Two hip drops, two very different results: NRL’s inconsistency leaves it open to criticism

September 28, 2026 — 1:30pm

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When Phoenix Crossland’s hip-drop tackle broke Nathan Cleary’s leg, Penrith’s season and, frankly, the prospects of the best team winning the 2026 premiership, the obvious question was how this tackle differed from Victor Radley’s hip-drop on Herbie Farnworth on Friday night, which earned nothing more than a penalty.

The different consequences played a large part in the rulings of the league, which considers injuries suffered by the recipients of foul play as an aggravating factor when determining the grading.

Last year, Nicho Hynes had a hip drop charge downgraded after Canterbury’s doctor advised the NRL that the injury suffered by Marcelo Montoya in the tackle was not as bad as first feared. The league amended the charge from a grade 2 to a grade 1, freeing Hynes to play in the sudden-death final against the Roosters.

It’s an approach that has sparked plenty of debate, and leaves the NRL in danger of snookering itself via the inconsistency in sanctions for very similar offences – while also delivering more fuel for the conspiracy theorists who think the Roosters benefit from favouritism.

Speaking of conspiracy theories, it was Jarryd Hayne, of all people, who asked on social media if a........

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