NRL round 11: Pat Carrigan cleared of hip drop charge, Broncos’ Melbourne pain rolls on

NRL head of football Graham Annesley has confirmed that the Bunker got it wrong on Thursday night when Brisbane star Pat Carrigan was sent to the sin bin for an alleged ‘hip drop’ tackle.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 11: Referee Todd Smith sends Patrick Carrigan of the Broncos to the sin-bin during the round 11 NRL match between Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park on May 11, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The NRL has conceded the Bunker bungled the Pat Carrigan hip-drop saga after the Broncos star was cleared of suspension in the wake of Brisbane’s 24-16 loss to Melbourne on Thursday night.

The Broncos’ 13th consecutive loss to Melbourne had an explosive fallout as Brisbane suffered the loss of Adam Reynolds (neck), copped three sin-binnings and had Carrigan placed on report for a hip drop on Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

But the NRL’s match-review committee has opted not to charge Carrigan over the incident _ clearing him for next Thursday night’s clash against defending premiers Penrith at Suncorp Stadium.

Referee Todd Smith sends Patrick Carrigan to the sin-bin. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

It is also a massive boost for the Maroons, who were in danger of losing Carrigan for the series opener on May 31 at Adelaide Oval if the Origin and Test forward suffered another hip-drop suspension.

Carrigan was banned for four matches last season for a hip drop on Jackson Hastings, but this time, common sense has prevailed.

Carrigan and Broncos coach Kevin Walters were left seething over the 56th-minute incident - scores were locked 10-all at the time - and NRL head of football Graham Annesley confirmed it was the wrong call.

Another video explanation from Annesley about why one of the key indicators is whether the full body weight falls on the legs.

Carrigan spins around the tackle holding onto the hips. It could’ve been dangerous and a classic hip drop, but once he lands on the ground it’s not #NRLpic.twitter.com/CE2QxItJgp

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) May 11, 2023

“Certainly the decision with Carrigan hasn’t helped the clarity around hip-drops, but it was simply an error by the Bunker,” Annesley told News Corp.

“There are effectively three elements to a hip drop.

“They are a “grab”, where a defender grabs hold of the ball carrier; a “twist”, they rotate their body when falling to the ground, and the “drop”, they drop the bulk of their body weight falling directly onto the legs.

“In the Carrigan incident two of those three elements were there, but the bulk of the body weight did not fall directly on (Asofa-Solomona’s) legs.

“If the Bunker had been in any doubt about all three elements, they should have placed it on report, but Carrigan should not have been sin-binned.

“Even though he made contact with the legs, most of his body weight was absorbed by the ground.

“What Carrigan did on Thursday night wasn’t a hip drop.”

Walters was furious with Carrigan’s sin-binning at a crucial stage of the game. Asked if there needs to be an immediate review of the hip-drop tackle, Walters said: “Definitely.

“You wouldn’t like to see it happen in a grand final, someone being sin-binned for that.

“The NRL want you to slide down the legs and Patty did that.

“I am pretty frustrated actually.

“It’s Thursday night, it’s prime time, and we didn’t see a good game of footy.

“We had three guys sin-binned, it’s hard to win when that happens.

“Were they fair sin-binnings?

“I won’t comment because my contract isn’t big enough to pay the fine.”

Storm coach Craig Bellamy backed Walters and chose his words carefully, pausing for several seconds, when asked about the hip-drop tackle that has become a blight on the code.

“I think they are very inconsistent with it,” Bellamy said.

“Patrick was very unlucky to go to the sin bin.

“I am thinking along the lines of Kevvie, it was a tough decision to send him to the sin bin, but that’s the way it went.”

Reynolds was stretchered off early in the gamer. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

A penalty try for Farnworth after interference from Grant. Meanwhile Adam Reynolds is coming from the ground on a stretcher.

📺 Watch #NRLStormBroncos on ch. 502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/AatFxsM0NY
✍️ BLOG: https://t.co/Os3H4ozKSM
🔢 MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/4Wv55PvKbLpic.twitter.com/2PbbdnsTdi

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 11, 2023

WALSH THE WIZARD

Reece Walsh has been turning up the heat on Kalyn Ponga for the Queensland No. 1 jumper for the past two months.

The heat is now an inferno.

Queensland coach Billy Slater was at AAMI Park covering the game for Channel 9 and he got a close-up view of the game-breaking brilliance Walsh can bring to the Maroons if handed his Origin debut.

His 25th-minute cut-out ball for Jesse Arthars’ four-pointer was sublime and Walsh’s 14 try assists is the most by any Broncos player after 11 rounds in the past 25 years.

While Walsh spilled a bomb and grubber kick in the second half, he was busy in the absence of Reynolds. Even in defence, he is playing tougher. He is ready for Origin.

Reece Walsh was electric for the Broncos. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

STORM TROOPERS

Melbourne’s Maroons trio Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Christian Welch sent an ominous message to the Blues with their performances against the Broncos.

Welch made a regular beeline for Broncos and NSW superstar prop Payne Haas, while Grant underlined his class with his superb bullet pass for Munster’s opening try of the game in the 12th minute.

Despite the loss, the Broncos pushed Melbourne to the wire and if they keep the talismanic Reynolds on deck for 80 minutes, they are the real deal as a premiership contender.

SCOREBOARD

STORM 24

Tries: Warbrick 2, Munster, Olam, Coates.

Goals: Meaney 2/4 (conversions), 2/2 (penalties).

BRONCOS 16

Tries: Farnworth, Arthars, Paix.

Goals: Walsh (1/2).

Crowd: 16,043 at AAMI Park, Melbourne.