The confusion surrounding the NRL’s policing of the controversial hip drop deal with hasn’t been restricted to the followers, with two veterans additionally scratching their heads.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo each weighed in on the matter on Saturday, with Yeo stating the “refs don’t even know”.
Reynolds’ halves associate Ezra Mam was sin-binned for a hip drop deal with throughout his facet’s conflict with the Eels in Darwin, receiving every week ban from the match evaluation committee.
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Eels backrower J’maine Hopgood was additionally sin-binned however escaped a cost while Broncos star Payne Hass wasn’t despatched for ten minutes for his ugly deal with on Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
But like Mam, he was subsequently charged and handed a one week ban if he takes the early responsible plea.
Reynolds defined “accidents are going to happen” and that within the warmth of the battle “players aren’t going to get it right all the time”.
“Anytime they send it upstairs you think the player is going to go to the bin,” Reynolds advised Triple M.
“There’s an overreaction on it. Sometimes attackers and defenders can get caught in awkward positions and come down funny.
“It’s not always the attacker that gets caught in awkward positions, the defender can be as well.
Broncos carve up Eels in Darwin | 03:22
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“Last night was harsh on both teams. The one from Hopgood, there was no malice in that, likewise on our side.
“There’s never any malice from any player. There’s a duty of care amongst us players to look after each other. Remember, it’s a contact sport.”
Yeo says a “common sense” strategy needs to be utilized when ruling on a hip drop and the severity of the penalty enforced.
The NSW and Australian consultant supported the argument that the introduction of the deal with might be a results of the elevated pace of the fashionable recreation.
“There’s definitely confusion. You can differentiate the ones that are definite hip drops that are causing injuries and the ones that are 50/50,” Yeo mentioned on Triple M.
“It’s the ones where the little blokes are tackling the bigger players. Last night, what is (Mam) meant to do? Let go? It’s a hard one.
“There needs to be a little more common sense. Even if you feel like it’s a hip drop and it’s one of those 50/50 ones, don’t sin bin the bloke, put him on report and make a judgment call later on. You don’t want to cruel a game of football.
“The refs don’t even know sometimes. They are sort of getting word from the bunker instead.
“I feel like it’s definitely a tackle which happens when fatigue sets in or you are being desperate. The game has sped up, there’s more fatigue so I can see how that is a point worth raising.”
Hip drop confusion reigns Darwin | 00:48
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Whilst most gamers and followers would share the opinion of Reynolds and Yeo, there’s an argument that thinks the NRL’s strict dealing with of the hip drop is a obligatory evil.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio is of that view and he believes that just like the NRL’s heavy crackdown of spear tackles and preventing in seasons previous — “the game has to wear some bruises”.
“I feel as though the game is about to go through some serious pain here to get to the end result, like we have in the past with spear tackles and punching,” Riccio mentioned.
“Coaches, players, fans and referees are still working out what is a clear hip drop and what isn’t a clear hip drop and what parameters do we put around this to make it never happen again.
“Well that is suspensions, which is what we have unfolding now.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au