Penrith reportedly “fuming” over ‘dangerous as hell’ tackle by St Helens

Yesterday, Serious About Rugby League confirmed that the RFL would not be taking any action against St Helens’ prop Agnatius Paasi after his tackle on Taylan May ended the winger’s season.

Now the NRL have confirmed the same with an explanation given by Luke Patten of the competition.

“Firstly, the initial point of contact by Paasi was high on May’s hip/upper thigh,” Patten told the The Sydney Morning Herald in a statement.

“For a tackle to be considered dangerous and spearing at the legs, the Match Review Committee must see forceful contact at or around the knee of the attacking player.

“Paasi also drops to his knees at the point of contact, which we encourage players to do, and did not drop his body weight onto the back of May’s lower legs. This is one of the key indicators that we would look for in a hip drop tackle.”

This will be little consolation to Penrith fans who were up in arms about the tackle describing it as “illegal” and deserving of “a 10 week ban.”

A direct result of foul play, a season ending injury, and yet it appears @Saints1890 Ignatius Paasi gets off without punishment. What is the point of making that tackle illegal if there's no punishment? https://t.co/IGw6eXIjXD

— Matt Pritchard (@MattPNBL) February 20, 2023

No matter who the player, this is just bad to see. Unsure how judiciary works for the #WCC but the @NRL need to bring in a mandatory 10 week suspension for any player who is found guilty of a cannonball tackle. The game is tough enough without that crap in the game.

— Bags of fun (@doineed2dothis) February 20, 2023

Now according to the Daily Telegraph, the Panthers themselves are “fuming” and the Australian publication remarked “they should be.”

They even went on to as the tackle type “sure as hell is dangerous.”

They stated:

“The third-man-in tackles might not be illegal but it sure as hell is dangerous, and it’s time the NRL re-examines its approach and for referees to penalise suspect-looking incidents.”