The Tackle: South Sydney fans seething after ‘coat hanger’ goes unpunished in Storm defea

South Sydney fans were left seething after a blatant ‘coat hanger’ tackle on forward Sean Keppie but it raises a bigger question, has the NRL walked back its head high crackdown?

South Sydney fans were left seething after a blatant ‘coat hanger’ tackle on prop Sean Keppie went completely unpunished in Saturday night’s nail-biting golden point loss to Melbourne.

Given the NRL mandate on high contact, who can blame them?

Keppie was whacked flush on the throat by Melbourne skipper Harry Grant and left on the ground dry retching, but still there was no intervention from either referee Peter Gough or Chris Butler in the bunker.

There was ample time to review the incident as Keppie was receiving treatment on the ground.

But Grant was not penalised or put on report.

Rabbitohs forward Sean Keppie appears to be caught high by Harry Grant.

Rabbitohs forward Sean Keppie appears to be caught high by Harry Grant.

It was a potentially decisive call by Gough given the Rabbitohs were holding on to a two-point lead with only 11 minutes remaining.

Instead of getting a penalty, it was ruled ‘play on’ and Melbourne went on to score in the following set.

During the NRL’s head-high crack down, Grant would have been marched for 10 minutes or at a minimum copped a penalty.

“Watched the replay that tackle on Keppie is high and a penalty every day of the week. That’s a sin bin six weeks ago,” Nick Longergan said.

Other fans were left in disbelief at how Grant’s tackle could go unpunished.

“Coat hanging tackles are back on the table apparently fellas! What a joke, Keppie was instantly dry retching from that text book coat hanger tackle and nothing called … what a bloody joke,” Bryan Cartwright said.

Another disgruntled fan said the tackle was reminiscent of the bad old days of rugby league.

“Apparently coat hanger tackles around the neck are ok as long as you don’t contact the head. It’s back to the 80s we go. “Game on” I say,” Craig Potter said.

While another fan suggested that Grant got away with the tackle on reputation.

“If Latrell (Mitchell) did that tackle he would have been sent off! Absolutely ripped off,” Phil Bleyer said.

What irked Rabbitohs fans even further was the penalty handed to Storm after Keaon Koloamatangi was penalised for incidental contact on Cameron Munster.

Cameron Munster draws a penalty for a high shot from Keaon Koloamatangi.

Cameron Munster draws a penalty for a high shot from Keaon Koloamatangi

Munster was quick to clutch the back of his head, and even quicker to recover once the penalty was awarded in his favour.

If Koloamatangi’s shot was a penalty then Grant should have received the same treatment.

It’s just one example that leaves fans frustrated at the inconsistency when ruling on head high contact, especially in a season when illegal tackles are supposed to be high on the NRL’s agenda.