Following the news that Castleford Tigers’ Sylvester Namo has been handed a Grade F Dangerous Contact charge, footage has emerged of the incident in question, leaving fans confused.
In the Tigers’ embarrassing 60-6 home defeat to Wigan Warriors, the incident wasn’t penalised with a card at the time, although the Match Review Panel had other ideas.
As this is the Papua New Guinea international’s first offence, the ban could be 6 games or more, or a suspension set at a specific period of time.
The Match Review Panel minutes say: “Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.”
This has been referred to a tribunal, which many expect to have a lenient view.
Footage of the incident can be seen below:
— The COYFCast (@COYFCast) April 15, 2024
Castleford Tigers fans react
Credit: Imago Images
The footage caused a stir with fans on X, formerly Twitter, with many confused as to how what seemed to be an innocuous challenge could be deemed as high as a Grade F charge.
As has been the case often this season, the feeling amongst fans has been that decisions are made with little regard for the way the sport is played:
Isa is driving his legs forward. What is he meant to do? Stand and watch. You see it every week with 3/4 players in tackle and one diving in at the legs. We even had one in this game from Wigan. Nada.
Isa also twists his own foot before he’s hit, so sadly the impact causes it
— Mark F (@Pleyndamour) April 15, 2024
It may be fair to say that this kind of tackle is made all the time in games – and many question whether it would have even been cited if Isa didn’t end up injured.
Classic MRP behaviour in judging incidents on the outcome rather than the action. If Isa doesn’t get injured then that tackle doesn’t get cited even as a grade A/B IMO. Attacker is still moving forwards therefore entitled to enter the tackle, not gone at the lower leg.
— Daniel Mcnab (@DanMcNab92) April 15, 2024
Yet another long ban issued because of an injury rather than the actual tackle. Was it worthy of a game or two, sure, but they seem to like making an example of us so I’m sure it’ll be something ridiculous like 6. Oh, and it was against Wigan 🙄
— Bradley Smith (@BradleyPSmith33) April 15, 2024
In addition, images here show that the tackle may not even have caused Willie Isa’s injury at all – which it potentially being sustained before his contact.
Terrible injury, but not convinced it’s anything other than an unfortunate accident.
Namo makes contact legally and you can see Isa’s injury occurs because it’s trapped in the ground on contact. pic.twitter.com/m17ctmMqBw— Steve McNichol (@casrugbyshirts) April 15, 2024
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