NRL to review shoulder charge

NRL chief executives have thrown their support behind a review into the use of shoulder charges for the 2013 season.

The issue has become the biggest talking point in the game and, at a meeting at Rugby League Central on Thursday, representatives from all 16 clubs heard general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk outline the nature of the review.

As announced earlier, former Sydney Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan will oversee the investigation through the NRL research board.

It will include a study of existing injury data, an analysis of playing trends, plus player, medical and legal opinion.

Roosters coach Brian Smith said the time had come for the shoulder charge to be looked at following the sickening hit on Dean Young by Greg Inglis that earned the South Sydney fullback a three-game suspension.

Smith is the first coach to publicly discuss outlawing the tactic while players from a number of clubs this week said it would be wrong to rub it out.

“Personally I think it is about time that we stopped and had a think at what the damage is compared to the excitement that it brings,” Smith said.

“One of the great things about our sport is that we’ve always been able to adapt, adjust and review ourselves really well.

“We’ve maybe not always got it right, but we’re not stuck like other codes, particularly soccer, where they’ve never ever changed.

“The rules are pretty much a strength and a weakness. Our strength is that we’ve never been afraid to make adjustments.”

The veteran coach also had sympathy for Inglis and said it was difficult for him to pull out of the challenge that left Young with severe concussion.

“One of the things in defence of Greg Inglis is that he’s compelled to move really fast,” Smith said.

“If he doesn’t move fast then the attacking player can take advantage of that. He’s trying to cut down his thinking time and his opportunity to create a try.

“But there are a lot of incidents in the game where you don’t need to move as fast. You can slow yourself down. You can get yourself into a more orthodox position to make an orthodox tackle.

“A more balanced position is obviously much less likely to lead to a dangerous situation.”

Support was also given at the CEO’s meeting for a proposed pre-season nine-a-side competition in New Zealand starting in 2014.

Options are also being explored about scheduling of the All Stars, the World Club Challenge and key trial games.

“It’s an area that the Commission has been willing to investigate and there are some pretty exciting opportunities to explore,” said acting ARLC chief executive Shane Mattiske.

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