NRL 2022: Brent Naden faces monster suspension for ‘worst tackle of year’
It was dubbed the “worst tackle of the year” and Wests Tigers centre Brent Naden has agreed to cop his medicine rather than fight the charge.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brent Naden is set to plead guilty to a grade three dangerous throw in a move that will see him suspended for four weeks.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that the Tigers centre will not contest the charge at the NRL judiciary and will enter a guilty plea before 12pm on Tuesday.
Naden sensationally became the first Tigers to be sent off in 20 years when he upended Jake Trbojevic in a tackle that saw the Manly forward land on his head.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.
Playing in just his third match for the Tigers after quitting the Bulldogs last month, Naden apologised to Trbojevic before being marched from the field.
Naden also made a trip to the Manly sheds to issue another apology after full-time.
Naden was the fourth player to be sent off this year with Mitchell Barnett, Will Kennedy, and Karl Lawton also sent from the field.
THE WORST TACKLE OF THE YEAR
Wests Tigers outside back Brent Naden is facing up to five games on the sideline for his ugly lifting tackle on Manly’s Jake Trbojevic at the weekend.
Naden was charged with a grade three dangerous throw by the match review committee on Monday morning and will have until Tuesday to enter a plea.
Naden has only played three games for the Tigers since a mid-season move from Canterbury and he now faces at least a month on the sidelines after being sent off — he will receive four matches with an early guilty plea and five if he fights the charge and loses.
Naden was dismissed in the 64th minute after lifting Trbojevic into an awkward position during his side’s 30-4 defeat at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
MATCH REPORT: NODDY’S TOUGH INITIATION
— Adam Lucius
Welcome to the joys of NRL coaching, Noddy.
Brett Kimmorley’s dream of becoming a career coach turned into a first-up nightmare after his 12-man Wests Tigers were thrashed 30-4 by Manly at a frigid Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
The Tigers trailed by two at the break but were blown away in the second half as ill-discipline and poor defence conspired to bring about a major collapse.
The home side finished a player down after centre Brent Naden became the first Tiger sent off in 20 years following an ugly lifting tackle on Jake Trbojevic 15 minutes from fulltime.
Naden, who took a heavy knock in the first half but returned after passing his HIA, faces a lengthy suspension.
It was not the way the joint venture club planned to start the first game of the post-Michael Maguire era.
“We’re in a very difficult time as a club and we’re not going to become one of the top sides straightaway,” Kimmorley said.
“There’s no quick fix in this. We made some poor choices which were the easier choices.
“You get burned pretty quickly in this game if you don’t turn up and do your role.”
Naden sent off!😳
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) June 12, 2022
📺 Watch #NRLTigersManly on ch. 502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/pURKzgY0ZC
âœï¸ BLOG https://t.co/R6x3ikpOWz
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/ESlzxws6jSpic.twitter.com/pVQoCILJ34
The Tigers began with plenty of intent, energy and enterprise on members’ appreciation day and were right in the fight after 40 minutes.
Those fans would have appreciated a much-needed two points more than anything, but instead watched as their team fell well short in the second half to remain anchored in the bottom four.
Manly’s rising star Haumole Olakau’atu was the difference between the two sides, scoring a try, running 162m for three line breaks and coming up with an important steal early in the second half.
His stand-out performance has him being talked up as a possible inclusion in Brad Fittler’s NSW side for Origin II.
Kimmorley only took the reins on Tuesday following Maguire’s exit, immediately declaring his intention to lock in a fulltime gig.
He started the day smiling and joking but ended it looking 10 years’ older after a typically wild ride with this rocks or diamonds Tigers side.
It was not the start Kimmorley was after as he began a 12-week audition to prove he has what it takes to coach at this level.
“I’m not sure what the next 12 weeks will throw up but hopefully a career (at the end of it),” he said.
“Hopefully I get to do this forever. It’s been a goal and a dream of mine.”
There were 446 games’ experience between Kimmorley and Manly boss Des Hasler heading into the match, but it was the rookie who looked to have enjoyed the dream start after just 13 minutes.
Naden juggled a pass and reached out to touch down only for replays to confirm the centre dropped the ball centimetres from the turf, much to the new coach’s frustration.
It proved a costly miss for the home side.
The Sea Eagles marched upfield and opened the scoring through prop Josh Aloiai, the former Tiger strolling some poor marker defence after accepting a smart inside ball from Trbojevic.
Running into a stiff breeze, the Tigers were the better side but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.
That changed five minutes before the break when a Joe Ofahengaue offload created space to the left for Luke Garner to cross.
The Tigers trailed 6-4 at the break but Kimmorley’s first half-time speech failed to provide the impetus for what would have been a memorable victory.
Four second half tries, including a scorching 55m effort from Tolu Koula’s for his first NRL try, enabled the Sea Eagles to cruise to a solid win.
“I thought it was one of our better wins of the year. It was a really tough game of footy for us and I was proud of the way the boys went about it,” Hasler said.
“It was an important two points for us.”
OLAKAU’ATU STATES HIS CASE
Haumole Olakau’atu may have a big decision to make this time next week.
The Sea Eagles backrower’s damaging performance could not have failed to impress Brad Fittler as the Blues boss considers changes to his side for Origin II on June 26.
Olakau’atu is certain to be chosen in the Tongan team for the Test against New Zealand on the same weekend and could be forced to choose between state and country.
It’s a matter of when, not if, the 23-year-old is called on by Fittler.
Trbojevic did his chances of an immediate Origin recall no harm with a typically busy performance in a side missing superstar brother Tom and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
NOD OF APPROVAL: KIMMORLEY’S PLAN TO LIFT TIGERS
—David Riccio
Father one day, NRL coach the next.
Interim Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley has revealed how he couldn’t accept the huge task of leading the embattled NRL club until he had approval from his loving daughters.
Incredibly close and protective of his four girls following the passing of his wife Sharnie to cancer in 2017, Kimmorley phoned his daughters to discuss taking on the demanding job.
In a promotion from his role as general manager of the Wests Tigers elite pathways program, Kimmorley was asked just before lunch last Tuesday if he would take over coaching the NRL team for the remainder of the season after the 15th-placed club decided to terminate the contract of Michael Maguire.
The rugby league champion had no more than a few hours to make a call on accepting the interim role.
THE DAUGHTERS
He urgently phoned his partner Lauren to meet for a coffee, where he also called his daughters.
“It was midmorning Tuesday that Tim Sheens (Wests Tigers GM of football) called me into his office and asked if I was interested,’’ Kimmorley said. “It moved quickly.
“I was having a coffee with Lauren and the Tigers needed to know if I was interested pretty quickly.
“I rang the two big girls (Maddie, 21 and Mia, 19) to get their thoughts. Ava (15) was at school, so I could only ask her quickly. Ivy (11) is happy when everyone is happy.
“The big two (Maddie and Mia) help with pick-up and drop-offs at school and sport, so I needed them to understand that things are about to get busy.
“Lauren asked me if I wanted to do it? And Mia said, isn’t this something you’ve always wanted to do? Which it has been.
“Lauren and Mia said, go and do it.’’
THE MUM
Kimmorley will lead the Wests Tigers for the first time as coach, against Manly at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
The 45-year-old said Sharnie would be proud of him and that his support crew of women would be cheering him to victory.
“I think I am the family person that I have turned into because I had too, because Sharnie was an amazing mother,’’ Kimmorley said. “For a number of years, I was on my own, being both mum and dad, making sure what Sharnie had created, continued to be created and I now have an amazing partner, who the girls share many experiences with.
“Sharnie would be proud of me, I know that.
“My partner has been amazing, to come into what she came into, has been incredible.
“And now, for her to say, you can go and be a full-time coach, where the calendar gets owned by rugby league, it’s special. That’s why I needed to have that coffee and quick chat with the girls. They will be there at the game, they are all football tragics.’’
THE APPRENTICESHIP
Kimmorley has steadily progressed his coaching experience.
He retired from the NRL in 2010 and immediately became the halves coach with Canterbury in 2011, before moving to Canberra for two years as an assistant coach in 2012.
He then joined the Wests Tigers as Holden Cup under-20s coach in 2015. He was the NSW City under-18’s coach in 2020 and NSW under-20s coach in 2021 and finally this year, the Tigers Harvey Norman women’s coach.
“If I had tried to chase it when I first retired when I went to Canberra as an assistant coach, I think I knew nothing compared to what I feel now,” Kimmorley said.
“Then I’ve had to manage life and business and I’ve grown as a person.’’
THE MESSAGE
On Sunday, he will stand in the middle of the home-team dressing room at Campbelltown Stadium with 17 Tigers players circled in front of him hanging onto his final word. Outside, a 10th-placed Manly side that has won just one away game all season awaits the Tigers.
“I want the team not to be just a team, I want the club to be a club,” Kimmorley said. “We need to buy-in as a club, from the football department to the marketing team and executives.
“This is a proud club, with people who go to work every day busting their gut. I see how hard our staff are working and if we’re all pulling together, we will get there together.
“If we’re going to go and train, then let’s train hard.
“Why do we come to work, if it’s half-hearted?
“That’s the way I played. I wanted to have a dig every time.
“If you want to be here, then let’s rip in and see how good we can be.’’
THE AMBITION
An NRL head coaching gig has long been a career ambition for Kimmorley, however he just didn’t know when he would get a taste.
“This is such a great opportunity,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the first few days.
“I went to bed on Tuesday night thinking I’ve got a 12-week free shot at the stumps.
“By lunchtime Wednesday and after training with the staff and players, I feel like I want to try and do this for as long as I can.”
THE ADVICE
A dose of Wayne Bennett wisdom and an ambition to unify the entire Wests Tigers club has Brett Kimmorley driven to remain as coach for as long as he can.
The former premiership and World Cup-winning halfback says he has a plan to blood some of the club’s best young talent in coming weeks, but for now, his philosophy is simple — born out of a few choice words from Bennett.
“I was at a presentation at Wynnum-Manly (in Brisbane) earlier this year that Wayne was speaking at and the big thing I took out of that was, us as coaches have to make the environment fun,” Kimmorley said.
“Wayne reminded me that any footy team that I’ve had success at, we had fun together.
“Yes, we will have ups and downs, but enjoying your life, as well as your job, will always bring out the best in individuals.”
THE PLAYERS
Kimmorley met with the Wests Tigers leadership group earlier this week.
He has played or coached at eight NRL or Super League clubs throughout his career, so he knows the feeling of dead-air inside a player meeting.
“I must say, I had a great meeting with the senior players on Wednesday,” Kimmorley said.
“I thought they were really responsive. Some of our players will have a great relationship with Madge (Maguire) and I understand that.
“The greatest coach I had was Chris Anderson and that never changed wherever I went.
“Their respect for Madge should never change.
“Madge would want them to rip in for their teammates also and I saw that when we had a great training session on Thursday night.”
THE FUTURE
Win or lose on Sunday, Kimmorley sees a bright future for Wests Tigers.
“Our CEO Justin (Pascoe) took me through the centre of excellence the other day and it was mind-blowing how good that’s going to be,’’ Kimmorley said.
“To see that as our home headquarters in a few weeks time, that should be so exciting for everyone. I know the pathways system, I know our juniors that we have invested in.
“We want to get our top two sides (NRL and NSW Cup) playing competitively and consistently while improving every player in every position in both teams.
“I’m excited if I’m the person that gets it working well and successfully.
“It won‘t come from short-term decisions, it has to be our long-term plan.’’
KIMMORLEY’S COACHING MENTORS
Malcolm Reilly (Newcastle, 1995-96)
Graham Murray (Hunter, 1997)
Chris Anderson (Melbourne, 1998-2000)
Peter Sharp (Northern Eagles, 2001)
Chris Anderson (Cronulla, 2002-03)
Stuart Raper (Cronulla, 2004-06)
Ricky Stuart (Cronulla, 2007-08)
Kevin Moore (Canterbury, 2009-10)
Wayne Pearce (NSW, 2000-01)
Craig Bellamy (NSW, 2009-10)
John Lang (Australia, 1997)
Wayne Bennett (Australia, 2005)
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2022: Brent Naden faces monster suspension for ‘worst tackle of year’
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.