‘Dangerous’: Roosters recruit Dom Young hospitalised over crusher tackle

An ugly tackle that the NRL has long been trying to outlaw has seen Roosters recruit Dominic Young hospitalised after his first match for the club.

Big name Roosters recruit Dom Young has already tasted the highs and lows in his debut for the club.

While it was a trial game, Young scored his first try for the club in the Roosters’ 36-22 win over Manly, but was taken to hospital after an ugly crusher tackle in the second half.

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After taking a hit up through the middle, Young was hit by solid Manly tackle before being wrestled to the ground.

Manly captain Toafofoa Sipley then went to take Young to ground but landed on the winger’s neck.

Fox League’s Warren Smith said: “That might be a problem for the Manly captain.”

“An accident, but if you wrestle someone into that position, that’s a dangerous position,” Greg Alexander agreed.

“A big man like Toff Sipley, that’s a lot of weight on a vulnerable area.”

Toff Sipley could be in trouble. Photo: Fox Sports

The Englishman was helped off the field and looked in a bit of distress.

But with the Roosters kicking off the season against the Broncos in Las Vegas in a fortnight’s time, the club were taking no chances, sending Young to hospital.

They were concerning scenes as Young was taken from the stadium by paramedics with his neck in a brace.

PRECAUTION: @sydneyroostersDom Young heading to hospital as precaution for neck🤞🤞🤞🐓🐓 pic.twitter.com/hnzftpLUlc

— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) February 17, 2024

While they were confronting scenes, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said it was purely a precaution.

“He’s good, it’s just when you’re dealing with the neck, you want to be precautionary so he’s just gone to the hospital to get a scan,” Robinson said after the game.

“He was good in there (in the sheds) talking and sitting up and all that, but they just want to keep it stable just so we know what’s exactly wrong with it.

“But he was in good spirits and he was fine.”

The Roosters fly out to Las Vegas on Wednesday and are now sweating on Young’s fitness for their first match against the Broncos on March 3.

“I thought it was accidental and didn’t look good,” Robinson said.

“There was a lot of force at that point.

“I don’t know what their (the referees) thought process is during the trial games … so I don’t really have an opinion on that apart from exactly how it was.

“It wasn’t intentional, but it was a lot of force on his neck.”

Young had walked off the field. Photo: Fox Sports

Not a good sight for the Roosters recruit. Photo: Fox Sports

It raises questions about Sipley’s involvement in Vegas however.

Despite the injury concern, it was a positive performance from the Roosters.

However, while there were some good signs for Manly, it would have been a disappointing result.

Questions have arisen over under-fire star Josh Schuster though.

He didn’t play against the Roosters as he was reportedly being “saved” for the club’s match next Saturday against the Broncos.

This is despite Sea Eagles players flying out for Vegas on Wednesday.

“He’s going to play next weekend against the Broncos on Saturday afternoon,” coach Anthony Seibold told Fox League before the game, with Ben Trbojevic set to start on the back of his hat-trick against Souths last week.

“He’ll fly to Vegas on the Sunday and then we’ll make a decision whether he is in the 17 or not for the round zero game. It’s a long season and this is quite a unique preparation for us.

“The physio decided to pull him out and give him a good prep for the Broncos trial.”

With Martin Gabor, NCA Newswire