Gee you have to feel sorry for Alex, his family, and all involved. it a terrible outcome.
But where to from here
Firstly the NRL has let all footballers down how they have sat on their collective hands and allowed the game to morph into where it is today. Teams have realised that a bootlace tackle is not in the teams best interests and have thus crept down this road, of stop, secure, upend, throw and turtle the player to slow down the ruck. There have been many examples of near misses over the last couple of seasons that have shown us its only a matter of time.
It also allows the ball player hope, as he continues to struggle and pump which lengthens the tackle process allowing more time for something ugly to occur, usually defence gets agitated and goes for the upend to stop the player quickly. Its a script. Its so predictable
Not only has the NRL allowed it but they have essentially endorsed it by creating more rules in the summer to speed up the play the ball making this contest all the more important. A few knee injuries and a ad hoc change in the rules has resulted in a new target ,nothing else
And the Irony that The Melbourne storm are right in the centre of this. The NRL has devised all kinds of rules, based on crushers, chicken wings and head twists, turtles and arm locks instead of just blowing them off the park with not in the spirit of the game.In fact they have pissed about so much for so long that rather than deterring the actions they have fostered and all in mantra which has flourished. Its all too hard seems to be the attitude.
I feel sorry for Mclean, he is a young guy who has debuted under this system, tolerated by the NRL, enforced by his employer and encouraged by his experienced fancied team mates, future Immortals they say
But regardless his actions have led to a serious injury. The outcome was not a deliberate intent but, he was put in a dangerous position,and suffered as a result. This is a rehearsed method to slow the player down but it does come with risk with the third man lifting after 2 men go high and twist. Until now the players , the teams, the coaches and the NRL have rolled the dice , but Alex Mckinnon has to pay the price
Now the test for the judiciary. While there is no rule it has long been known that the injury adds weeks at the judiciary based on injury. Many even want a system that reflect that very scenario. So what do they do. here is a chance to change it all, to draw a line in the sand, to turn back the clock to when tackling was simpler, and fast attractive play was achieved by offloads and second phase play, and from back lines rather than hit ups,surrender tackles and dummy half scoots. This sentence of Mclean who is also a victim to some extent, is crucial for the game. To throw up the hands and accept that this is part of the game at this point is to not accept liability by all actions and neglect that got the game here ....now
I feel sorry for Mclean but he has to go.But he shouldnt be the only one. Everyone in the tackle should go. They all played a part.Besides this situation is a team situation, not just Mcleans. A clear message has to be sent that people are more important that stats and play the ball speed. We need to send a clear message that regardless of the 600 rule changes that the game being played is not rugby league anymore. A message needs to be sent that if you run the gauntlet you pay the price
But i expect we wont, and that will be sad and neglectful for the next bloke.
But where to from here
Firstly the NRL has let all footballers down how they have sat on their collective hands and allowed the game to morph into where it is today. Teams have realised that a bootlace tackle is not in the teams best interests and have thus crept down this road, of stop, secure, upend, throw and turtle the player to slow down the ruck. There have been many examples of near misses over the last couple of seasons that have shown us its only a matter of time.
It also allows the ball player hope, as he continues to struggle and pump which lengthens the tackle process allowing more time for something ugly to occur, usually defence gets agitated and goes for the upend to stop the player quickly. Its a script. Its so predictable
Not only has the NRL allowed it but they have essentially endorsed it by creating more rules in the summer to speed up the play the ball making this contest all the more important. A few knee injuries and a ad hoc change in the rules has resulted in a new target ,nothing else
And the Irony that The Melbourne storm are right in the centre of this. The NRL has devised all kinds of rules, based on crushers, chicken wings and head twists, turtles and arm locks instead of just blowing them off the park with not in the spirit of the game.In fact they have pissed about so much for so long that rather than deterring the actions they have fostered and all in mantra which has flourished. Its all too hard seems to be the attitude.
I feel sorry for Mclean, he is a young guy who has debuted under this system, tolerated by the NRL, enforced by his employer and encouraged by his experienced fancied team mates, future Immortals they say
But regardless his actions have led to a serious injury. The outcome was not a deliberate intent but, he was put in a dangerous position,and suffered as a result. This is a rehearsed method to slow the player down but it does come with risk with the third man lifting after 2 men go high and twist. Until now the players , the teams, the coaches and the NRL have rolled the dice , but Alex Mckinnon has to pay the price
Now the test for the judiciary. While there is no rule it has long been known that the injury adds weeks at the judiciary based on injury. Many even want a system that reflect that very scenario. So what do they do. here is a chance to change it all, to draw a line in the sand, to turn back the clock to when tackling was simpler, and fast attractive play was achieved by offloads and second phase play, and from back lines rather than hit ups,surrender tackles and dummy half scoots. This sentence of Mclean who is also a victim to some extent, is crucial for the game. To throw up the hands and accept that this is part of the game at this point is to not accept liability by all actions and neglect that got the game here ....now
I feel sorry for Mclean but he has to go.But he shouldnt be the only one. Everyone in the tackle should go. They all played a part.Besides this situation is a team situation, not just Mcleans. A clear message has to be sent that people are more important that stats and play the ball speed. We need to send a clear message that regardless of the 600 rule changes that the game being played is not rugby league anymore. A message needs to be sent that if you run the gauntlet you pay the price
But i expect we wont, and that will be sad and neglectful for the next bloke.