An NRL round clash between the Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels has been overshadowed by a dangerous tackle that has left a star Eels winger facing a season-ending injury and sparked debate over on-field judiciary decisions. The thrilling golden-point 22-20 win for Wests Tigers has turned into a post-match controversy, with young winger Luke Laulilii slapped with a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge stemming from a mid-air tackle on Parramatta’s Bailey Simonsson that left Simonsson with a suspected dislocated ankle.
The incident occurred in the second half of the match, where Laulilii was immediately sin-binned for the contact. Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall has publicly rejected the penalty decision, opening the door for the club to challenge the charge at the NRL judiciary. If they opt to contest the charge and lose, they risk increasing Laulilii’s proposed one-match ban to a two-game suspension.
Marshall made his stance clear immediately after the game, saying: “Didn’t agree, simple as that. It must have been [because of the injury]. Because if he didn’t get injured would it have been the same result? I don’t agree, but whatever, we just have to deal with it.” Alongside Laulilii’s charge, Tigers skipper Api Koroisau received a $3000 fine for a separate hip-drop tackle in the match.
For the Eels, Simonsson’s injury marks the latest in a string of long-term absences caused by on-field foul play, devastating the club’s depth ahead of a critical stretch of the season. The club already lost forward J’maine Hopgood for the entire season to an injury suffered in a hip-drop tackle, while young fullback Isaiah Iongi is not expected to return to the side until Round 13 after sustaining a syndesmosis injury from another dangerous contact incident.
Eels head coach Jason Ryles acknowledged that such dangerous plays are rarely intentional, but argued that the string of injuries highlights exactly why these actions are banned from the competition. “Those contests happen every week, same with the hip drop. The players don’t actually mean to do it. We understand that, but there’s a reason those actions are outlawed because of what we’re going through now,” Ryles told reporters post-match. “As disappointing as it is, it’s another opportunity for our next player in.”
The injury crisis does not end for the Eels with Simonsson. Centre Sean Russell was ruled out of the match after a sickening accidental head clash with Tigers teenager Heamasi Makasini, and while Russell avoided a ban after receiving a Grade 1 dangerous contact charge, he will miss the club’s upcoming clash against the Gold Coast Titans. Five-eighth Jonah Pezet also picked up a low-grade hamstring injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least two weeks.
In a bright spot for the Eels, young debutant Apa Twidle turned heads with a standout performance off the bench, scoring a try with his first touch in the NRL before adding a second just moments later to drag Parramatta back into the contest. Though Twidle left the field with his right arm in a sling, the injury is believed to be a minor AC joint issue, and he is expected to be named in the club’s next round squad when teams are announced Tuesday.
Facing the loss of multiple key playmakers to long-term injury, Ryles confirmed the Eels are considering seeking salary cap dispensation to bring in new reinforcement, calling for the league to apply common sense to the request. “I said it earlier in the week, that’s above my pay grade. I just need to deal with what’s in front of us right now,” Ryles said. “Surely I think it’d be something worth considering. Foul play, season-ending injury, there should possibly be something where common sense would prevail.”
With multiple key spots left empty by injury, Ryles admitted he has not yet finalized how his team’s right edge will line up for Sunday’s clash against the Titans, with only halfback Mitchell Moses confirmed in his usual spot. “The right edge, what would it look like? Moses will be the halfback. That’s a good question. Let me have a think about that,” Ryles said.