This Takes Spear Tackle To A New Level

 YOU ARE KIDDING!

Imagine being  put in this position at full speed.

This is one of the ugliest tackles I've seen since Jarrod McCracken got speared in 2000. It occurred in the 22nd minute of Sunday's Toyota Cup under-20s match between Manly and the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium. The NRL match review committee yesterday charged two Warriors players, lock John Palavi and interchange player Sebastine Ikahihifo, with a grade five dangerous throws - the harshest penalty other than an offence being referred directly to the judiciary. Palavi and Ikahihifo each face nine-match suspensions but will get off with six-week bans if they plead guilty as expected. They were not sent off.

How on earth are these two boys not sent off? The bloke is vertical! I don't know what the referee was thinking, but I'm sure he got a stern talking to by the head referee officials. Birrigan Young was lucky to escape any type of neck injury. Young came out of the tackle with a dislocated shoulder and could miss up to eight games, or even worse the season. Young can count his lucky stars that he may once again play football.