Warriors Face Tough Challenge as Another Player Suspended

The NZ Warriors are facing increased scrutiny regarding their defensive discipline as they prepare for their match against the St George-Illawarra Dragons on March 9, 2024. The team has announced that lock Laishon Albert-Jones will join front-rower Matekino Gray and centre Tysha Ikenasio on the sidelines following a series of tackle-related suspensions.

Albert-Jones, 27, accepted a two-week suspension for a careless high tackle on Cronulla Sharks front-rower Stephanie Faulkner. This marks her second offence of the season, following a warning received in Round 6 against the Canterbury Bulldogs. Her absence adds to the Warriors’ challenges as they strive for a playoff spot in the NRLW during their comeback season.

The Warriors’ troubles began last week when both Gray and Ikenasio were penalised for serious tackle offences against the Canberra Raiders. Gray was sent off for a tipping tackle, while Ikenasio received a red card for a ‘hipdrop’ tackle. Their dismissals left the Warriors with only 11 players for nearly 50 minutes. Despite this setback, the team narrowly lost the match, finishing just four points behind their opponents.

Gray, 20, will continue to serve her suspension against the Dragons, while Ikenasio, 27, will miss one more game of her three-match suspension. Warriors coach Ron Griffiths acknowledged the tackling issues within the team, stating, “We ask [Gray] for one or two things in the middle. One of them is to impose herself on the middle defensive, and she certainly does that.” He expressed understanding that while Gray’s approach is aggressive, it has resulted in unfortunate outcomes.

The tipping tackle has been a contentious issue in rugby league since the incident involving Kiwis Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, which resulted in the paralysis of Newcastle Knights NRL forward Alex McKinnon in 2014. The hipdrop tackle has gained notoriety for its potential to cause serious injury, as it involves a player using their body weight to forcefully bring down the tackled player by their legs.

Griffiths noted that the NRLW had conducted training sessions with coaches earlier in the season to address the hipdrop tackle. “They showed us vision and gave us some ideas over tackle technique,” he said. He emphasized the importance of ongoing education, remarking, “If you look every week at how many hipdrops are either penalised or unpenalised, it does expose some different things we need to keep working on as a code.”

The repercussions of Ikenasio’s tackle extend beyond her suspension; Raiders forward Monalisa Soliola will miss the remainder of the season due to injury sustained from the incident. Reflecting on the situation, Griffiths said, “It’s unfortunate. We’re still trying to teach her how to tackle out there, and it’s a valuable lesson that we’ll all learn.”

Ikenasio, who was a travelling reserve for the Black Ferns Sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is among several players transitioning from rugby union, where defensive techniques differ significantly from those in rugby league. “Some of these ladies haven’t played from U7s through to first grade,” Griffiths explained. “They could be in their third year of rugby league or even less, so we’re teaching them how to tackle in a one-on-one scenario.”

In contrast, Albert-Jones brings a wealth of experience, being the niece of Warriors legend Stacey Jones. She has participated in tests for the Kiwi Ferns and secured an NRLW premiership under Griffiths at Newcastle. The incident involving Albert-Jones occurred when she delivered a shoulder to the head of Faulkner, who managed to pass a head assessment and returned to score a decisive try in the Sharks’ 22-14 victory.

With Albert-Jones now serving her penalty, Makayla Eli will take her place in the lineup, having made her NRLW debut last month against Gold Coast. As the Warriors work to secure a playoff position, they currently sit seventh in the standings, just two points shy of a top six finish, with three games remaining in the regular season.

The Warriors are determined to improve their tackling discipline as they continue their campaign, facing the Dragons in what promises to be a crucial match.