting 6 for the high shoulder and 4 for the swinging arm, then getting sent to anger management sessions. Then these thugs will have to change their behaviour.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
You internet tough guys should volunteer to have the players do it to you. It's possible to put a big hit that is 100% legal. It's time these thugs get taught how to do it.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Your opinion of trying to pull out late is unsupportable by reality. Rapana was trying to hurt him. The swinging arm to the head of a prone player should have been the second send off offence. Send him off, give him 6 weeks for the high shot and 4 for the swinging arm and you might see the end of this grubby behaviour.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
A severe one match ban and $4500 fine on the way. Yawn.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Shoulder charge to the head at pace. Ho hum. The League doesn’t care. Makes for good television. Just like the crowd liked seeing the gladiators do battle to the death in Roman times. The players today will be fighting their demons (permanent brain injuries) after they retire.
Tony
Roar Guru
Or at least give him an IQ test
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
But compare the impact between the two high shots, Red Rob. There was a LOT more force in the contact by Wade Graham and Hamlin-Uele than from Rapana. IMO Rapana tried to pull out late. The result of contact didn't fold a player backwards and negate their forward momentum.
JGK
Roar Guru
He jumped into the collision. Automatically reckless.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Wade’s was reckless. Rapana’s was (looked) intentional. Fine for Wade and 2 weeks for Rapana +fine. I’d also send Rapana to anger management sessions.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
There is a Jurbo big hit which is painful for sure but legal and exciting then there is this monstrosity.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I actually think that leaving the ground when make contact leaves you exposed to the force of the collision, even though you may be moving faster. Graham was reckless at the least but for me it depends on the first point of contact as to whether its indictable. He really put his body on the line there and if first contact was high then fair enough for him to be sanctioned. Rapana's was worse....he doubled down
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Rushing out of the line like a lunatic and then leaving the ground is dangerous in the extreme. You have zero control. I saw Jurbo race out of the line on the weekend . Bends his back and smashes the Doggies player in the ribs. The Sharks players need to watch that on repeat.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Yet all of the pre-season NRL advertising (here in SA) is predominately showing "big hits" just like Graham's. I guess if the NRL wish to stop the "big hits", they need to stop making them a focus of the game.
Rob
Guest
You leave the ground/ jump into contact it should be a send off if your contact is anywhere the head. Pretty simple stuff to officiate. Wade’s shoulders were above his opponent’s forehead. Silly stuff Wade Graham.
mushi
Roar Guru
Nah it's apparently okay because he wanted to hit someone to change the momentum of the game! Not sure I'm taking Dale into the judiciary hearing with that explanation.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Yet if you read the last couple of paragraphs - 5 players = 5 fines . Consistency is what is needed .