Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend faces a nervous wait after being sin-binned for a hip-drop tackle on Sunday afternoon that left coach Todd Payten confused over how the NRL is judging the outlawed move.
The decision coincided with a sudden surge from the Titans, who scored three straight tries to get within a try of North Queensland before eventually going down 35-22.
Campbell’s ankle was twisted in the tackle, although Townsend’s body itself did not fall on his lower leg while hooker Jake Granville also played a role in the incident.
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Fox League experts DISAGREE with ruling | 03:27
Townsend though was the one to be binned, with Payten describing the tackle as “pretty innocuous” in his post-game press conference, questioning the consistency of the NRL’s on-field rulings on hip-drops.
“I thought he [Jayden Campbell] was already on the ground. So it wasn’t a proper hip drop,” Payten said.
“The kid got up and played on, no dramas.
“I’ve seen one two weeks ago [against the Bulldogs] where Jack Wighton didn’t get penalised at all. Victor Radley gets put in the bin [on Friday], and doesn’t get charged.
“So I’m not sure around it. But Chad’s in particular, I think the sin-binning was harsh.”
It comes after Roosters coach Trent Robinson fired up in his post-game press conference about Radley’s sin-binning, labelling it “ridiculous” and “below par”.
Robbo rips ‘Ridiculous’ Radley call | 07:28
Robinson was vindicated when Radley was not even charged for the tackle by the match review committee on Saturday.
Speaking on ‘Sunday Night with Matty Johns’, Knights hooker Jayden Brailey said hip-drop tackles are a “big no-no” at training and a point of emphasis.
“If anyone does it you cop a fair spray for it… it’s something we’re definitely training,” he said.
“But once you get out on the field and everything happens so fast, things can happen in a split-second.”
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