Why Paasi avoided charge for tackle which ended May’s season

The man who ended Panther Taylan May’s season has avoided a ban. Here’s why.

Taylan May will miss the entire 2023 season after rupturing his ACL in the World Club Challenge.

The NRL and Rugby Football League match review committees have cleared St Helens forward Agnatius Paasi of any wrongdoing for a tackle which has ruled Panthers winger Taylan May out for the season.

Penrith’s hopes of becoming the first side in the NRL era to win three-straight titles have suffered a major blow with try-scoring machine May ruled out for the year after rupturing his ACL in the World Club Challenge.

Officials on Saturday night looked at the incident but didn’t penalise Paasi for a tackle which started around the hip but ended with him putting weight on May’s lower leg.

Agnatius Paasi wasn’t charged for the tackle. Picture: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

Both match review committees studied the vision and determined his actions weren’t careless and didn’t match the criteria for a cannonball or hip drop tackle, with the severity of May’s injury not taken into account.

“Firstly, the initial point of contact by Paasi was high on May’s hip/upper thigh,” said NRL match review committee boss Luke Patten in a statement obtained by NCA NewsWire.

“For a tackle to be considered dangerous and spearing at the legs, the match review committee must see forceful contact at or around the knee of the attacking player.

“Paasi also drops to his knees at the point of contact, which we encourage players to do, and did not drop his body weight onto the back of May’s lower legs. This is one of the key indicators that we would look for in a hip drop tackle.

“The NRL match review committee members all agreed that the actions of Paasi were not careless and did not warrant a charge.

“The injury sustained by a player is only relevant in arriving at a penalty once it’s been determined that a player’s actions were at least careless.”

May missed the 2022 Grand Final because of injury. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

May’s injury is a devastating blow for the back-to-back premiers, who have already lost Viliame Kikau to the Bulldogs from last year’s lethal left edge.

May was set to miss the opening two games of the season after copping a backdated suspension last year on top of an injury which ruled him out of the preliminary and grand final.

He was outstanding in his first full year in the NRL, scoring 16 tries in 21 games, including eight in his first five appearances, but will now miss the entire 2023 campaign.

Sunia Turuva is likely to start on the wing in Round 1. Picture: NRL Photos

“Panthers winger Taylan May will miss the 2023 NRL season after sustaining an ACL injury during the World Club Challenge against St Helens,” the Panthers wrote in a statement.

“The Samoa international suffered the knee injury during the first half of Saturday night’s match.

“Scans revealed May will require surgery on the ACL injury, ruling him out for the entire season.”

Sunia Turuva is the leading contender to take his spot on the wing after eye-catching performances in the lower grades and for Fiji at the World Cup, while Tom Jenkins could also earn a start after scoring 20 tries in 22 games in NSW Cup last year.