- Football fans were left stunned after Stephen Crichton was not jailed
- Bulldogs captain uses his shoulder in brutal tackle against Warriors
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suffered a concussion and was later ruled out for the season
- Several Sea Eagles players were jailed for similar offences on Thursday
Football fans and former greats such as Panthers legend Mark Geyer are accusing the NRL of double standards after a powerful shot from Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton went unpunished.
The New South Wales Origin player was handed a one-match ban by the NRL’s Match Review Committee but was surprisingly allowed to remain on the field on Friday after a brutal high shot.
This came after three Sea Eagles players were sent to the penalty box during a surprise defeat to the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday.
Early in the second half of Friday night in Auckland, Crichton’s shoulder collided with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s head. Many supporters immediately assumed the Samoan international would have ten minutes left after the hard contact.
Referee Wyatt Raymond then surprised the fans – and the Warriors players – by declaring on the field that there had been “a high degree of mitigating circumstances in the tackle.”
This happened despite the fact that Tuivasa-Sheck visibly suffered a concussion from the collision.
The centre was subsequently ruled out of the match with a Category 1 HIA, which also meant his season was ended prematurely due to the NRL’s concussion protocols.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster strongly criticised the decision during the post-match press conference, saying the lack of consistency from the officiating was a concern.
I’m having a hard time understanding how a shoulder could get into Roger’s head and the bunker [rule as they did]’, at a crucial moment in the match,’ he said.
Fed-up football fans have accused the NRL of double standards after a brutal high shot from Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton (pictured) went unpunished on Friday night
Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suffered a visible concussion after the collision and will not play again this season
“We have to protect our players. And I just don’t see the consistency, a little bit around that.”
On X, Panthers legend Mark Geyer on how the Sea Eagles were severely punished for similar transgressions – and former Queensland Origin mainstay Martin Lang felt that Crichton should have been sent off.
Football fans also expressed their frustration on social media.
‘Stephen Crichton is fast becoming the golden child of the NRL. Madness he’s still on the field,’ posted one.
Another said: ‘The decision-making is a lottery.’
A third weighed in: ‘How the hell did Crichton not end up in the bin?! What a joke! Because he’s the protected species, the glory boy of the NRL.
“This arbitration has reached an all-time low.”
Crichton was charged with a careless foul involving a high tackle. If he pleads guilty, he will receive a one-game suspension. If he contests the charge and loses, he will receive a two-game suspension.
The Bulldogs have not yet announced whether they will accept the ban or take their chances with the NRL judiciary.