This bulls*it shoulder charge rule needs to change.

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

What the f@** are the NRL doing these days. Killing the game I say.

This stupid shoulder charge law is case in point. While I agree a rule needs to be in place to protect in certain circumstances the current one is un fit for purpose.

You have a guy usually over 100kg with ball in hand running like a scud missile (unless it's Mr plod) and the defence can't meet him head on. It's bullsh*t.

Kapow is a case in point. That collision is just as dangerous for the defender if he tries to tackle in a conventional way and gets it wrong. In a way the Kapow takle was a defensive move.

If marty had have been horizontal performing a no arm shoulder charge then that's different.

They should allow the standing straight up body check.

Come on nrl. Your screwing our game.

 

[nightster]

What the f@** are the NRL doing these days. Killing the game I say.

This stupid shoulder charge law is case in point. While I agree a rule needs to be in place to protect in certain circumstances the current one is un fit for purpose.

You have a guy usually over 100kg with ball in hand running like a scud missile (unless it's Mr plod) and the defence can't meet him head on. It's bullsh*t.

Kapow is a case in point. That collision is just as dangerous for the defender if he tries to tackle in a conventional way and gets it wrong. In a way the Kapow takle was a defensive move.

If marty had have been horizontal performing a no arm shoulder charge then that's different.

They should allow the standing straight up body check.

Come on nrl. Your screwing our game.

but you can buy the right to punch

 

[Harvies elbow]

It won't change now that concussion is front and centre but common sense needs to be, well........common !!
AFB wouldn't have broken the skin on a rice pudding with his effort and is paying a harsh penalty.
But.......
It is in general a poor choice of tackle. Hit and miss and can leave a hole. I'd prefer players didn't do it.
A good hard tackle Randall/Matai style...
Much more effective.
Look at Jorge boy last Sunday.

 

[maxta]

The other thing I thought strange....didn't look like a conventional shoulder charge....arms were spread....plus an open style angle...would have challenged that 1....anyways - is what it is - lets hope Lane turns up and plays well.....no more excuses....

 

[ManlyTragic]

Shoulder charge to the body should be fine shoulder charge above the shoulder should be illegal

 

[Andrew..]

I'm still perplexed as to why the the club didn't fight either of the charges.

 

[double hoops]

The other thing I thought strange....didn't look like a conventional shoulder charge....arms were spread....plus an open style angle...would have challenged that 1....anyways - is what it is - lets hope Lane turns up and plays well.....no more excuses....

Agree. I'm not even convinced Taupau even made contact. Jake smashed that eel from the side.

In any event, as Toovs would say, it's fish n chip paper.

It could bring this team, this club together in a way not seen in the last 2 years.

Manly have always been slow starters. Yet at our best when the chips are down, when the world is against us. And someone seems against us this week.

Not saying we will win this one. Actually we have no chance. We can't possibly have any go forward ;-)

But in long term, the NRL may have unwittingly, just done us a massive favour.

Thanks NRL.

 

[Beer buzzard]

The rules were in place prior to the game. They know the rules. All you have to do is NOT shoulder charge. Don't make excuses for the two.

 

[EagleFlys]

Look, the amount of money we are paying for Kapow and Plod, they should both just forget about shoulder charges and plod runs, and simply deck the first bastard that runs at them.... they can afford it !!!!!!!

 

[double hoops]

Was it in the 79th minute of the game when down by 8? You could say AFB lacked discipline. Nah you can't down a bloke who gives his all till the death. And it was against the Eels. AFB just hit that smelly parra even harder next time.

 

[Nordburg]

Shoulder charge to the body should be fine shoulder charge above the shoulder should be illegal

Not sure you understand the situation.What if a player has no intention of hitting a bloke above the shoulder but things go pear shape and hits him in the head?Yes,he can be suspended,but if the affected player comes out with a serious injury,which has happened many times,and the NRL haven't banned the tackle altogether,the NRL could be liable.Heres an out there idea,don't be a cat like Taupau was and tackle like Jake Trbojevic

 

[Mr Manly 007]

What really annoys me is that a Dragons player came in ( 3rd or 4th man in )with a high cheap shot and gives the Panther player (Hiku ) a broken eye socket . No Penalty : NO SUSPENSION. It's a embarrassing joke the NRL .

 

[ManlyTragic]

Not sure you understand the situation.What if a player has no intention of hitting a bloke above the shoulder but things go pear shape and hits him in the head?Yes,he can be suspended,but if the affected player comes out with a serious injury,which has happened many times,and the NRL haven't banned the tackle altogether,the NRL could be liable.Heres an out there idea,don't be a cat like Taupau was and tackle like Jake Trbojevic

Doesn't have to be a shoulder charge to go pear shaped could be simply a guy falling in a tackle and he is knocked out by a defender using his arm!- it's not about whether you use your shoulder or you arm or your knee or your leg or any other part of your body it's where you hit the attacker - it's a contact sport but you can't hit someone above the shoulder!!!!

 

[MadMarcus]

The NRL seem to have forgotten the "charge" element in their interpretation of the shoulder charge...

 

[The '47ers]

but you can buy the right to punch

From behind too!!!

 

[sheridanstand78]

We have to be about the most penalised club for shoulder charges and suspensions resulting. This is a coaching issue and the message has to get out there that shoulder charges MUST stop! I agree that its a puny rule and that other transgressions that are just as serious, players get flogged with a wet lettuce. I do agree that the NRL have to improve the judiciary process cause if tripping and punching and cheap shots are no more than fines or ignored, we have a problem!

 

[ricardo]

 

[Fluffy]

Not sure you understand the situation.What if a player has no intention of hitting a bloke above the shoulder but things go pear shape and hits him in the head?Yes,he can be suspended,but if the affected player comes out with a serious injury,which has happened many times,and the NRL haven't banned the tackle altogether,the NRL could be liable.Heres an out there idea,don't be a cat like Taupau was and tackle like Jake Trbojevic

How is that different to a conventional tackle which could end up with the same outcome? Probably easier to hit the head bouncing off the ball than a shoulder charge.

Are the NRL liable for that as well.

Why is it just concussions? What about a serious knee injury that causes chronic pain for the rest of your life? That would be liable in other industries as well.

Touch footy is the only outcome to this argument.

 

[madmax]

The rules were in place prior to the game. They know the rules. All you have to do is NOT shoulder charge. Don't make excuses for the two.

Not excusing what they did, however Taupau & AFB get suspended for a shoulder charge yet Hiku & Perret have their cheek bones fractured by swinging arms & not a word!!! You can punch & get a fine but you get suspended for a soft shoulder charge....the MRC is a joke as are the panel members!

 

[Michael Clare]

We know Marty and AFB were guilty as charged if you strictly apply the letter of the law, but as has already been pointed out - they were both harmless actions and were not intended to hurt the player being tackled. This is THE key point for me. Surely the safety of players is the real issue and the mass of injuries to knees and eye sockets etc highlights the absurdity of current rules. Stamp out all dirty play and forget this ridiculous obsession with the shoulder charge. I am utterly sick to death of seeing players lash out with their feet into players on the ground or cheap hits to the head like Raradrah's shot on Brian Kelly on Sunday which escape penalty. Shoulder charge rule as currently interpreted is a complete farce. If a player falls backwards and hits head, loses consciousness or is injured on account of one that's a different story. Tackler should be suspended. Why is common-sense so uncommon NRL!