RFL’s move to change rules on ‘knee tackles’ clears grey area

For as long as the sport has been played, impressionable youngsters have been taught about the necessity of this defensive principle.

The famous adage that “they cannot run without their legs” has never been truer and, while in recent times there may have been more emphasis placed on big ‘hits’ up top or wrapping the ball-carrying arm to prevent off-loads, you would never be castigated for a textbook tackle downstairs.

Until now that is.

The current raging debate surrounds the increase in dangerous tackle techniques.

We have seen the gut-wrenching – not to mention, more pertinently, shoulder-wrenching – ‘chicken wing’ approach which has seeped into Super League from our Australians cousins in the last few years and is still too prevalent despite efforts to clamp down on the abhorrent tactic.

There has also been the grapple tackle but the biggest bone of contention – and we are actually worried about players’ bones and well-being here – is the ugly process of attacking an opponents’ knees. The most high-profile instance of this has been that of Wigan’s Jeff Lima a fortnight ago when he dived at Chris Clarkson’s legs, earning himself a yellow card and one-match suspension.

Clarkson was almost held up in a two-man tackle when the robust prop came in as third man, causing the young Leeds second-row’s legs to buckle in an unnatural and painful motion.

The RFL disciplinary said it caused the knee joint to “move in an abnormal direction and outside the usual ranges of movement.”

However, Wigan coach Michael Maguire, viewed by many as the reason for this practice becoming more common as he utilises some the defensive techniques which made his previous club Melbourne Storm NRL champions, argued that in this tackle there was no guilt given Clarkson was still moving forward and Lima’s intention was to simply tackle around the legs as he has been taught.

As painful as it is to admit, it is hard not to agree. Although the images were sickening and Lima may well have known his action could cause serious injury, by the letter of the law he and Maguire have a point.

That, however, does not make it right.

The problem is in the wording. The disciplinary panel considered that “in completing a tackle on your opponent you forcefully made contact with the leg of an attacking player who had been held in the tackle, in a way that involved an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.”

However, if Clarkson had been held then Lima would not have been allowed to enter.

The tackle was not officially complete so the Kiwi was within his rights to join it in a bid to slow the ruck, as coached.

In reality it has be to be said the tackle was unnecessary; Clarkson was not going anywhere and the referee would have called ‘held’ – or whatever the modern-day equivalent is – to signal the completion of the tackle within moments.

But it is those moments, and gaining an extra split-second to organise the defensive line, which are so crucial to a team’s chances of success; Wigan’s dominance in that field could be said to be the reason they won the title.

Regardless, the sport is tough enough already with injuries far too abundant to allow scope for more players being crocked and thankfully action has been taken.

It is unusual for rules to be changed mid-season but such is the depth of feeling about this issue that the RFL have not balked from now making such fouls a yellow card offence.

It has been a grey area but the edict has now gone out to all clubs via a montage of clips from referees’ boss Stuart Cummings about what is and is not deemed dangerous.

Lima returns from his ban at Hull KR tonight knowing he will not have any more excuses if he repeats the tactic again.