It just wouldn't be Grand Final week without a bit of controversy.
And NRL fans have zeroed in on the reaction to Billy Slater and Jake Friend's pieces of foul play in their preliminary final matches over the weekend.
The match review committee handed Slater a grade one shoulder charge after his bump on Sharks winger Sosaia Feki.
The Storm must successfully fight the charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night. If they fail in their bid to get it overturned, the retiring Slater will be denied a fairytale Grand Final finish.
MORE: Fittler's huge Slater call | Did this controversial decision cost Newtown the NSW ISP premiership?
There had been fears that Roosters hooker Friend could be rubbed out of the decider after a spear tackle on South Sydney centre Greg Inglis at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Friend was penalised for the tackle, and on Sunday received a grade one charge.
With a clean record at the judiciary, Friend will be free to play if the Roosters take an early guilty plea. The club has until 12pm on Monday to confirm the plea.
The contrasting outcomes have left a sour taste for NRL fans, with many pointing out that Friend's tackle put Inglis in a far more dangerous position than Feki was due to Slater's.
So jake Friend free to play after putting Inglis on his head,
— Bruce (@BruceW1964) September 23, 2018
Yet Slater charged for a tackle not even close to as dangerous as friends. Makes no sense at all.
Jake Friend's tackle was much more dangerous than Slater's, yet Slater's attracts an automatic suspension and Friend is free to play. Something has gone wrong here @NRL
— MikamKciredor (@RoderickMakim) September 23, 2018
So Billy Slater gets a week for a bump, that's all it was a bump..... Jake Friend gets cleared for dropping a player on their head.. @Todd_Greenberg @nrl I welcome the explanation.. pic.twitter.com/Z6KVsrkSKI
— Daniel Brewer 📻📻🎙🎙📻📻 (@danbrewerradio) September 23, 2018
You cant say jake friends dangerous tackle lift was more safer then slater running in wit 'that' paticular shoulder charge.
— Razz (@Slim_Reaperr) September 23, 2018
How can you grade friends spear tackle with slater shoulder bump, friends spear tackle could've easily resulted in a major spinal damage, whereas Billy's shoulder bump from the side result bit of a bruise.
— fred (@oztruckie9) September 23, 2018
I am the first to admit my knowledge of rugby league is limited but Jake Friend tackle is worth a grade one report and he doesn't get a suspension and Billy Slater is reported for a grade one shoulder charge will be suspended if he pleaded guilty.
— Darren Alomes (@DarrenA_73) September 23, 2018
Why? Friends looked worse
Phil Gould was active on social media over the weekend, taking to Twitter to say the shoulder charge rule is flawed.
Billy Slater risks serious injury to himself with any other kind of tackle under the circumstances. These players are at full speed. The best result for both players was the collision that took place. Less danger for both. No one injured. Play on.
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 22, 2018
Go down thepark & try that for yourself. Everyone entitled to opinion & it’s a major talking point. But unless you’ve done it yourself, don’t be telling NRL players best way to tackle in fast moving, high stakes, pressure situation. The problem is the rule, not the tackle. https://t.co/kTRbXvfj8G
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 22, 2018
100%. We never needed a shoulder charge rule. It was all covered under “dangerous contact” clause. Treat them case by case. This case does not deserve a penalty, let alone a charge or possible suspension. https://t.co/wo7Zcoeho8
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 22, 2018
LETTER of the law, versus SPIRIT of the law. Wikipedia says, “when one obeys the letter of the law, but not the spirit, one is obeying the literal interpretation of the words, but not necessarily the intent of those who wrote the law”. Law wasn’t meant to penalise Slater tackle.
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 22, 2018
Speaking on the Sunday Footy Show Darren Lockyer said it would be "crazy" if Slater was suspended for a Grand Final because of the hit.
New South Wales State of Origin coach Brad Fittler disagreed, saying that while it's unfortunate Slater could miss the decider, consistency is key.
"If you want to stop players doing it, you've gotta uphold what they've gone down with," he said.
"Because if you're not going to take it out, all fullbacks are going to come across saying 'now I can shoulder charge in this instance because Billy Slater got out of it.'
"Until someone gets hit in the head in that situation, then we're going to go and look back and do the whole thing again."
