Tuesday means it is time to talk team lists, news and the wider NRL as Sixties and Forty20 get set for another action packed podcast. The Tip Sheet reviews a mammoth weekend for the Eels where they clocked 6 wins and just 1 loss. Victory came at a price though with J’maine Hopgood rubbed out for the season while Jordan Samrani is expected to miss at least 6 weeks with a meniscus injury. How does Jason Ryles cover for their losses in the short term and can the Eels make any moves to bolster their back line externally?
The Western Sydney derby is on as the Eels and Panthers clash in Round 4. The show runs through Team List Tuesday and how Parramatta and Penrith shape up ahead of a cracking Saturday evening tussle.
The Brisbane Broncos are experiencing one hell of a premiership hangover as Ben Te’o walks away from the club. It comes on the back of a prolonged feud between the Broncos and Gordon Tallis and the loss of Payne Haas. What exactly is happening North of the border? Round 3 saw some interesting results and the boys offer their thoughts on the lay of the land as teams start to get separated on the ladder.
The hip drop tackle requires a lot more thought and action to reduce/remove its ugly injury outcomes. I tried to check and see if Ryan Couchman’s explanation of his technique and intent was visible or maybe just what should have been done. I think Couchman plays the game in the right spirit, he didn’t set out to damage Hopgood’s ACL, but in the time frame and physics of the tackle, it just happened. Two other St G tacklers contributed to force and body momentum/direction. Once committed, I don’t see how Couchman has the time and control to suddenly transition into an avoidance effort, particularly when 2 other blokes are also doing their thing. It seems to me hip drops need to be focussed on right up front, either completely outlawed or initial technique studied and defined then policed closely including multiple tacklers.
The bad injuries occur as a result of this and it is near impossible to suddenly think ‘geez, I’m doing a hip drop, I need to change or stop…’ I recall a couple of years back Junior got outed for a hip drop when he clearly at time of first contact swung to the side and didn’t fall on the opponents legs but they deemed it was still potentially dangerous, if that’s fair and reasonable, it should be outlawed, just remove it.