Slaters shoulder charge, gooone.

[Andrew Walker]

If I'm on trial for murder I wonder if I can get one of my best mates on the jury

Both are equally ridiculous scenarios.

Integrity my ass. If they cared about integrity they would place impartiality above all else.

Only in the NRL mate Corruption at its highest Scheduling conflicts Fletch says sees him on the panel Yeeeaah riiiighhhtt

[Frozen Chook]

Funny how certain people in the media are attempting to use the argument Billy’s right hand touched Feki first.

As the rule states below
U
“The player did not use, or attempt to use, his arms (including his hands) to tackle or otherwise take hold of the opposing player."

Regardless of whether his hands are involved, I've seen nothing that suggests to me that he was using his hands to take hold of the opposing player.

You're correct in what you're saying.

I don't suggest you go out and hug your local Telegraph pole or tree but if you lead with your left hand shoulder when you make impact your right arm is going to flick forward and your elbow only flicks one way you can try making do the other way - good luck to you but It will always flick forward when you make impact.

the notion that he was touching in before impact is just rubbish

another moment of the Melbourne storm club having a lend of the rugby league community

[The Brain]

You're correct in what you're saying.

I don't suggest you go out and hug your local Telegraph pole or tree but if you lead with your left hand shoulder when you make impact your right arm is going to flick forward and your elbow only flicks one way you can try making do the other way - good luck to you but It will always flick forward when you make impact.

the notion that he was touching in before impact is just rubbish

another moment of the Melbourne storm club having a lend of the rugby league community

arms have to go in a wrapping motion in attempting a tackle ..shoulder can and will still go in on initial impact ...its normal procedure...Billys farked

[Frozen Chook]

former Storm player Dallas Johnson is one of the 3 ex players on the judiciary panel tonight.

Given that the NRL has got a selection of panel members to choose from, a simple governance and probity consideration would suggest that you exclude yourself if you have any current association with a club such as a sponsor or you may well consider your past association with clubs.

[The Brain]

...and Melbourne storm will always pull a cheat out of the bag..this time they must pay for it just like anybody else.

[Frozen Chook]

Quite coincidentally and I rarely go to Melbourne but I have found myself behind enemy lines today.

An interesting article in the Herald Sun this morning suggesting that the club should consider taking court action if he fails and is suspended and they cite a case of an AFL player and his club which sought an injunction to be able to play in a gf

[Bansai Pipeline]

He's always been pretty dirty, Billy. Knees in tackles, lashing out with his feet... And he's always somehow flown under the radar. It would be fitting for him to sit out his last game.

[Lydon]

the whole process was a sham from the beginning, he was never going to miss the GF.

Where is that confirmed Fletch?

[Frozen Chook]

...and Melbourne storm will always pull a cheat out of the bag..this time they must pay for it just like anybody else.

Agreed and as a club they have consistently had a lend of the rugby league community

Salary cap rorts

The chicken wing and various wrestling antics

Slater leading with the boots and studs in both the air and on the ground

Cameron's constant attempts at influencing the referee including comments that they wouldn't tolerate from other club captains when he doesn't get his way.

[David Bill Williams]

Dallas Johnson, an ex team mate and friend of Billy’s will be one of the 3 people in the board deciding Billy’s fate.

Wtf?

[Frozen Chook]

It annoys me that people are swallowing the BS that's been thrown around ever since this incident occurred. Lets go through them:

1. Billy - I thought he was going to step back inside and that's why I made contact with my shoulder.
If Billy seriously thought Feki was going to step off his left foot and come back inside, why was he sprinting across as fast as possible? If he truly expected Feki to come back inside he would have slowed down slightly approaching contact to avoid being wrong footed and been able to wrap his arms around the player and effect a legal tackle

2. Andrew Webster - Its not a shoulder charge, its a shoulder collision
The word collision makes it sound likes this was all just an unfortunate accident. Once again its smoke and mirrors. Slater charged across field with one thought in mind - to bundle Feki into touch by any means possible and this was to him with the full force of his shoulder. Read that again. He charged across and hit him with his shoulder. This wasn't Feki stepping inside and accidentally making contact with Slater's shoulder, this was a deliberate act by Slater

3. This tackle has happened before, look at the Waqa-Blake tackle.
These two tackles were completely different. Waqa-Blake's arm actually comes across in front of the player in a wrapping manner as he his hit with the shoulder. Also, Waqa-Blake's feet actually leave the ground as he dives towards the player in an effort to knock him into touch. Slater could have made a similar style tackle if he wished, but he went all in and whilst he achieved the desired result, it's an illegal play

4. Mal Meninga/Laurie Daley/Darren Lockyer and co - I hope common sense prevails and he gets off this charge.
So common sense only comes into play when its a legend of the game about to play his last game. Where was the common sense in 2004 when Ricko missed the GF for an open handed swipe at Nathan Fien? Did Isaac Luke deserve to miss a GF for his tackle in 2014? You can't pick and choose when to apply the rules of the game.

At the end of the day I think he will get off. Not because it was a legitimate tackle but because I think the weight of public opinion and the pressure from the media will see the NRL too scared of the backlash they will cop if they suspend him. I hope he gets off and I hope we belt them into oblivion and make him wish he had been suspended.

Good summary HC

Andrew Webster has embarrassed himself as a professional sports journalist

Slater shoulder collision.

Napa head collision

He fails to deal with the intent which was clear in Slaters tackle

[Lydon]

arms have to go in a wrapping motion in attempting a tackle ..shoulder can and will still go in on initial impact ...its normal procedure...Billys farked

Based on what you are saying Billy should be farked,but never underestimate the power of the NRL and their golden boy!

[Frozen Chook]

Based on what you are saying Billy should be farked,but never underestimate the power of the NRL and their golden boy!

The NRL judiciary is left with two options one is follow the rules of the game and suspend the player or introduce an unprecedented pardon system which essentially is what a lot of commentators are asking for under the guise of a technical argument of the legality of the tackle The NRL need to make the decision whether they operate in a rules based governance system.

[Maxy Walker]

I doubt he will get off, he braces himself for a shoulder charge a good couple of metres before contact. His other arm makes brief contact before the shoulder but its just incidental contact from the motion of running into the tackle. If they apply the letter of the law he is gone.

[Lydon]

The NRL judiciary is left with two options one is follow the rules of the game and suspend the player or introduce an unprecedented pardon system which essentially is what a lot of commentators are asking for under the guise of a technical argument of the legality of the tackle The NRL need to make the decision whether they operate in a rules based governance system.

If they follow the rules of the game then Slater won’t play next week,but if they decide to try and use a technicality to somehow get him off the charge then the NRL has become an absolute shambles!