A dangerous hip-drop tackle by Manly forward Toafofoa Sipley

has resulted in a four-match suspension following an incident

that left St George Illawarra’s Mathew Feagai with a fractured fibula

and severe ankle ligament damage.

The NRL judiciary fast-tracked disciplinary proceedings after Thursday’s match,

where Sipley’s tackle abruptly ended Feagai’s season.

Though the prop admitted fault for the reckless contact charge,

his initial five-game ban was reduced by one week due to an early guilty plea.

Sipley’s absence will sideline him for critical fixtures against Penrith, Cronulla,

North Queensland, and Parramatta, impacting Manly’s campaign.

Judiciary officials acknowledged Sipley’s claim that momentum

from colliding with Feagai’s shoulder destabilized his tackle technique.

However, they emphasized player safety could not be compromised,

unanimously deeming the suspension necessary despite mitigating factors.

In a significant ruling, the judiciary committee has underscored their commitment to eliminating dangerous tackling techniques from the game, particularly focusing on the controversial hip-drop method.

During proceedings, judiciary chairperson Geoff Bellew acknowledged the defendant's state during the incident, noting they were "stunned" by the contact. However, the panel determined this did not constitute a complete loss of control over their faculties, while also emphasizing that the action was not deemed intentional.

The committee emphasized the necessity of imposing meaningful consequences, stating their decision aims to convey an unambiguous message that such hazardous contact will face substantial penalties when proven.

Bellew specifically highlighted the inherent dangers of the tackling style where defenders lower their body weight to bring down ball carriers, noting that "significant risk of injury" became reality in this particular case.

Following the verdict, the sanctioned player expressed remorse for the injury caused to Mat Feagai, confirming he had already reached out with an apology. He acknowledged the sport's direction, stating: "They are trying to take the hip drop tackle out of the game... it is just one of those cases where it is what it is."

While the defense team proposed a three-week suspension based on precedent from Elliott Whitehead's similar incident that resulted in Brandon Smith's ACL tear, the judiciary determined a more severe four-week ban was appropriate given the serious injury outcome.

The panel specifically noted that previous penalties, such as those imposed on Whitehead, had proven insufficient as deterrents, necessitating stronger disciplinary action moving into the 2025 season.

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