Latest news with #SundayFootyShow
Sydney Morning Herald
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Picked off' or ‘not that bad'? The hit dividing football - and why it will decide the game's future
King said on Fox Footy that he believed May 'picked off' Evans in an incident from a 'bygone era', and his hit warranted a six-week suspension. May later suffered a concussion of his own when Tom De Koning accidentally kneed him in the head during a last-quarter marking contest, so he will miss Sunday's match against St Kilda anyway. Comparable recent cases In May, the tribunal cleared Fremantle captain Alex Pearce after the Dockers successfully argued against Christian's careless classification for his collision with Port Adelaide's Darcy Byrne-Jones. Pearce's case differed from May's in that it was an aerial collision in a marking contest, but there were similarities in how Pearce arrived second to the ball and took his eyes off it at the last second to brace for contact. Pearce's legal team did not challenge the classifications of severe impact and high contact. They argued Pearce's actions were reasonable, with the veteran defender stressing he was making a genuine attempt to complete a chest mark at the point of collision. However, the case involving North Melbourne's Jackson Archer in March could also be relevant. Archer's three-game ban for his role in a collision that concussed Western Bulldog Luke Cleary was upheld at the tribunal, after the match review officer graded the Roo's actions as careless, severe impact and high contact. North's defence focused on Cleary's decision to go to ground to collect the ball, rather than stay on his feet. Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson acknowledged that rules encouraged players to keep their feet, but said that did not always happen and 'players need to be aware', saying Archer had 'slowed too little and too late'. What others are saying Former Hawk Isaac Smith's take on May's actions contrasts greatly with King. Speaking on Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Smith argued that May should not be suspended and that Evans' injuries were an unfortunate consequence of playing a contact sport. 'The only thing I can see the MRO picking up is that he didn't stay low, and he came up a couple of steps before he got to the contest – and that's what caused the impact,' Smith said. 'It's a line-ball one, and it's going to be fascinating to see where it ends up. I feel for Steven May here because I feel like he was contesting the ball and obviously, Evans is a smaller player to what he is. 'I think you can see him getting no weeks, or you can see him getting four weeks. The more I look at it, I think no weeks ... you look at the Alex Pearce one, [and] May has not done anything to initiate that contact.' Triple M's breakfast crew, including ex-St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt, grilled Gawn on the May case on Monday. Gawn was adamant that May did not bump Evans, but that he was 'never going to take a backward step'. 'Whatever happens, will be the precedent. I understand you've got to look after the head, but it's going to be an interesting tribunal case. I might actually watch it,' Gawn said. 'I came in to defend [May] a little bit when it first happened, and the Carlton boys weren't really remonstrating, and then we all had a look at the ground and the guy's tooth was missing, so it was, 'OK, maybe I can't defend 'Maysy' '. 'Then we watched the replay, and we were like, 'Actually, it's not that bad', and the Carlton boys still didn't remonstrate, really, so it's a tough one.' Riewoldt, who did not believe May's actions were 'malicious', added that the Blues' eventual reaction was 'almost like out of obligation'. 'If he does get rubbed out, then essentially what we're saying is ... players have to be able to calculate from 20 metres away; the speed the other player is going, the speed you're going to be going, and the fact you're going to arrive a microsecond late,' Riewoldt said. Carlton forward Harry McKay said Nova that it was a 'nasty incident' but that no player would intentionally hit an opponent in the head. Former greats James Hird and Jimmy Bartel had sympathy for May but expect him to receive a suspension. Loading 'This is a really difficult one,' Hird said. 'If he had have stayed a little bit lower and kept his eye totally on the ball, he would be OK. But at the last split-second, he comes up, and his eyes go off the ball, which is why I think it will be three weeks. 'I don't think he has gone out on purpose to hurt anybody. Five years ago, it wouldn't have got weeks. But the rules have changed and unfortunately, for him, his shoulder gets him in the head.'
The Age
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Picked off' or ‘not that bad'? The hit dividing football - and why it will decide the game's future
King said on Fox Footy that he believed May 'picked off' Evans in an incident from a 'bygone era', and his hit warranted a six-week suspension. May later suffered a concussion of his own when Tom De Koning accidentally kneed him in the head during a last-quarter marking contest, so he will miss Sunday's match against St Kilda anyway. Comparable recent cases In May, the tribunal cleared Fremantle captain Alex Pearce after the Dockers successfully argued against Christian's careless classification for his collision with Port Adelaide's Darcy Byrne-Jones. Pearce's case differed from May's in that it was an aerial collision in a marking contest, but there were similarities in how Pearce arrived second to the ball and took his eyes off it at the last second to brace for contact. Pearce's legal team did not challenge the classifications of severe impact and high contact. They argued Pearce's actions were reasonable, with the veteran defender stressing he was making a genuine attempt to complete a chest mark at the point of collision. However, the case involving North Melbourne's Jackson Archer in March could also be relevant. Archer's three-game ban for his role in a collision that concussed Western Bulldog Luke Cleary was upheld at the tribunal, after the match review officer graded the Roo's actions as careless, severe impact and high contact. North's defence focused on Cleary's decision to go to ground to collect the ball, rather than stay on his feet. Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson acknowledged that rules encouraged players to keep their feet, but said that did not always happen and 'players need to be aware', saying Archer had 'slowed too little and too late'. What others are saying Former Hawk Isaac Smith's take on May's actions contrasts greatly with King. Speaking on Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Smith argued that May should not be suspended and that Evans' injuries were an unfortunate consequence of playing a contact sport. 'The only thing I can see the MRO picking up is that he didn't stay low, and he came up a couple of steps before he got to the contest – and that's what caused the impact,' Smith said. 'It's a line-ball one, and it's going to be fascinating to see where it ends up. I feel for Steven May here because I feel like he was contesting the ball and obviously, Evans is a smaller player to what he is. 'I think you can see him getting no weeks, or you can see him getting four weeks. The more I look at it, I think no weeks ... you look at the Alex Pearce one, [and] May has not done anything to initiate that contact.' Triple M's breakfast crew, including ex-St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt, grilled Gawn on the May case on Monday. Gawn was adamant that May did not bump Evans, but that he was 'never going to take a backward step'. 'Whatever happens, will be the precedent. I understand you've got to look after the head, but it's going to be an interesting tribunal case. I might actually watch it,' Gawn said. 'I came in to defend [May] a little bit when it first happened, and the Carlton boys weren't really remonstrating, and then we all had a look at the ground and the guy's tooth was missing, so it was, 'OK, maybe I can't defend 'Maysy' '. 'Then we watched the replay, and we were like, 'Actually, it's not that bad', and the Carlton boys still didn't remonstrate, really, so it's a tough one.' Riewoldt, who did not believe May's actions were 'malicious', added that the Blues' eventual reaction was 'almost like out of obligation'. 'If he does get rubbed out, then essentially what we're saying is ... players have to be able to calculate from 20 metres away; the speed the other player is going, the speed you're going to be going, and the fact you're going to arrive a microsecond late,' Riewoldt said. Carlton forward Harry McKay said Nova that it was a 'nasty incident' but that no player would intentionally hit an opponent in the head. Former greats James Hird and Jimmy Bartel had sympathy for May but expect him to receive a suspension. Loading 'This is a really difficult one,' Hird said. 'If he had have stayed a little bit lower and kept his eye totally on the ball, he would be OK. But at the last split-second, he comes up, and his eyes go off the ball, which is why I think it will be three weeks. 'I don't think he has gone out on purpose to hurt anybody. Five years ago, it wouldn't have got weeks. But the rules have changed and unfortunately, for him, his shoulder gets him in the head.'
Sydney Morning Herald
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Demon's outlook unclear after clash with Blue
The Sunday Footy Show panel debate whether Melbourne's Steven May will, and should be, suspended for his clash with Carlton's Francis Evans on Saturday night. Loading
The Age
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Demon's outlook unclear after clash with Blue
The Sunday Footy Show panel debate whether Melbourne's Steven May will, and should be, suspended for his clash with Carlton's Francis Evans on Saturday night. Loading
The Advertiser
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Papalii gets Origin comeback for ages, Hammer new No.1
Canberra veteran Josh Papalii has been ushered out of State of Origin retirement to give Queensland's forward pack fire and brimstone in the State of Origin decider. Papalii called time on his Origin career ahead of the 2023 series but will be named at starting prop when Billy Slater unveils his 17 for Origin III on Monday. The 33-year-old prop has been instrumental in the first-placed Raiders' charge up the ladder this year and will add extra vigour to Queensland's pack come July 9 in Sydney. Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika has been axed from a forward group who have struggled to match it with NSW in this series. The selection shock comes as the Maroons recall Brisbane star Reece Walsh as 18th man and put faith in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as Kalyn Ponga's injury replacement at fullback. The biggest surprise in the Maroons side is the elevation of Broncos journeyman Shibasaki to partner Robert Toia in the centres after a season where the 27-year-old has scored 12 tries in 15 appearances to ressurect his career. Tabuai-Fidow has played in the Queensland backline for the previous two games of the series and has helped the Dolphins rise into finals calculations following a poor start. His four tries in the 50-28 win over South Sydney at No.1 in round 17 sealed the deal. He has never started at fullback in nine Origin games but shifted there minutes into the 2024 series opener when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's high tackle sidelined Walsh. Tabuai-Fidow, who scored three tries that day, has indicated he is eager for another chance at fullback in Origin. "To have that No.1 on my back would be super special for me," Tabuai-Fidow said after the Dolphins' win over the Rabbitohs in his 100th NRL game. Walsh has been instrumental in reigniting Brisbane's season, with the Broncos winning all three games since he returned from the knee injury that scuppered his Origin chances earlier in the series. On Sunday morning, Maroons coach Billy Slater indicated he held no concerns over any lingering issues from the injury, pointing to Saturday's win over the Warriors. "I thought he moved quite well yesterday. The thing with Reece is he's dangerous with the footy in hand," Slater said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show. "But he's also dangerous by bringing others into the game." Walsh can also slot into the halves if need be and is the ideal 18th man. Maroons back Valentine Holmes downplayed a minor leg injury that prevented him from kicking goals towards the end of St George Illawarra's win over Parramatta. He will be named on the wing as planned. "It was just a little contusion on my knee, nothing bad, I obviously could still run," said Holmes, who rescinded goal-kicking duties on Saturday night. "I was just half looking after myself, making sure I'm not doing anything unnecessary." Canberra veteran Josh Papalii has been ushered out of State of Origin retirement to give Queensland's forward pack fire and brimstone in the State of Origin decider. Papalii called time on his Origin career ahead of the 2023 series but will be named at starting prop when Billy Slater unveils his 17 for Origin III on Monday. The 33-year-old prop has been instrumental in the first-placed Raiders' charge up the ladder this year and will add extra vigour to Queensland's pack come July 9 in Sydney. Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika has been axed from a forward group who have struggled to match it with NSW in this series. The selection shock comes as the Maroons recall Brisbane star Reece Walsh as 18th man and put faith in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as Kalyn Ponga's injury replacement at fullback. The biggest surprise in the Maroons side is the elevation of Broncos journeyman Shibasaki to partner Robert Toia in the centres after a season where the 27-year-old has scored 12 tries in 15 appearances to ressurect his career. Tabuai-Fidow has played in the Queensland backline for the previous two games of the series and has helped the Dolphins rise into finals calculations following a poor start. His four tries in the 50-28 win over South Sydney at No.1 in round 17 sealed the deal. He has never started at fullback in nine Origin games but shifted there minutes into the 2024 series opener when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's high tackle sidelined Walsh. Tabuai-Fidow, who scored three tries that day, has indicated he is eager for another chance at fullback in Origin. "To have that No.1 on my back would be super special for me," Tabuai-Fidow said after the Dolphins' win over the Rabbitohs in his 100th NRL game. Walsh has been instrumental in reigniting Brisbane's season, with the Broncos winning all three games since he returned from the knee injury that scuppered his Origin chances earlier in the series. On Sunday morning, Maroons coach Billy Slater indicated he held no concerns over any lingering issues from the injury, pointing to Saturday's win over the Warriors. "I thought he moved quite well yesterday. The thing with Reece is he's dangerous with the footy in hand," Slater said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show. "But he's also dangerous by bringing others into the game." Walsh can also slot into the halves if need be and is the ideal 18th man. Maroons back Valentine Holmes downplayed a minor leg injury that prevented him from kicking goals towards the end of St George Illawarra's win over Parramatta. He will be named on the wing as planned. "It was just a little contusion on my knee, nothing bad, I obviously could still run," said Holmes, who rescinded goal-kicking duties on Saturday night. "I was just half looking after myself, making sure I'm not doing anything unnecessary." Canberra veteran Josh Papalii has been ushered out of State of Origin retirement to give Queensland's forward pack fire and brimstone in the State of Origin decider. Papalii called time on his Origin career ahead of the 2023 series but will be named at starting prop when Billy Slater unveils his 17 for Origin III on Monday. The 33-year-old prop has been instrumental in the first-placed Raiders' charge up the ladder this year and will add extra vigour to Queensland's pack come July 9 in Sydney. Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika has been axed from a forward group who have struggled to match it with NSW in this series. The selection shock comes as the Maroons recall Brisbane star Reece Walsh as 18th man and put faith in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as Kalyn Ponga's injury replacement at fullback. The biggest surprise in the Maroons side is the elevation of Broncos journeyman Shibasaki to partner Robert Toia in the centres after a season where the 27-year-old has scored 12 tries in 15 appearances to ressurect his career. Tabuai-Fidow has played in the Queensland backline for the previous two games of the series and has helped the Dolphins rise into finals calculations following a poor start. His four tries in the 50-28 win over South Sydney at No.1 in round 17 sealed the deal. He has never started at fullback in nine Origin games but shifted there minutes into the 2024 series opener when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's high tackle sidelined Walsh. Tabuai-Fidow, who scored three tries that day, has indicated he is eager for another chance at fullback in Origin. "To have that No.1 on my back would be super special for me," Tabuai-Fidow said after the Dolphins' win over the Rabbitohs in his 100th NRL game. Walsh has been instrumental in reigniting Brisbane's season, with the Broncos winning all three games since he returned from the knee injury that scuppered his Origin chances earlier in the series. On Sunday morning, Maroons coach Billy Slater indicated he held no concerns over any lingering issues from the injury, pointing to Saturday's win over the Warriors. "I thought he moved quite well yesterday. The thing with Reece is he's dangerous with the footy in hand," Slater said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show. "But he's also dangerous by bringing others into the game." Walsh can also slot into the halves if need be and is the ideal 18th man. Maroons back Valentine Holmes downplayed a minor leg injury that prevented him from kicking goals towards the end of St George Illawarra's win over Parramatta. He will be named on the wing as planned. "It was just a little contusion on my knee, nothing bad, I obviously could still run," said Holmes, who rescinded goal-kicking duties on Saturday night. "I was just half looking after myself, making sure I'm not doing anything unnecessary."
