Wayne Bennett questions NRL hip drop rule amid injury to Siosifa Talakai

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has asked for clarification after one of the NRL’s most controversial rules came back under the microscope.

Wayne Bennett and Craig Fitzgibbon have expressed their frustration with the adjudication of hip drop tackles after a Cronulla star was injured in a tackle which almost certainly will be scrutinised by the judiciary.

Midway through the second half of the Sharks’ 27-12 win on Saturday afternoon, Cronulla forward Siosifa Talakai was injured after being tackled around his ankles by Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray.

Talakai was seen in serious pain on the ground before being helped off the field.

Gray was placed on report but was not sin-binned.

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When asked after the game if he feels Gray could find himself in trouble over the tackle, Bennett said he was unsure as he admitted it was a rule he wasn’t too sure about himself so.

“I saw it. I’m not sure I know what a hip-drop is, to be honest. I’m not saying that sarcastically because it’s a pretty confusing lot of rules around that,” Bennett said.

“I’m not a real good judge of hip-drop tackles.”

While Sharks coach Fitzgibbon also wasn’t sure what would come of it, admitting “they are hard to define”.

“I don’t think anyone means to do it. I think they are always an accidental action, but it is just an unfortunate one,” he said post-match.

“I wouldn’t put a label on it. I have got eagle cam vision in the box, so I would have to review it, but hopefully Siosifa is all right.”

Wayne Bennett has questioned the ruling of hip drop tackles. Image: Getty/Kayo

The comments come after the NRL’s crackdown on hip-drop tackles in 2024 appears to have not carried into the new season.

While several players have been placed on report for hip drop tackles, none have been sin-binned for them in 2025 so far, with referees seeming to be far more lenient.

And Fitzgibbon believes last year’s crackdown has resulted in far fewer hip drop tackles this season.

 “I haven’t seen a great deal of hip-drops over the opening rounds. I’ve seen them here or there, but it doesn’t seem to be too big an issue at the moment,” Fitzgibbon added.

“It’s hard, we had players require ankle surgery and they tell us it is not a hip-drop and then we get suspended for two weeks when the player doesn’t get hurt, so it is hard to know.

“But in saying that I don’t think it is an issue in the game at the moment either, but I haven’t seen heaps.

“I think everyone is just finding their way technically with their tackling and keeping their feet on the ground, so I don’t think it is a big deal.”

Originally published as Wayne Bennett questions NRL hip drop rule amid injury to Siosifa Talakai