Brisbane Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan has been tipped for a hefty suspension following a ‘horrendous’ tackle that has ended Wests Tigers star Jackson Hastings' season.
The Origin prop was referred straight to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle on Hastings during Saturday night’s clash at Suncorp Stadium.
The Wests Tigers player limped off the field with his team later confirming that the half had suffered a broken fibula in the collision and will have to undergo surgery.
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Carrigan was the third man in the tackle scrummage and dropped his weight on the back of Hastings’ legs.
The tackle was immediately blasted by commentators.
Michael Ennis said of the tackle: “That is a hip drop tackle where he just puts his body weight on the back ankle of Hastings.
“It is not a good one from Carrigan.”
Greg Alexander added: “I think he is in some hot water.
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“It is a hip drop. He swung his body around and landed on the back of the ankle there of Hastings.
“Unfortunately for Hastings the players over the top twisted him backwards so it all worked against him.
“But Patrick Carrigan certainly played his part and that was a hip drop there is no two ways about it.”
Meanwhile, Tigers’ interim coach Brett Kimmorely labelled the tackle ‘horrendous’.
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He said: “I thought the tackle was a pretty ordinary tackle.
“It is something that has crept into the game a little bit and it needs to be looked after, because it’s a horrendous tackle and the outcome can be really bad.”
The fact that the tackle was sent straight to the judiciary signals bad news for Carrigan, however, Wide World of Sports now reveals that the player has even more cause for concern.
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Just two weeks ago the NRL sent out a warning to all clubs about the dangers of hip drop tackles in which a third player gets involved in the tackle and pulls him to the ground.
They cited issues such as major damage to legs, knees, or ankles as means to stamp out that type of tackle from the game.
Lo and behold just a couple of weeks later that exact type of tackle has ended Hastings’ season.
It is expected the NRL will make an example out of Carrigan, especially after the incident came so soon after the league had sent out such a warning.
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The Broncos player will learn his fate tonight (July 2) as he fronts the judiciary.
Topics: Rugby League, Australia, NRL, Brisbane Broncos, Wests Tigers
Jayden Collins