"nz warriors" - Google News
Guest
Raiders' skipper fined, avoids suspension for shoulder charge - National Indigenous Times
<p><span>
Joseph Tapine has escaped suspension for a shoulder charge which occurred during the Raiders 16-10 win over the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday. (Image: Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
</span>
</p><div>
<p>Influential Raiders skipper Joseph Tapine has escaped a ban for a shoulder charge during Sunday's win over the Warriors.</p><p>Tapine was banned for two matches for a shoulder charge against the Warriors in Las Vegas earlier this year, but the superstar prop can pay a $3000 fine if he takes the early guilty plea for his grade 1 offence.</p><p>The Canberra captain risks a two-match ban if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary following a fiery clash across the ditch that also resulted in Corey Horsburgh and Jacob Laban being hit with fines by the match review committee.</p><p>Tapine was also placed on report for a crusher tackle early in the contest but wasn't charged, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart warning the NRL after the match to not punish players for being aggressive.
</p> <p>"We have to be careful that we don't go and want to scrutinise aggressive actions in a game that is moulded on pure aggression and passion," he said.</p><p>"On Wednesday night, we've got one of the most special games in our calendar happening and it has created its profile and culture and passion, Origin, through aggression.</p><p>"And I'm not at all promoting foul play, I'm dead against foul play. I've said before you will get a lot of accidental high shots with the speed and intensity of our game and that's a part of it now, penalty given, I get that, that's fine.</p><p>"I'm not promoting foul play but don't go penalising, and I don't mean penalising out there but with match review committees, we can't just go willy-nilly bashing players for aggression because you need them in our game.
</p>
<p>"We can't keep calling ourselves an entertaining game and get the broadcasters' money. Well, aggression is a big part of it."</p><p><strong>Martin Gabor - NCA NewsWire</strong></p></div>
<p><span>
Joseph Tapine has escaped suspension for a shoulder charge which occurred during the Raiders 16-10 win over the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday. (Image: Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
</span>
</p><div>
<p>Influential Raiders skipper Joseph Tapine has escaped a ban for a shoulder charge during Sunday's win over the Warriors.</p><p>Tapine was banned for two matches for a shoulder charge against the Warriors in Las Vegas earlier this year, but the superstar prop can pay a $3000 fine if he takes the early guilty plea for his grade 1 offence.</p><p>The Canberra captain risks a two-match ban if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary following a fiery clash across the ditch that also resulted in Corey Horsburgh and Jacob Laban being hit with fines by the match review committee.</p><p>Tapine was also placed on report for a crusher tackle early in the contest but wasn't charged, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart warning the NRL after the match to not punish players for being aggressive.
</p> <p>"We have to be careful that we don't go and want to scrutinise aggressive actions in a game that is moulded on pure aggression and passion," he said.</p><p>"On Wednesday night, we've got one of the most special games in our calendar happening and it has created its profile and culture and passion, Origin, through aggression.</p><p>"And I'm not at all promoting foul play, I'm dead against foul play. I've said before you will get a lot of accidental high shots with the speed and intensity of our game and that's a part of it now, penalty given, I get that, that's fine.</p><p>"I'm not promoting foul play but don't go penalising, and I don't mean penalising out there but with match review committees, we can't just go willy-nilly bashing players for aggression because you need them in our game.
</p>
<p>"We can't keep calling ourselves an entertaining game and get the broadcasters' money. Well, aggression is a big part of it."</p><p><strong>Martin Gabor - NCA NewsWire</strong></p></div>
