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James Maloney calls out NRL match review committee

The Penrith believes his neck injuries were a result of receiving big body blows and late tackles.

Published by
Ben Cotton

Penrith star James Maloney has questioned the NRL match review committee's system, stating the penalties for late and dangerous contact should be treated the same as shoulder charges.

The 32-year old believes his recent neck injuries have been a chronic symptom from receiving late tackles throughout his career.

"Ones in the back are horrible, they're all sorts," Maloney told NRL Media on Monday following Tevita Pangai's dangerous contact on Cooper Cronk.

"I had the neck operated on last year and that would trigger … knocks like that. I think if you go at the line and you see it coming then no halfback is ever going to whinge about getting hit.

"But that wasn't going into the line, that was back turned and it's a bad thing. It's not a good feeling."

Pangai was handed a grade-two dangerous contact charge for his incident with Cronk, copping 210 points with an early guilty plea.

And Maloney believes players know that they can get away with such indiscretions and not miss games.

"I think people know, there's a difference there," Maloney said.

"That's why they got rid of the shoulder charge because they couldn't distinguish head on, they said regardless whether it contacts the head or not it's establishes a whiplash effect.

"If that's the reasoning you outlaw a shoulder charge then this is probably the same, if not worse.

"At least a shoulder charge is head on and you brace for contacting knowing it's coming."

Published by
Ben Cotton