Cooper Cronk says it’s time to sin bin players for late shots
Cooper Cronk has urged referees to sin bin those who “dog shot” NRL playmakers, saying “we need to wipe it out of the game completely”.
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Cooper Cronk has urged referees to sin bin those who “dog shot” NRL playmakers, saying “we need to wipe it out of the game completely”.
One of rugby league’s most contentious issues is again in the spotlight after Roosters superstar Cronk was whacked late by Tevita Pangai Jr in Thursday Night Football — a devastating hit that leaves the Brisbane enforcer facing just a two-week suspension.
Incredibly, eighth Immortal Andrew Johns has been urging the NRL since 2015 to introduce tougher sanctions on the “coward tackle”, convinced offenders should be sin-binned immediately and suspended for a minimum four weeks.
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While Johns opted out of commenting further on Friday — “I said my piece Thursday night, I’d rather not go over it again” — Cronk agreed the sin bin needed to be used as a deterrent.
Asked about being hit late while attacking the Broncos tryline midway through the first half, the Bondi No.7 said: “I think there’s a question mark there, that maybe it could’ve been 10 minutes in the sin bin.
“But I trust the officials. It was put on report and they’ll judge that accordingly.”
And as for that type of tackle generally?
“If it’s late, high, aggressive contact, wipe it out of the game completely,” Cronk said.
Roosters backrower Angus Crichton agreed.
“Obviously we’ve got two world-class playmakers in Cronk and Luke Keary,” he said. “And looking after them is vital to our game.
“Although it also shouldn’t matter if they’re star players or not.
“That sort of tackle (by Pangai) is unsafe. There are different ways to play footy and that style of play, it’s not how I like to go about things.”
While the Brisbane forward on Friday received a grade-two dangerous contact charge, the hit he received from the Channel 9 commentary team was far worse.
Johns described the 113kg Bronco smashing Cronk off the ball as “a dog shot”.
His comments come only a fortnight after revealing repeated head knocks during his own stellar career may have contributed to the epilepsy that he now suffers.
“That’s a deadset cheap shot,” he fumed of Pangai’s hit during the Roosters’ 36-4 victory. “It should be a sin bin.
“(Cronk) isn't looking and giving away 30kg … watch the whiplash in his neck. It’s a dog shot.”
Midway through last year, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg made changes to the NRL rule book so referees could sin bin players guilty of hitting a playmaker late.
”When we see players being hit off the ball late and then put in a difficult position, we expect the referees to act,” Greenberg said.
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And now some of rugby league’s biggest names, including Johns and Queensland Origin great Johnathan Thurston, are urging for that action to be taken — every time.
Ironically, Johns started his campaign against the dog shot in 2015 after Thurston was hit late by then Newcastle backrower Beau Scott.
A series of worrying incidents have followed, including an Adam Blair hit on Cronk that Johns branded a “coward act”.
ANDREW JOHNS ON THE SEVEN “DOG SHOTS”
March 2015
North Queensland star Johnathan Thurston is whacked late by Newcastle backrower Beau Scott.
Andrew Johns: “It’s a cheap shot. The Beau Scott one ... there’s about 10 guys in the competition who do this every week, when the ballplayer goes to the line and passes they wait a second, when the player’s relaxed, they hit them in the kidneys, the ribs, when they are not expecting it.”
May 2015
Penrith playmaker Jamie Soward is hit late by Parramatta forward Pauli Pauli.
Andrew Johns: “Cheap shot. When the ball leaves his hands he cannot protect himself. Do we need someone to get seriously hurt? Something needs to be done now. We need it out of the game.”
July 2017
Canberra enforcer Sia Soliola knocks Melbourne fullback Billy Slater out with a late shot.
Andrew Johns: “Should’ve been sent off. I know Soliola is a lovely guy but that was as cheap as they come ... he should have been sent off.”
September 2017
Serial Brisbane offender Adam Blair blindsides Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk late, well after passing the footy.
Andrew Johns: “It’s a coward (act). Absolutely dirty play. He sees the ball go and he’s giving away 30kg to a smaller man and he hits him in the back.”
May 2018
Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston is whacked late by Melbourne prop Sam Kasiano.
Andrew Johns: “It wasn’t a big hit, it was a dog shot, a coward hit. Should be a minimum four-week suspension.”
May 2018
Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston is cut down late by Manly’s Jack Gosiewski.
Andrew Johns: “Not only was (Thurston) hit late, he was hit with a shoulder charge. I hate it. Give them suspensions and it’ll stop, long suspensions.”
April 2019
Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai whacks Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk well after passing.
Andrew Johns: “Dog shot. We have to get that out of the game. It should be a sin bin.”
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