The Tackle: Why NRL needs to crackdown on crusher tackles, Roosters risk losing young talent with Daly Cherry-Evans signing

The NRL hates the perception of a crackdown but if there is one tackle that should be high on the game’s agenda given its propensity to cause serious injuries, it’s the crusher. THE TACKLE.

It’s the tackle not one wants to see in the game but players don’t seem to be getting the message.

Penrith’s Liam Henry became the 14th player this season to be charged by the match review committee for his ugly looking crusher tackle on Newcastle’s Fletcher Sharpe on Saturday night.

Henry is facing a two-three week ban.

While some crusher-type tackles are unavoidable, like incidental head high contact, there have been too many example of defenders using the full force of their bodies, in a dropping motion, to put force on a player’s head, neck or spine.

Canterbury’s Jacob Preston is currently serving a four week ban for a crusher, while Lachlan Hubner (two-week ban) and Emre Guler (three-week ban) also copped suspension for the dangerous tackle this season.

Liam Henry crusher tackle

The NRL hates the perception of a crackdown but if there is one tackle that should be high on the game’s agenda it should be the crusher given its propensity to cause serious, even life changing, injury.

The NRL has warned coaches and players of their responsibilities when it comes to head-high contact on a number of occasions this year already.

Lachlan Hubner crusher tackle on Clint Gutherson.

It might be time for a similar memo reminding players of their duty of care – something that is thrown out the window when it comes to the crusher tackle.

The game has all but stamped out the spear tackle.

The crusher tackle should be treated with the same contempt.

ROOSTERS’ DCE DILEMMA

The Roosters want Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans in the chook pen but is his signature worth the risk of young guns flying the coop?

It’s the question Roosters fans could not help but ponder on social media in the wake of the side’s spirited win against a full-strength Cronulla outfit.

Trent Robinson didn’t want to talk about Cherry-Evans, who’s Bondi arrival now seems imminent, on Saturday night but the coach won’t be able to silence the chatter around local junior Hugo Savala and the club’s promising crop of young halves.

Savala’s emergence in the halves has been impressive, none more so than against the Sharks, where he confidently outplayed his opposite halfback in Nicho Hynes, scoring a try and setting up three others.

Robinson insists Savala is part of the Roosters’ future plans but his management have indicated they would explore other loan options if Cherry-Evans joined the club.

When you consider Savala becomes a free agent in just over five months, those loan options are likely to turn into serious offers to defect to a rival outfit.

Is Daly Cherry-Evans for the Roosters? Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Sandon Smith, like Savala, is off-contract from November 1 and is a product of the club’s Central Coast academy.

But he is now likely to exit the club at the end of the season as a result of the halves squeeze created by Cherry-Evans’ arrival.

Hugo Savala. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Sandon Smith. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

There’s the argument that a player of Cherry-Evans’ calibre would also help nurture the development of the likes of Savala and Sam Walker, who is set to return from an ACL injury in Round 15.

But there’s also a case to be made that his arrival will have the opposite effect.

It not only blocks Savala’s path to a regular starting spot in the halves alongside Walker but the chance to keep building on his NRL experience if he is squeezed out of the side.

Immortal Andrew Johns, arguably the best halfback to ever play the game, sounded a serious warning over signing Cherry-Evans.

“The way they are playing Hugo Savala, Sandom Smith and you have Sam Walker coming back … do they want to buy DCE?,” Johns said on Channel 9.

“They have Toby Rodwell in the juniors, shooting the lights out in the juniors.

Roosters’ emerging junior playmaker Toby Rodwell. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

“The question has got to be, do you want to spend upwards of $1 million dollars on DCE for two years.

“You’ve got these young blokes. They won’t stay.

“Hugo Savala and Sandon Smith, they are NRL players, they don’t want to go to NSW Cup for two years.

“Sam Walker is there, I don’t see Walker and DCE being a good partnership.

“DCE is a right side player … Walker is a right side player, he’s instinctive … DCE is similar … you need a steady hand. I think Sam Walker and Savala will really go well (together).”

Andrew Johns doesn’t back the Walker-DCE combination. Picture: NRL Photos

It’s a similar story for the Dolphins. They too are in for Cherry-Evans but already have Isaiya Katoa, who is making real progress in the no.7 jumper raising a similar question.

Too many cooks can spoil the broth.

The Roosters have had success after landing the shiny new signing, the recruitment of Sonny Bill Williams and Cooper Cronk led to three premierships.

But the Roosters are a different club, one that is trying to nurture its talent from within.

Losing Savala would be a huge blow to the Rooster’ efforts to develop players after making serious investments into nurturing the club’s pathways in recent years.

Originally published as The Tackle: Why NRL needs to crackdown on crusher tackles, Roosters risk losing young talent with Daly Cherry-Evans signing