Jermaine McGillvary calls out “disgraceful” tackle that ended Wigan man’s season

The hip drop tackle is one that’s causing plenty of debate at the moment due to the sheer danger and likelihood of injury that it brings to the sport.

During Rivals Round we saw far too many and whilst some saw pundits question how defenders can make such quick adjustments, others were far more critical.

The most notable hip-drop tackle this weekend came on Good Friday in the Wigan Saints derby and the consequence of it has been that Wigan prop Mike Cooper is set for 9-12 months on the sideline with an ACL injury.

Not only is that a season-ending injury but it could well be a career ending injury given Cooper is 34 and will be 35 by the time next season comes around.

One man who has since come out to offer his well wishes, but also condemn the tackling style is Huddersfield Giants’ Jermaine McGillvary.

The veteran winger has been in and out of the side this season but was injured at the end of last season and he’s highlighted that the tackle was almost a carbon copy of the one that has ruled out Cooper.

McGillvary was out for six months as a result of his and he’s passionately tweeted about the need to outlaw such tackle technique.

All the best in your recovery big man @MikeCooper_18 💪🏿

Honestly these tackles need to be outlawed….absolutely disgraceful. I know the feeling too well having been on the end of one last season which left me out for more than 6months. pic.twitter.com/hMRKUkifiK

— Jermaine McGillvary (@J_mcGillvary) April 11, 2023

Having wished Cooper a speedy recovery the Huddersfield man went on a tirade about the style of tackle and the need for the game to remove it.

“Honestly these tackles need to be outlawed….absolutely disgraceful. I know the feeling too well having been on the end of one last season which left me out for more than 6months,” McGillvary tweeted.

One of the men who was charged with dangerous contact with the incident being a hip-drop tackle technique was Morgan Knowles, who heads to tribunal following a Grade D charge.

That could carry a ban of three matches whilst James Batchelor, also charged with dangerous contact having perpetrated that style of tackle, was hit with a Grade B charge and only received a one game ban.