This season the most common reason for a charge by the match review panel has been for dangerous contact.
At first this was mainly down to late hits on passers and kickers and causing flexion to the head, neck and spine.
However, there was a pivot towards hip drop tackles recently.
Despite this being the common cause for charges, they don’t always lead to bans.
This week five players have been charged for late hits. Three were Grade A and not punished. Tom Holroyd was fined for a Grade B hit and Liam Watts was banned for one game perhaps due to his prior record.
Nathan Wildie’s ban for dangerous contact was due to posing an unacceptable risk to limbs.
Bureta Faraimo – Grade A – No Punishment – Late hit
Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.
Tom Holroyd – Grade B – £250 Fine – Late hit
Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.
Nathan Peats – Grade A – No Punishment – Late hit
Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.
Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player
Liam Watts – Grade B – One Match Ban – Late Hit
Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player
Nathan Wildie – Grade B – One Match Ban – Risk to limbs
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.
