westwood has the forehead and skull of a prehistoric neanderthal man.

Hit of the season.

For the record Briers was the first to react that there was a problem.

It's a tough sport, and collisions like the Kirke / Westwood one last night are pretty much inevitable. Nothing wrong with what Westwood did IMO. He must have the hardest head in the world, the number of players he has clattered (legally) and they have clashed heads only for him to look like nothing has happened. Nice to see Kirke up an about later in the evening.

These things happen, it's no big deal.

Reckless tackling technique ? Nothing wrong with it at all. Westwood just smashed him which goes on in the NRL every week. Hence why the game down under is light years ahead of ours.

If you want to look for a poor tackle, look no further than Griffins cowardly elbow on Harrison at the end of the game. Very Bailey-esque.

Westwood is one of the toughest SOAB's i've ever seen on a field, doesn't give an inch.

You need to take your wire tinted glasses of there was no elbow involved, just a shoulder charge, and you will note the player wasn't knocked out, as i have said this is not the first time i have seen westwood tackle in this way.

I had no problem with the hit at all. My problem or more accurately my concern was the actions after putting him in a potential dangerous position. Not really seen that in the game before, was really getting at if it was just a lapse or some area that needs to be addressed re training. Kirke was ok in this instance but with neck/back injuries could be career ending and debilitating for life.

If you connect head-on-head before there's any contact from the tackler's body then it's definitely reckless technique. Not saying there was any malice in it, but in effect it was a flying headbutt. Add to the fact Westwood has the stump of a hardwood tree on top of his shoulders and it's something he should be warned about.

There's a reason the team he was on finished bottom at quiz night. Nothing wrong with the tackle as he actually got his arms around, Kirke did try some late footwork, which might have led to the head clash.

I don't think Westwood would have realised that Kirke was knocked out at first and was just finishing the tackle. Kirke being put on his back actually allowed the medical staff from both teams to come in and stabilise both sides of his neck and head, administer oxygen etc. more easily.

I dont think Westwood pushed him on purpose (I havent re-watched it though). It happend v quick and dont forget, he also had his head smashed too so could of been dazed for a few seconds

Glad Kirke is ok though, he looked like he had been hit by a car when he was sat on the bench!

A similar hit occurred in the Wigan Saints cup quarter final when Flanagan clashed heads with Lauaki and knocked him clean out. Neither were a great hit. All four could have quite easily come out of the tackles unconscious, Westwood and Flanagan were just fortunate they didn't suffer the same effect.

BTW How useless did Smith look when the doctors were sorting Kirke out? It made me chuckle. Even when they were ordering him about he looked confused.

Kirke said on Twitter that Westwood apologised after https://twitter.com/IanKirke/status/211368311504637952

Kirke said on Twitter that Westwood apologised after https://twitter.com/IanKirke/status/211368311504637952