Bennett fires up as Napa excused
WAYNE Bennett has launched a savage attack on the NRL and Maroons enforcer Dylan Napa over the controversial tackle that has left Broncos prop Korbin Sims nursing a broken jaw.
Bennett has contacted the NRL to express his fury, slamming the league for failing to protect Sims, who underwent surgery on Saturday night in another crushing injury blow for the Broncos.
Bennett was yesterday supported by NRL legend and Maroons selector Darren Lockyer, who called for Queensland prop Napa to change his tackling style.
Sims will miss four to six weeks after his sickening collision with Napa, which saw the Roosters hitman placed on report in Brisbane’s 28-22 victory last Friday night.
Napa was booked for leading with his head, but the NRL match-review committee did not charge him, clearing the prop to be named in the Queensland side next Monday for Origin I on June 6.
The decision has triggered outrage from Bennett, who yesterday lashed the NRL process and labelled Napa’s tackle “reckless” with no duty of care for Sims.
“Why hasn’t the game made Napa accountable,” Bennett fired.
“I know there will be a s***fight coming my way but I’m not backing away from it.
“I am not going to watch my players get broken jaws and remain silent.
“When you go before the judiciary, they will ask the player, ‘What was your duty of care?’
“Well ... where is Napa’s duty of care? HURT: Korbin Sims.
“Korbin has had to have surgery for a broken jaw because of Napa’s actions ... is this the look we want for our game?
“Napa could have been charged with a number of things. At its worst, it was reckless.
“This is the most ridiculous situation I have seen.”
Under a 22-page NRL lawsand-interpretations policy issued this season, there are eight ways in which a player can be found guilty of misconduct.
One such breach is “when affecting or attempting to affect a tackle (a player) makes contact with the head or neck of an opponent intentionally, recklessly or carelessly”.
This is what convinced NRL referee Gerard Sutton to place Napa on report. But the NRL match-review committee cleared Napa, alleging Sims’ change of direction was a factor in the collision.
“For the NRL to justify it by saying Sims changed direction is absolute nonsense,” Bennett said. “Why are people blaming Korbin Sims? Korbin had every right under the rules to step and he probably saw Napa coming, so of course he is going to try and get out of the road.” More NRL coverage in today’s Cairns Post, page 22