Clubs on notice: NRL email reveals fresh crackdown
After a slew of charges and worrying acts that occurred throughout the first 20 rounds of the season, the National Rugby League (NRL) has issued an official warning to both clubs and players regarding the usage of "bumpers."
This season, the number of occurrences in which the player in control of the ball led with their forearm and made unsafe contact with an opponent's head or neck has skyrocketed, as illustrated in an email given to clubs by NRL head of football Graham Annesley on Wednesday.
"Match review data from the 2023 Telstra Premiership has shown a concerning trend of players in possession of the ball leading with their forearms and making dangerous contact with the head or neck of defenders," wrote Annesley.
To date in 2023, the match review committee has investigated 53 cases of this kind, leading to 7 charges and 7 worrying act notices. This is a huge rise from recent seasons.
Clearly, the chance of harmful contact to the head or neck at the point of collision is greatly increased when attacking players raise and extend a forearm as they approach defenders.
Following the incident that cost Wests Tigers and New South Wales hooker Api Koroisau his jaw and forced him to miss the Origin series, Gold Coast forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has become a spokesman for the use of bumpers this season.
The match review committee absolved Fa'asuamaleaui of blame in the Koroisau incident but found him guilty of misconduct in the identical incident involving Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney, for which he was fined.
Parramatta winger Maika Sivo, who caught Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako last month and was penalised $2,000, is rumored to be in the NRL's sights as well.
After an altercation the previous Saturday that required Manly hooker Lachlan Croker to leave the field for an HIA, Storm forward Aaron Pene was fined $1,000.
Annesley reemphasized the importance of the email as a wake-up call to players and teams.
Annesley emphasised that the information provided to teams was solely proactive and based on data gathered throughout the season.
Clubs can quickly remedy the situation by providing more coaching as needed.
Nobody wants to see punishments for offenders or injuries to defenders have an effect on clubs.
As a result, "I'm sure clubs appreciate the opportunity to address the issue internally to avoid it impacting them on the field."
Annesley warned clubs that defenders and attackers alike must follow the regulations and refrain from making needless, violent contact to the head and neck area of their opponent.
If an attacking player "extends the ball carrying arm, or the non-ball carrying arm, away from the body, resulting in dangerous contact with the head or neck of a defending player," Annesley said, "action may be taken by match officials or the match review committee."
Bracing for the impact of a tackle with the forearm is allowed, but only if the forearm remains close to the body and neither arm is raised or extended.
When making harmful contact with an opponent while lifting and/or extending the forearm away from the body, "the risk of conceding a penalty, being placed on report, sin-binned, sent-off, or suspended, depending on the seriousness, is significantly increased."