‘We’re better than that’: NRL farce exposed as hip drop debate heats up

One of the most contentious moments out of the traditional Good Friday clash has been slammed but not for the reason that’s split the NRL.

James Graham has erupted. Photo: Twitter and Fox Sports

Former NRL hardman James Graham blasted the decision to sin bin Jacob Preston for a hip drop tackle on Friday afternoon’s traditional Good Friday clash.

The Rabbitohs blew the Bulldogs away in a 50-16 thrashing, the first time since 1973 Souths have put 50 points on Canterbury.

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It was far from a blowout with 18 minutes remaining, until Bulldogs young gun Jacob Preston was sin binned for a hip drop tackle.

It was 26-12 at the time and while he was in the sin bin, the Rabbitohs scored three tries, adding a further two more after he returned.

But Preston’s hip drop tackle split the NRL as it didn’t look the same as other which have been penalised in recent times.

It appeared as though one-on-one, Preston tried to rake the ball out but Thompson’s foot was caught under the second rower’s weight as he was dragged along.

The sin bin decision divided commentators and saw Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou lash out and Roosters half Luke Keary admit he was confused by what constituted a hip drop.

The NRL must have agreed as Preston wasn’t charged by the match review committee.

Speaking on Triple M during the match, James Graham and Ryan Girdler blasted the decision to call it a hip drop.

But the former prop had another bone to pick with referees going back nearly a full set of six to award the penalty.

Girdler: “How is that a hip drop?”

Graham: “That’s a joke is what that is. That is not a hip drop. And I said this last week, we can’t be rugby union. We can’t let that go all the way up the field to tackle five and then go back to something that happened on play one.”

James Graham was fuming. Photo: Triple M Twitter

Girdler: “He tried to strip the ball. Two guys let go and he tried to wrestle the ball.”

Graham: “I know it’s a tackle we’ve got to get out of our game but we can’t be rugby union. Why don’t you just keep playing them till the advantage. This is a joke. It happened last week. It’s a joke.

“The NRL need to look at this. If it’s foul play, blow the penalty at the time of the infringement.”

Girdler: “If Thompson doesn’t stay down there, then we don’t even hear about it.”

Graham: “It’s clear, it’s bunker intervention. But five tackles later? Come on. We’re better than that as a game.”

Thompson was helped from the field and will need a scan.

Demetriou was furious over the tackle.

“If that (Preston) tackle happens on the training field, I can guarantee you teammates aren’t happy about it. Your own teammates are filthy if you do that,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“I don’t know why if we’re not doing it at training we’re bringing it on the field.

This tackle sparked a furore. Photo: Fox Sports

“I think the game’s doing a great job trying to do what they can. It’s up to the clubs to show some onus on it.

“It’s going to affect your team somewhere. You’re going to lose a high-quality player to a hip-drop, which is a tackle that can be avoided in my opinion.

“We don’t practice it. There’s no way that would happen at training. I can’t stress that point enough: it does not happen at training.

“Coaches and teammates would not let that happen. So I don’t know why we’re accepting it on the field.”

Keary, who was on Fox League’s coverage, said he wasn’t sure it was a hip drop.

“There’s the ones with the two men up top and slide down the back of the legs, but these one-on-ones, it’s confusing,” he continued.

“That doesn’t look like a hip drop to me.”