A week on and the league world still can’t stop talking about the Cameron Smith suspension. What I have found particularly interesting is the arguments we have heard in the past couple of days, in particular Craig Bellamy claiming that Cameron Smith’s suspension was influenced by the media and by bookmakers.
I disagree.
I think Cameron Smith was suspended because he clearly made unnecessary and prolonged contact with the head and throat of Sam Thaiday. He broke the rules. The tackle was extremely dangerous and both Cameron Smith and his teammate Jeremy Smith had a part to play in it.
And let’s not lose sight of the fact that the only reason Smith will miss the grand final this week is because he is a repeat offender. If it wasn’t for the carry over points from his round one grapple tackle charge, he would have only copped a one week ban and would be back in action for the decider.
So to say that Smith was singled out unfairly is a real stretch. In both the round one incident and the Sam Thaiday tackle a week ago, Smith was in clear breach of the rules and he was punished accordingly.
Let’s also not forget that this is not an isolated incident. The Melbourne Storm, led by Cameron Smith have been the pioneers of wrestling techniques in our game. Craig Bellamy’s side would not have had the same success over the past three years had it not been for their mastery of the wrestle, and many would argue, their use of the grapple.
However whilst the NRL got it right with Cameron Smith, I think they have been getting it wrong for a long time now. Too many grapple incidents have gone unpunished this year and in season’s past. So let’s hope that this incident is the catalyst for change and that the NRL becomes more consistent in stamping out the technique from our game. I think there is nothing NRL fans would like more than to be able to sit back in the week leading up to the 2009 grand final and reflect grapple tackles as a thing of the past.
I disagree.
I think Cameron Smith was suspended because he clearly made unnecessary and prolonged contact with the head and throat of Sam Thaiday. He broke the rules. The tackle was extremely dangerous and both Cameron Smith and his teammate Jeremy Smith had a part to play in it.
And let’s not lose sight of the fact that the only reason Smith will miss the grand final this week is because he is a repeat offender. If it wasn’t for the carry over points from his round one grapple tackle charge, he would have only copped a one week ban and would be back in action for the decider.
So to say that Smith was singled out unfairly is a real stretch. In both the round one incident and the Sam Thaiday tackle a week ago, Smith was in clear breach of the rules and he was punished accordingly.
Let’s also not forget that this is not an isolated incident. The Melbourne Storm, led by Cameron Smith have been the pioneers of wrestling techniques in our game. Craig Bellamy’s side would not have had the same success over the past three years had it not been for their mastery of the wrestle, and many would argue, their use of the grapple.
However whilst the NRL got it right with Cameron Smith, I think they have been getting it wrong for a long time now. Too many grapple incidents have gone unpunished this year and in season’s past. So let’s hope that this incident is the catalyst for change and that the NRL becomes more consistent in stamping out the technique from our game. I think there is nothing NRL fans would like more than to be able to sit back in the week leading up to the 2009 grand final and reflect grapple tackles as a thing of the past.
On another note, Craig Bellamy surely needs to take a step back and assess exactly what has transpired over the past week. His comments after Friday night’s game bordered on ludicrous. To suggest, even by implication that the NRL judiciary is influenced by betting markets not only smacks of sour grapes, but is in fact defamatory. Possibly the reason bookmakers were offering such short odds on a guilty finding was because it was clear as day to any observer that Cam Smith had made unnecessary contact with the head of Sam Thaiday. I don’t think Bellamy is doing himself or his team any favours with the ‘us against the world’ mentality that the Storm seems adamant on employing. Is it a shame that the Melbourne captain will miss the decider? Of course it is. Did the judiciary have any choice but to find Smith guilty? I don’t think so.
