He will get off because he is:
A) Billy Slater
B) Plays for Melbourne Storm
C) Legend within his era
D) Playing his final game in his last season. Would be cruel to rub him off a GF because of a stupid mistake.
I don't have a problem with that, as long as the same rule is applied across the board. Let's face it, if that was an unheralded young player he would have been suspended without the thought of blinking an eyelid.
The game already gave Slater a charity retirement present by making him SOO player of the series, and they will just add to that.
Cameron Smith will be frothing at how many favours the refs and NRL will be giving him in his final year.
Yep I agree. But they need to change the interpretation from a side on barge off the ball which is very different to a front on shoulder charge. Every time players are jostling shoulder to shoulder and one goes down, is that a shoulder chagre? They have shown PLENTY of examples of the same side on barge off the ball this year that didnt get put on report so he has plenty of ammo to take it to court should it be upheld. That one on
Fusitua was mean as but I dont have a problem with it. Especally if players are using there body as a jostle.
Its the front on no arms hitting the trapezius that is the issue and why it was bought in, because people would do a Napa and go to high with it without using a tackle motion (which either was is a head high). you can still put on the same hit as before if you time it right.
but jostling sideline balls, side on shoulder using the deltoid to me is just part and passel of defending the edge,