Storm & Sharks on the slide
Everyone was talking about the Storm and Sharks before Origin, now with the hapless Eels and Raiders now making light work of them, are they on the slide. Melbourne have now lost 4 in a row, unknown territory for the club and don't look like improving and the Sharks are now very soft in defence for a team that likes its hard image. Melbourne are the bigger talking point though. With no Slater they are only one man down but it shows how reliant they are on his attacking play. I also think Cam Smith might be in trouble if they start scrutinising his leg work in tackles, the sort of grub acts that Melbourne are becoming the specialists for. And the Sharks really look lost without Gallen and Carney has taking his out of form kicking and attack with him back from origin. Watch both these sides slide down the eight.
The Shoulder Charge
This issue has been boiling away all season and now hits the headlines again after Inglis put on what could also be called the hit of the season. The only problem with the debate is how it changes week to week. First case in question was the hit Frank Pritchard was suspended for and the debate was split but a lot in the game called for common sense and were appalled at the suspension handed out. After a few more round when Ben Te'o was suspended for an identical hit, the debate was split but the majority said the suspension was justified. Then you have the game where Wade Graham flattened Josh Hoffman twice and later Beale in quick succession with identical hits and it went unscathed and no talk really eventuated in the media for the tackles. Now the situation is at boiling point after Greg Inlgis sent Dean Young from the field in a neck brace. Do we have a situation where the officials are only reacting to the severity of the injury or are they just playing lucky dip with the outcome? I have no doubt that Greg Inglis will get suspended but my problem then falls back to why Wade Graham was not rubbed out for the same style hit twice in one game on the same player. Also this same player was cleaned up in the same manner by Inglis and no penalty was forthcoming. The other dangerous concern for the game is the in balance of on-field penalty. I have heard a statistics before yesterdays games of over 30 players having to leave the field and not return due to concussion but only 2 players being sent off for dangerous contact. If the game wants to send a message and get tough on high contact then the penalty on the field needs to be harsher than just a penalty and being placed on report.
Frank Pritchard - 1 week
Ben Te'o - 2 weeks
Wade Graham - No case to answer
Greg Inglis - ??
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