The confusion surrounding the NRL’s policing of the controversial hip drop tackle hasn’t been limited to the fans, with two veterans also scratching their heads.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo both weighed in on the matter on Saturday, with Yeo stating the “refs don’t even know”.
Reynolds’ halves partner Ezra Mam was sin-binned for a hip drop tackle during his side’s clash with the Eels in Darwin, receiving a week ban from the match review committee.
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Eels backrower J’maine Hopgood was also sin-binned but escaped a charge whilst Broncos star Payne Hass wasn’t sent for ten minutes for his ugly tackle on Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
But like Mam, he was subsequently charged and handed a one week ban if he takes the early guilty plea.
Reynolds explained “accidents are going to happen” and that in the heat 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 told 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” approach has to be applied when ruling on a hip drop and the severity of the penalty enforced.
The NSW and Australian representative supported the argument that the introduction of the tackle could be a result of the increased speed of the modern game.
“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 said 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 players and fans would share the opinion of Reynolds and Yeo, there’s an argument that thinks the NRL’s strict handling of the hip drop is a necessary evil.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio is of that view and he believes that like the NRL’s heavy crackdown of spear tackles and fighting in seasons past — “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 said.
“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.”
