LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Cooper Cronk has called for a rule change in the NRL regarding head-high tackles, a sentiment echoed by fans questioning the fairness of recent incidents, particularly involving Stephen Crichton. During a match where the Tigers triumphed over the Bulldogs 28-14, Crichton collided with Taylan May, leaving the latter concussed and sidelined for 11 days due to a category one HIA.
The match faced scrutiny when Crichton used his shoulder to hit a falling May. At the time, Tigers player Alex Seyfarth was already in the sin bin for a similar high-contact incident. Tigers supporters and coach Benji Marshall anticipated that Crichton would also receive a penalty, possibly 10 minutes in the bin, for the dangerous tackle that caused May's injury.
Despite public outcry, the Bunker determined that wet conditions contributed to the collision, leading to Crichton only being put on report and the Tigers receiving a penalty-rather than an equivalent consequence for Crichton. NRL commentator Warren Smith pointed out that this ruling exemplifies one of the sport's "anomalies."
Cronk emphasized the need for change, highlighting the disparity: "Taylan May gone from the field, but Stephen Crichton stays on." His commentary caught the attention of fans, who shared mixed feelings about the inconsistency in applying rules involving mitigating circumstances. Many suggested that if a player is removed for category one incidents, the player responsible for the head contact should face equal penalty.