‘Complete and utter farce’: NRL world erupts over shoulder charge controversy

Fans have been left fuming after the NRL’s lack of consistency was once again on show with a baffling controversy in New Zealand.

The NRL has been savaged after a stunning decision to put Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton on report, despite what appeared to be a shoulder charge which has ended the season of Warriors centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

The Bulldogs ultimately ran away with a 34-18 victory after the Warriors took an 18-16 lead to the halftime break in Shaun Johnson’s final game in New Zealand before retirement, but five minutes after the resumption, controversy erupted.

Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Coming out of their own area, Tuivasa-Sheck made a hit up in the middle of the field, taking on three Bulldogs.

Crichton came in from the side and didn’t appear to have any kind of wrapping motion and looked very much like a shoulder charge.

Tuivasa-Sheck immediately tried to get to his feet but stumbled, falling over.

While he tried to make it look like he was perfectly fine, the stumble all but assured he’d have to leave the field.

He was then ruled a Category 1, which essentially ends his season as he has a mandatory 11-day stand down and will miss the side’s final clash of the season against the Sharks next Saturday. The Warriors then have a bye in round 27.

On the replay, Fox League commentators Andrew Voss and Steve Roach were positive it would be at least a sin bin after watching the replay.

“Ooh hello, now we have a problem,” Voss said. “Houston we have a problem.

“Man concussed, shoulder no arms.”

Roach said: “He’ll go to the sin bin.”

“You know what happens next Bulldogs fans,” Voss replied.

Crichton did not wrap. Photo: Fox Sports

Is that not a shoulder charge? Photo: Fox Sports

Tuivasa-Sheck was held by his rivals after his stumble. Photo: Fox Sports

But incredibly, Bunker official Liam Kennedy recommended referee Wyatt Raymond just put Crichton on report, citing “a high level of mitigation”.

Voss wasn’t buying it.

“‘High level of mitigation’ — where is Stephen Crichton using the arms in that tackle?” Voss said.

“That’s a very controversial decision there.

“Obviously you’ve seen a lot more forceful shoulders to the heads of opponents but the consequences are there of a tackle that is nowhere near copybook technique.”

The fans were left incredulous, particularly after Manly had three players sin binned in Thursday night’s loss to the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.

Panthers legend Mark Geyer posted: “What! Manly had 3 players binned last night for the exact same thing! CONSISTENCY!!”

Former Sharks and Panthers prop Martin Lang posted: “Stephen Crichton should be in the sin bin re/contact with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s head. Dreadful decision.

“Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s HIA is deemed a category 1. Crichton is fortunate to remain on the field at all. A send-off would have been sufficient.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield tweeted: “3 sin bins last night – nothing tonight for almost same head shot. This time player off for HIA. What a disgrace.

“Liam Kennedy in the bunker has decided this game by not removing Crichton. What a complete and utter farce.”

Mitch Barnett was in disbelief. Photo: Fox Sports

WWOS’ The Mole posted: “RTS OUT for the game … it’s just a farce … shame on you, Bunker.”

One fan added: “Absolutely astounding that Stephen Crichton didn’t get sin-binned. It’ll also be astounding if Graham Annesley keeps his job at the end of the season. Shocking stuff.”

Another fan ranted: “Hey @NRL get it through ya skulls – it’s the inconsistency we’re pissed off with. If that Crichton tackle is OK, then they’re all OK. But last night they weren’t. Next game it probably won’t be either.”

A third wrote: “RTS is Cat 1 so season over for him. Genuinely can’t believe Crichton stayed on the field.”

The fans were equally fuming after Max King was put on report twice, one for a high shot to the nose of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, while the second appeared to be a replay of the Crichton shot to Mitch Barnett, who was left bleeding.

Voss said the Fox League panel post-game needed to “help us all”.

“I hope they have the answers because I don’t know,” Voss added. “If you’re going into a tackle and your arms are down by your side and your shoulder hits an opponent in the head … I thought that was a sin bin.”

After the Warriors led at halftime, it was all Bulldogs in the second half as they ran in three unanswered tries to continue to apply pressure to the Sharks in fourth place on the NRL ladder.

Originally published as ‘Complete and utter farce’: NRL world erupts over shoulder charge controversy