Graham Annesley has fiercely defended the suggestion his referees are “wimping out” on making big decisions and denied a crackdown is taking place amid a spate of hip-drop tackles.
The NRL head of football admitted the numbers are “trending in the wrong direction” for hip-drop tackles but put the onus on clubs to get it out of the game.
Annesely declared the tackle must be coached out of the game and emphasised “it’s not that complicated” for players to avoid performing it.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The Best Anzac Day Cup Moments | 04:55
There have been 14 charges for hip-drop tackles this season – with two games remaining in Round 8 – compared to 22 in all of 2022.
It means hip-drop charges are on track to double this season and more than triple compared to 2021.
Despite emphasising how simple it was to understand the tackle, Annesley defended the decision not to sin bin Broncos star Payne Haas on Friday night.
Haas wasn’t penalised for a hip-drop on Reagan Campbell-Gillard who injured his groin in the tackle and is now out for 8-12 weeks.
The Haas incident came just one minute after Brisbane No. 6 Ezra Mam was binned for a hip-drop tackle, and following Eels forward J’maine Hopgood’s binning earlier in the second half.
All three players were charged by the match review committee on Saturday, with the Broncos duo copping one-game bans and Hopgood accepted a fine.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘SPAT AT MY FACE’: Tigers facing player rift over sledging war as ugly claim revealed
TALKING POINTS: Jury out on Dogs switch as Origin question raised in star’s return
HOOPS: Moment that fanned flames of Turbo mystery as big Origin question emerges
“There is action taken by the match official based on their instantaneous assessment of what has taken place,” Annesley said.
“The match review committee can take hours to go through in great detail to determine exactly what happened.
“It’s impossible for the match official (to do the same) in literally 60 seconds.
Robbo backs Crichton in for Anzac clash | 06:03
“In an ideal world, of course, but we’re not working in an ideal environment, we’re working in the spur of the moment.”
Annesely took exception with the suggestion that Haas stayed on the field because the referees were influenced by Mam already being in the bin.
“The referees would not be making their decision based on how many players are on the field,” Annesely said.
“If it requires a player being sent to the sin bin or being sent off, referees have demonstrated over a long period of time that they will do that, they’re not going to wimp out of a decision.
“They have to make an assessment and they make that assessment to the best of their ability based on the information they have.”
TEAM TIPS: Kevvie’s suspension nightmare; brutal blow triggers Eels shootout
‘NEVER’: Robbo’s hilarious response to Walker question, opens up on shock axing
Broncos carve up Eels in Darwin | 03:22
Annesley said the NRL have been trying to stamp the tackle out for years but that players are simply doing it more in 2023.
“This has been an ongoing attempt to get this type of tackle out of the game,” Annesely said.
“In the same way the match-review committee and the NRL over decades now have attempted to rid the game of other actions that are dangerous to players.
“I’m talking about high tackles, spear tackles, punching, we don’t see off the ball incidents now as much as we used to see.
“All of these things have been effectively addressed, not necessarily completely eliminated, but we need to see the same thing happening with hip drops because at the moment all of the data is heading in the wrong direction.
“It’s not because we’re taking any closer look at these incidents, they just keep happening.
“The referees can’t send players to the sin bin if the incident doesn’t happen. There’s a difference between frustration and confusion. It’s not confusing to understand it.”
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
