Hansen out for the rest of the season

[cpwigan]

According to the Wigan Observer

[GeoffN]

According to the Wigan Observer

Bad news, but we coped without him for half the season anyway. Faz has been doing an excellent job in there.

[GBH]

Thats bad news if true hes been superb, at this rate we will be playing just the u20's for the play offs...

[Dobby]

This is a real pity as he has looked better than ever since coming back from his injury.

[Hanley the God!]

This is a great shame as Harrison would have been a key player in our push towards the Grand Final.

However, it must be said that until the shoulder charge tackle is outlawed, then these type of injuries will continue.

Hanson initially got injured early in the season from that "legal" tackle from Morley - a shoulder charge!

We've seen too many instances this season of injuries, bad tackles, and what should have been red cards (Ablett!) from this style of tackle.

There is no need to shoulder charge a player, what is wrong with using your arms and turning it into a conventional tackle.

In my opinion this form of tackle is used by some players as aggressive thuggery with the sole intention to injure the player.

Thoughts???

[stevethegas]

Jon Wells asked the same question on Boots'n'All. The truth is that however legal it may be, a shoulder charge on a player just to knock him over is dangerous. We've seen plenty of examples this season. Rugby League is tough enough without the borderline of thuggery being tolerated.
If two players are running for a ball and they barge each other with their shoulders - that's one thing. When one has just caught a ball and is flattened at that most vulnerable moment - that's another.
The RL has (rightly) come down on tackles on a player who has just kicked the ball, I suspect this is just the same.
We need to protect our players from the extremes of rough play and it is time that the shoulder charge that isn't a tackle is reviewed.

[cpwigan]

I really hope we never ban the shoulder charge

[Hanley the God!]

Why CP? What value does it add?

[AdamMac]

Would this mean a possible return for Phil Bailey.....

[GeoffN]

Would this mean a possible return for Phil Bailey.....

I think it might, depending on who else is fit. Much as I'm in favour of playing the young lads, I feel his experience would be a help in tough playoff games, despite his defensive lapses.

Joel & Faz to start, then it comes down to a choice between Bails & Tuson for the bench spot. If we have Carmont & Gleeson back, I'd play Tuson, but if not it makes it a very young side, and I might be tempted to bring Bails in.