END SH***Y TACKLE
McGillvary calling for big changes
FURIOUS Huddersfield ace Jermaine McGillvary is still “p***ed off” by the “sh***y” tackle technique that left him fearing retirement and still unable to straighten his right leg.
The ex-England winger took to social media this week to lament the “disgraceful” hip-drop challenges that have seen Wigan prop Mike Cooper endure a season-ending ACL injury.
St Helens loose forward Morgan Knowles copped a five-game ban for the tackle which has become a heated talking point in rugby league.
McGillvary suffered a horrendous knee injury and lengthy lay-off himself after being on the end of a similar challenge by the same player last July.
He said: “It’s awful. Luckily for me, I’ve gone on to play again because in that changing room I was saying, ‘If it’s my ACL, I’ll have to retire.’
“I’m 34 now. It’d take me 12 months to recover. Luckily, it was just a broken leg, a full on rupture of my MCL, my PCL was done, there was a meniscus tear and my ACL was actually swollen.
“But the surgeon said it was an absolute miracle my ACL didn’t go. And still to this day I have physio every morning as I can’t straighten my right knee.
“I had two ops just to get to the state it is now and it’s still not right. I’ve been back in training since January so I’m still a little p***ed off. I just don’t want it to happen to others.
“I’m not saying go soft. But the game is tough. And doesn’t need sh***y techniques in it.”
McGillvary fears for his former England team-mate Cooper who could be out for up to 12 months.
He said: “The same thing’s happened to another player who’s the same age I was at 34 and he hasn’t got a deal next year. Is he going to have to retire? I don’t know what Mike’s thinking or whether he’s going to come back the same. Did Morgan Knowles mean to do it? I don’t think he did. I don’t think he did at all. It’s just poor selection of tackling.
“About 95 per cent of players, I reckon, live pay cheque to pay cheque. They probably have nice things but if that pay cheque goes for two or three months we’d be f***ed.”
■ WARRINGTON have received a massive boost with England half-back George Williams signing a new deal until the end of 2026 and Australian prop Paul Vaughan extending until the end of 2025.